As from Tuesday, the 16th of February the offices of the Malta Resources Authority began accepting applications from families who wish to benefit from schemes that are offering help on systems of photovoltaic panels and solar water heaters.

The Minister for Resources and Rural Affairs said that as was announced in the Budget for 2010, aid will be given to families on these schemes using a budget of € 8 million which will be divided over three years.

All eligible applicants who apply for the scheme of photovoltaic panels would receive assistance of up to 50% of the capital expenditure up to € 3000. It is estimated that up to 400 families will benefit in the first year of the scheme.

For the scheme of solar water heaters, eligible applicants are as below;

· families who benefit from the benefit of energy;

· those who receive additional assistance;

· families whose income is less than € 23,923 and benefit from the Childrens’ allowance;

· All residents of Gozo, to further strengthen the concept of eco-Gozo;

· low income families, and

· those who are buying property for the first time, for a value not exceeding € 120,000.

Families will receive assistance of 40% of the cost of solar water heaters systems, up to a maximum of € 560.

Applications can be obtained from the website of the Malta Resources Authority, www.mra.org.mt or their offices, which will be open to the public daily from Monday to Friday between 8.00am and 4.00pm, while Gozitan residents, can make their applications at the Ministry for Gozo.

Minister Pullicino said that the payback period on Solar Water Heaters will be 3 years, while on a system of photovoltaic panels, it will be 8 years.

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