The Malta government recently announced a new set of grant schemes, aimed at boosting solar power in the country. One of the new schemes will offer a 25% grant up to a maximum of EUR1,000 to homeowners who invest in a solar panel battery. Other schemes will help homeowners accommodate existing systems, provide incentives to homeowners who install new ones, and offer aid to residents who want to install renewable energy technologies.
The government also announced the largest investment in renewable energy to date: a EUR9 million fund to develop renewable energy technologies. Of this, $2.6 million will go to the Southwest Research Institute for the development of a lab-scale PHES (pumped-heat-energy-storage) system. Although this technology is not yet available commercially, the SwRI will build a pilot project to demonstrate its capabilities, validate its cost-effectiveness, and make sure the technology is ready to scale.
Another scheme will help households upgrade their existing solar panels. This is similar to a scheme in California that helped residents get started with solar. It will allow Maltese families to upgrade their solar panels with 80% of the costs associated with battery storage.
However, Malta has its own challenges. For one, it must prove that solar batteries Malta its solar battery technologies are different from its bankrupt predecessors. Additionally, the country must overcome a variety of rules and regulations in order to achieve a greener economy. Among the rules are that the technology must be able to generate electricity without producing toxic waste. Fortunately, many materials used in storage systems have been in existence for decades.
The aforementioned molten-salt based PHES systems have potential applications in nuclear energy, concentrated solar power, and long-term energy storage. However, lithium-ion batteries will not be a good fit for this particular application. Rather, the nitrate salt thermal storage system is more likely to take the cake.
While the aforementioned PHES is not the only way to store energy, it is the most effective. However, lithium-ion batteries will likely improve over time, making their use more feasible.
In addition, the Maltese government has launched six new grant schemes, including the Solar Battery Scheme to encourage residents to take advantage of this emerging technology. A number of the schemes will target households with expired feed-in-tariff contracts, as well as individuals who want to start a new business relying on renewable energy.
The best thing about this new initiative is that it will benefit most homeowners. By storing solar power, homeowners can save on their energy costs while helping the environment. Most homeowners will find this investment worth the small outlay.
If you’re interested in investing in a solar panel battery, you can check out the best local companies in your area. Some have a stellar reputation and are certified by the Better Business Bureau. J&A Electrical Construction LLC is an excellent example of a locally owned company. Their rating is 5.00 stars. They have a wide range of products, from a solar battery charger to inverter to solar power panels.