Since opening its doors in September 2009, Pembroke Primary School has generated 43,200kWh (units) of electricity through its solar photovoltaic system, 15,830kWh of which have been exported to the national grid.

The solar photovoltaic system is just one of a number of initiatives that were introduced in the new school. The Pembroke primary school, which forms part of the St Clare College network, is also equipped with three solar water heaters, a 2.5kWp wind turbine and an intelligent lighting system.

The school also collects run-off water from its roof and uses it for second-class purposes, such as in its toilet flushing system and for cleaning purposes. Water collected from the school grounds is used for irrigation so that first class water from the government system is only used for washing of hands and drinking.

The energy initiatives undertaken by the government at the Pembroke primary school are a few of the many other initiatives taken to promote the use of alternative energy resources.

Speaking at the FXB Group’s launch of a wind turbine in one of their factories on Friday, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi referred to the potential of using clean energy sources to reduce Malta’s fossil fuel dependence, and to improve the quality of life and the air we breathe.

Dr Gonzi also mentioned a number of clean energy alternatives that are being proposed to families, hotels, businesses and factories, including the granting of up to €560 to families that invest in solar water heaters and an eco-reduction of up to 25 per cent for families that use energy efficiently.

Families that install solar photovoltaic systems and export generated electricity to the national grid stand to benefit from an advantageous feed-in tariff of €0.25 per unit, which increases to €0.28 for Gozitan families, thus offering an attractive return on investment in photovoltaic systems.

The Prime Minister also pointed to a number of initiatives being taken by the government on a national level, including the opening of the Sant’Antnin Recycling Plant that will eventually generate electricity from waste. The government says it is also aiming to cover 67,000 square metres of public roofs with solar photovoltaic panels to generate solar energy.

The government, Dr Gonzi said, is committed to introducing schemes that will incentivise people to invest in alternative sources of energy.