Sites for wind farms being identified

Joseph DeBattista

Oct 14th 2008, 08:16

Ix-Xaghra l-Hamra is an ideal site for a wind farm. To start with It has to be a land site. It ensures close monitoring and can give experience which we still do not have. Off shore can be left for the future. Whoever has visited a wind farm knows that the foot print of even one of the largest wind turbines is so small as to be irrelevant and all sorts of operations can continue being carried out without problems. A farm with two to three 80meter turbines should give a good insite in this already highly developed technology to local entities.

Paul Barrett

Oct 13th 2008, 18:31

@ Karl Abela.
The installation you mention is untested apart from being 60 miles out to sea presents maintenance and security problems, never mind the loss of elec over that distance.
Denmark has had windmills for years that are not considered unsightly - there is no reason why a similar construction could not be made to produce electricity. Windfarms in Germany actually look really majestic.
Economically, Malta must try and produce at least some energy to not be a total hostage to foreign energy producers, remain at least partly independent and plug the gap of some of the money leaving the Country to go into others pockets.
Linking into the European network sounds fine but it will be expensive to install (we the taxpayer are going to have to pay for it), and we will still have to pay whatever the producer demands.

l Galea

Oct 13th 2008, 17:49

How about in the sea opposite SmartCity?

It's shallow enough.

SmartCity shouldn't complain since they will be Smart by helping the environment.

Karl Abela

Oct 13th 2008, 15:36

The main area for wind farm developement was identified earlier this year about 60 miles North East of our territorial waters. The land has been identified for its relitavely shallow water which is the determining factor for such a project. The pilot project was initially intended to power up the whole of Gozo.

Lets augur that the project is successful and that it is done quickly. We are a small island and we can react in a short time as long as we pull on one rope.

J Martinelli

Oct 13th 2008, 15:07

I'll bet a coffee that when these sites are identified, the NIMBY syndrome will kick in. No one will accept these wind generators in their vicinity and the Opposition will not agree neither. They will have their secret sites only to be identified if they are elected.

So, why not kill two birds with one stone? Connect to the European grid and make a deal that for every illegal immigrant who is not immediately deported or taken by one of the other 26, Malta receives 10 megawatt of free electricity.

Then the rates will go down pleasing the entire population and the immigrants will be tolerated a bit more while, at the same time transferring the pollution problem to our friends to the North.

Reading the comments below, it would make sense for the government to shelve the idea since, no matter what, there will always be those who are either experts at everything or perennial objectors to anything which authorities do to improve their way of life.

Not long ago, these same people were moaning about the government's slow progress in sustainable energy, but the moment plans are laid out they complain too.

Go figure!

Ingrid Jones-cameron

Oct 13th 2008, 13:34

why even consider land when the only abundance we enjoy is the sea? The best place from an economical point of view is the east coast (read bahar ic cghaq) because there are no sandy beaches, the area is already polluted by the mghatab mountains and the sea is shallow making the expenditure much less than deep waters.

V. Gauci

Oct 13th 2008, 13:11

All things being equal, why should a properly sited windfarm in the South "ruin" this region?

Marcello Savona

Oct 13th 2008, 12:48

why not a solar thermal power plant!
these use less space, are available and make use of the lots of sun that we have....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6616651.stm

terence mercieca

Oct 13th 2008, 11:36

It's irrelevant whether located in the south, center or north of Malta, we lack land!! So the option would be the sea.

Paul Borg

Oct 13th 2008, 11:29

The eastern High Side of Kemmuna,

Karl

Oct 13th 2008, 11:21

You are giving up so fast Mr.Pace with all these questions. The Goverment has already enough pressure to start implementing alternative energies so I think this time round such projects needs to start happening - especially when having the millions from the EU.

Joseph Attard

Oct 13th 2008, 11:16

Why are they putting them on land when we can use vast sea areas for them?

I agree with James Bartolo that the south is ruined, but I prefer to see the wind farms there than seeing the Dellimara power station grow. Not to mention the proposed land fills near the temples of Hagar Qim and Mnajdra!

Joseph

Stefan Vella

Oct 13th 2008, 11:16

well, Mr Bartolo from common sense I don't think the south of Malta is quite an ideal location for the wind farms, first of all due to the sound pollution these wind farms produce they would be unbearable if they were to be erected in an urban area. Secondly the south of Malta is very close to the sea level, a wind farm needs to be erected high up in order to make the most of prevailing winds. In my opinion the ideal location for wind farms is on the sea, however this will make them more expensive to construct and to maintain. Finally something is actually being done in favour of the environment...

Karl Abela

Oct 13th 2008, 11:08

It so amazing how some people have to rubbish initiatives like the one mentioned in this report. Lets be happy about it and give it all our support that the project needs. Lets be constructive...do not let political jealousy take over our sense of logic!!!!!

This is a project that everyone has been asking for!!! lets go go go go.....

Paul Barrett

Oct 13th 2008, 10:55

Why should the South have all the fun. We have the whole of the Coast Road that is ideal for both wind and sun farms. Power produced can be linked up with the power to be produced from the "land fill", thus increasing power production in a three in one production site.
About time to stop the study and get on with the building.

James Bartolo

Oct 13th 2008, 10:12

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

Let me think. HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

Another site to the south of the of the island I presume. May be because it is the best spot for them. You have already ruined all of the south, might as well kill it.

philip pace

Oct 13th 2008, 10:08

Welcome to the circus,
Now that was the start of the whole process.
When will these wind farms areas be known and published?
Just about three months or less before the next election?
And when will these winds farms be operating?
Some time in the next 20years.