Support through Malta Enterprise and the Energy and Water Agency helps companies invest in sustainable methods
Schemes operated by Malta Enterprise and the Energy and Water Agency (EWA) are supporting more companies as they invest in sustainable operations.
Minister for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise Miriam Dalli highlighted the positive impacts of this Government support to businesses during a visit to Paradise Bay Hotel, one of many businesses benefitting from these schemes to significantly improve energy and water efficiency, while reducing carbon emissions.
Through the Investment Aid for Energy Efficiency Projects and the Smart and Sustainable Scheme, Malta Enterprise released circa half a million Euro in support to businesses in Malta and Gozo in just one year.
Meanwhile, EWA also conducts energy audits to advise companies on how their energy use could become more efficient.
Minister Dalli welcomed the efforts being made by Maltese businesses in different sectors, including hospitality, as they turn towards more sustainable operations.
“Undoubtedly, the hospitality sector was amongst the worst hit during the pandemic. Through the wage supplement, its extension and the support in utility bills, the government has helped companies to keep going on. At the same time, we launched schemes to encourage businesses to invest in sustainable operations to become more efficient and reduce costs,” Minister Dalli said.
Paradise Bay Hotel invested €200,000 in smart solar energy solutions to support its requirement for water heating and to secure the production of 11,000 litres of sanitary water as energy storage. This solar plant will contribute to almost 70% of the hotel’s total energy needs, with annual fuel savings amounting to €60,000, fully recovering the cost of the investment in three and a half years. This project is also reducing the hotel’s CO2 emissions by 220 tonnes every year.
The company also invested in a wastewater treatment installation for sustainable water management. Through this grey water recovery project, it is seeing a 100% system water recovery, with a very high return on investment and an encouraging full cost recovery within 12 months.
“This project is a great example of the priority which is being given to sustainability and energy efficiency in our business community. We are proud to invest in sustainable businesses who make sustainability a priority in their day-to-day operations,” said Malta Enterprise CEO Kurt Farrugia.
As per Budget 2023, Malta Enterprise will be doubling the financial assistance it provides under the Smart and Sustainable Investment grant. This grant will be covering 50% of the eligible investment, up to a maximum of €100,000. In addition, tax credit for such investments will be doubled from €20,000 to a maximum of €40,000.
On his part, Paradise Bay Hotel General Manager Quentin Grima welcomed the support provided by the government and said that this encouraged the company to further invest in energy efficiency. “The changes we are implementing are not only cost-saving measures but also help us to reduce our carbon footprint,” Mr Grima said.
The Minister was accompanied by Malta Enterprise CEO Kurt Farrugia, EWA CPO Charles Buttigieg, Paradise Bay General Manager Quentin Grima and CEO of RecoWatt John Ciantar.
Earlier this month, the Energy Ministry also launched a national energy saving campaign for businesses, entitled “Be Efficient. Save Energy!”. Through this initiative, the Government is collaborating with nine organisations representing the island’s principal economic sectors to encourage businesses to adopt energy efficient practices and technologies in their operations.
Aktar kumpaniji fis-settur tal-ospitalità jinvestu f’operat sostenibbli
Assistenza offruta minn Malta Enterprise u l-Aġenzija għall-Enerġija u l-Ilma qed tgħin iżjed kumpaniji jinvestu f’metodi sostenibbli
Skemi offruti mil-Malta Enterprise u l-Aġenzija għall-Enerġija u l-Ilma (EWA) qed jappoġġjaw aktar kumpaniji biex jinvestu f’operat sostenibbli.
Il-Ministru għall-Ambjent, l-Enerġija u l-Intrapriża Miriam Dalli enfasizzat il-benefiċċji tas-sapport li qed jagħti l-Gvern lin-negozji waqt żjara ġewwa l-lukanda Paradise Bay, waħda minn ħafna kumpaniji li qed jibbenefikaw minn dawn l-iskemi biex iżidu l-effiċjenza fl-enerġija u l-ilma, filwaqt li jnaqqsu l-emissjonijiet.
Permezz tal-iskemi Investment Aid for Energy Efficiency Projects u Smart and Sustainable Scheme, f’sena waħda, Malta Enterprise ħarġet madwar nofs miljun ewro f’assistenza.
Fl-istess waqt, l-EWA qed tikkontribwixxi billi toffri energy audits lill-kumpaniji, sabiex tiggwidahom dwar kif jistgħu joperaw b’mod iżjed effiċjenti.
Il-Ministru Dalli laqat l-inizjattivi sostenibbli li qed isiru minn negozji Maltin f’setturi varji, inkluż dak tal-ospitalità.
“Bla dubju s-settur tal-ospitalità huwa fost l-aktar setturi li ntlaqtu matul il-pandemija. Permezz tal-Wage Supplement, l-estensjoni tagħha u l-appoġġ li ngħata fuq il-kontijiet tad-dawl u ilma, il-Gvern kompla jgħin lil dawn il-kumpaniji jimxu ‘l quddiem. Fl-istess waqt, ħabbarna miżuri biex inħeġġu l-investiment f’operat sostenibbli sabiex isiru iżjed effiċjenti u jnaqqsu l-ispejjeż tagħhom,” qalet il-Ministru Dalli.
Il-lukanda Paradise Bay investiet €200,000 f’soluzzjonijiet ta’ smart solar energy sabiex tipproduċi l-misħun li tuża fl-operat tagħha, bil-produzzjoni ta’ 11,000 litru t’ilma sanitarju bħala ħażna tal-enerġija. Dan is-solar plant se jikontribwixxi sa kważi 70% tal-enerġija li għandha bżonn il-lukanda, fejn se tkun qed tiffranka madwar €60,000 fi spejjez tal-enerġija fis-sena, tant li fi żmien tlett snin u nofs se tkun qed tkopru l-ispiża ta’ dan l-investiment. B’dan il-proġett, Paradise Bay qed tnaqqas l-emissjonijiet tal-karbonju tagħha b’220 tunellata fis-sena.
Il-kumpanija investiet ukoll f’installazzjoni tat-trattament tad-drenaġġ bħala miżura ta’ immaniġġjar sostenibbli tal-ilma. Permezz ta’ dan il-proġett ta’ trattament u rkupru ta’ greywater, il-kumpanija qed tara li tirkupra 100% tal-ilma li tuża, bi gwadann fuq l-investiment għoli, li se jkopri l-ispiża tal-istess proġett fi tnax-il xahar.
“Dan il-proġett huwa eżempju ċar ta’ kif il-komunità tan-negozji qed tagħti importanza l-effiċjenza fl-enerġija u s-sostenibbiltà. Għalhekk aħna kburin li qed nassistu lil dawn il-kumpaniji u li s-sostenibbiltà qed tkun ta’ prijorità għalihom fl-operat tagħhom,” qal il-Kap Eżekuttiv tal-Malta Enterprise Kurt Farrugia.
Hekk kif issemma fil-Baġit 2023, Malta Enterprise se tkun qed tirdoppja l-assistenza finanzjarja provduta taħt l-iskema Smart and Sustainable Investment Grant. Din l-għotja se tkun qed tkopri 50% tal-ispejjeż eliġibbli sa massimu ta’ €100,000. Minn naħa l-oħra, t-tax credits applikabbli għal dawn l-investimenti se jirdoppjaw minn €20,000 sa massimu ta’ €40,000.
Minn naħa tiegħu, il-General Manager tal-Lukanda Paradise Bay Quentin Grima laqa’ l-assistenza minn naħa tal-Gvern u qal li din ħeġġet lill-kumpanija biex tkompli tinvesti fl-effiċjenza tal-enerġija. “It-tibdiliet li qed nimplimentaw mhumiex biss miżuri li jnaqqsu l-ispejjeż, iżda qed jgħinuna nnaqqsu l-emissjonijiet tal-karbonju,” qal is-Sur Grima.
Waqt iż-żjara, il-Ministru kienet akkompanjata mill-Kap Eżekuttiv tal-Malta Enterprise Kurt Farrugia, is-CPO tal-Aġenzija għall-Enerġija u l-Ilma Charles Buttigieg, il-General Manager tal-Lukanda Quentin Grima u l-Kap Eżekuttiv ta’ RecoWatt John Ciantar.
Kmieni dan ix-xahar, il-Ministeru għall-Enerġija nieda kampanja nazzjonali ta’ informazzjoni favur l-użu effiċjenti tal-enerġija fis-settur privat “Be Efficient. Save Energy!”. B’din l-inizjattiva, il-Gvern qed jikkollabora ma disa’ organizzazzjonijiet li jirrappreżentaw is-setturi ekonomiċi f’pajjiżna biex iħeġġu lin-negozji jaddottaw prattiċi u teknoloġiji li jżidu l-effiċjenza tal-enerġija fl-operat tagħhom.