Cloud cast over PV panel investment programme

The new European funding scheme to help businesses invest in photovoltaic panels was restricted to just five suppliers, leaving more than 30 others high and dry, Times of Malta has learnt. The scheme has a budget of €5.5 million for refunds and is being managed by Malta Enterprise. The fact that so few suppliers were selected has annoyed the 34 others, including foreign firms, who had submitted their details to Malta Enterprise in a bid to supply businesses with the systems. One supplier told Times of Malta that the criteria set by Malta Enterprise were so steep that only these five suppliers could qualify. “How can you set criteria limiting the fund to those companies that have an annual turnover of €200,000 or which supplied large installations before? “With its action, Malta Enterprise excluded competition with the possibility of having a cartel between these five companies,” a spokesman for one of the firms said. The chosen companies are: Alternative Technologies Ltd, Bajada New Energy Ltd, CD Power Solutions Ltd, Primesolar Srl and Solar Solutions Ltd. Between them, they will supply €11 million worth of equipment to businesses that invest in solar energy to cover part of...