Trevor Hammond clearly does not listen and does not understand.  At last week’s press conference  on the new Solar power plant, the Minister clearly stated that the plant had come at no cost to Government, in the same way as the Ecowave plant. Both followed expressions of interest by the relevant parties, which were the only ones which were progressed by the parties out of several that came forward and were entertained at the same time when it became clear back in 2012 that with the new Government, Gibraltar was at last moving into renewables.

Regarding the amount of solar power produced, once again Mr Hammond fails to listen or understand.   It may be his Maths.   A plant that produces 800 kW (0.8mW) when an average figure for consumption is 28mW will, at the time it is producing, and if the consumption is 28 mW, be producing (0.8/28) x 100 = 2.86% of the power.   When, as is expected, the whole scheme produces 3mW, then the calculation reveals (3/28) x 100 = 10.71% of the power.  This is of course a lower percentage when compared to the maximum output of 42mW, which the Minister also pointed out at the Press Conference, but is nevertheless much more that has ever been produced before, and infinitely more than the GSD ever planned to produce (mathematically 0.8 divided by zero equals infinity).

Regarding the equivalent number of homes powered, this is calculated from an industry estimate of 15.78kWh daily consumption per household, considering that the amount produced by the plant is approximately 5500kWh per day.  550 divided by 15.78 equals 348.8 homes.  This is not a ‘best case scenario’.  This is actual power being generated today.

In his release, Mr Hammond chooses also to question the Minister’s comments on lizards.  John  Cortes explains the relevance, “At the press conference, a member of the Press asked me about the best locations for solar panels in Gibraltar.  I explained that the best places would be away from the Levanter cloud and wherever the Rock cast least shadow.  As I did my PhD research on the ecology of the Iberian Wall Lizard in Gibraltar, and as lizards depend on solar radiation for their activity, I commented that depending on what site I was surveying, lizard activity would be earlier or later, depending on when the sun rose and set over the Rock.  I remarked that solar panels are similar in that way.  I then, in a light-hearted manner commented that as I was possibly still a world expert on lizards, I didn’t think any member of the Opposition could question my knowledge on that!  But it appears that Mr Hammond simply does not have a sense of humour.

“I’ve actually got hold of a copy of my thesis and photographed a few pages that show some of the relevant parts of my ecological research, relating to solar radiation, in case Mr Hammond doubts it.

“Mr Hammond offers urgent discussion on renewables.  Yet he doesn’t understand the science and he refuses to embrace good news, instead trying to score political points rather than seeking technical clarification in a spirit of goodwill.  This is not good enough.  I would be happy to engage with him were I convinced that the GSD, the party of our diesel past, were serious about a green future.  So far, I am not.”