80m wind monitoring mast to be built at L-Ahrax

Alex Pace

Oct 24th 2009, 19:28

I agree 100% with Mr Aldo Chircop. I visited the website on GEo Thermal Energy and the information for the kind of technology for Malta is excellent. We must think twice before we spend all of that money on something that might not work as well as something else, which might cost more in principal, but a better alternative in the future. Thank you.

Aldo Chircop

Oct 24th 2009, 12:53

At the moment, the pressing concern is to meet the "20% of energy from renewable sources by 2020" criteria.

It's easy to be followers and go for wind farms. However, the easiest choice is rarely the best one.

Wind energy is far too variable to supply part of the base load. A wind turbine's output varies with the cube of wind speed - for half the wind speed, you get 1/8 of the power. Wind turbines end up supplying no power when it is really needed, or supply power when it cannot be used.

No country has been able to actually reduce it's dependence on fossil fuels due to the introduction of wind farms! One could somehow justify their negative environmental impact and their cost if they were effective. Unfortunately, they are not.

Please read this eye opening report about the realities of wind farms:

http://www.aweo.org/ProblemWithWind.html

Note also that Malta's winds are much slower and variable than in northern Europe. Wind farms would be a fatal mistake and a huge waste of money for us!

A much better alternative could be this:

http://www.gerom.org

matthew joslin

Oct 24th 2009, 10:51

Lets get down to basics here gentlemen, malta has been built and rebuilt beyond sustainable limts..... Now the the government sees it fit to plan erecting permananet man made structures on 'Is-sikka l-Bajda'.

The last open spaces left in Malta are on the sea... and this now is set to diminish.

The project should be scrapped. Malta is an island and should accept its limitations in economic growth potential.

Richard galea

Oct 23rd 2009, 11:54

If the mast is erected where exactly the future wind turbines are to be erected i.e. on Sikka il- Bajda itself, I understand the hassle..........

However may I ask the experts.....

Would they have a reliable wind speed data from that location?.....
Do they think that being a few kilo meters away from the actual location makes no difference for data collection?

Eric Neurink

Oct 23rd 2009, 10:48

What i don't understand is why Malta doesn't use more solarpower systems. Here in Holland we use them more and more (and we don't get that much sun anyway). Also the usage of LED lights should be encouraged more.Why not give all Maltese some of those for free. Another way of producing electricity is waterpower. The Maltese government should pay a visit to Holland to see how we do it..Anyway... Sahha...

Jesmond Micallef

Oct 22nd 2009, 21:25

Good, very good indeed. Like that statistical data will be gathered and as such, facts will speak for themselves.

Wind Turbines are indeed a visual eye-sore, but then again so is the COMPLETE BUILT ENVIRONMENT, I think reverting back living in caves is no solution neither !!!

Well done for the decision, keep with it and make the very best use of the data. Wind energy is only capital intensive !! The world will not stop turning and the sun will continue heating up the earths surface, thats for sure !!!

lgalea

Oct 22nd 2009, 20:40

Mark Shaw
Didn't birdlife get a couple of millions for their shearwater project?

Andrew Cumbo

Oct 22nd 2009, 18:00

When we come to environmental issues, all we have from this government is studies, studies and studies. Even on the black dust issue, we have waited for studies to establish from where this dust is originating but as always ending with no conclusion. To make you remember, these studies started 9 years ago from U.K. researchers that were appointed by former environment minister Dr. Francis Zammit Dimech. But unfortunately Dr. Zammit Dimech was stepped down from his seat and unluckily for us; we ended with no results of these studies. But dear all don't worry; Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism Dr. Mario De Marco said that new studies are underway. And maybe someday we identify the source of this black dust.
And there we go again another 2 years of monitoring and studies, this time on wind strength to this mast in this zone. Another two years to get us near election campaign were we try to find every issue to blind and fold people with glittering issues. And when election is over we will start again to hear again of new studies after studies.

John Paul Cauchi

Oct 22nd 2009, 16:30

@ Chris Finch:
"I would rather use a few more kilowatts of energy than be exposed to these dangers."

And therefore defeat the whole purpose of getting a wind turbine - to start doing something about carbon emmissions!

If you don't like CFL's, go for LED's. They're new, 75% efficient (CFL's reach 35%) and it is said that to light up the entire facade of Buckingham Palace with LED's the electricity consumed was equivalent to using an electric kettle!

Also the pollutants emmitted from the power stations far surpass any trace elements from a CFL light bulb.

Joseph Calleja

Oct 22nd 2009, 14:59

What is wrong with guide wires? Birds love to perch on wires, seems to be one of their most welcome places. And if you want to see ugly, check out the fish farms sitting in the middle of the bays and in the Comino Channel, check out the over built areas. Now that is ugly. Birdlife Malta should be fighting the construction industry from over building on pristine pieces of land and ruining the ambient. That mast is not going to bother anybody except the few winers, there is no danger to birds, especially where this place is situated.

Andrew Paris

Oct 22nd 2009, 14:42

What a waste of money to messure wind strength! Why not set it up infront of MEPA and see the strength of the wind blowing from there.

G Frendo

Oct 22nd 2009, 14:28

lets continue to work in favour of a healthier lifestyl... well done MEPA finally Malta has become more environmentaly conscience

daniel farrugia

Oct 22nd 2009, 14:25

@l.galea

There are other solutions mr.galea. why isn't the government considering a REAL reduction on solar panels?? I tell you why since with solar panels he will not earn money thats the only reason!! in malta we do not have enough space for the wind turbines!! unless we destroy the little environment we have. and yes you could see the wind turbine nice but the fence surrounding the area will be ugly for sure after some time! Gonzi said that this will be a enviornmental friendly government, this is what he meant?? first the power station choice (very bad choice indeed) and now the 80m high wind turbine. prosit ee

Tonio Bone

Oct 22nd 2009, 14:18

Guys, will we ever mature? The way forward for Malta to reduce its carbon footprint and not to be exposed to hikes in power costs which no one affords is wind energy, period! Whereever these wind turbines will be installed they will look ugly, no two ways about it, but I'd rather install 40 x 6MW turbines and spend Euro 160/200 million then spent Euro 170 million on the extention of Delimara (fossil fuel generated energy) and another Euro 130 million on wind farms.
If it's not the opposition it's Birdlife, if it's not Birdlife is some union or other. This must stop. Europe is dotted with windfarms, and many of them are on migratory routes. It's not that every flying creature that flies by Malta is going to get stuck in them. My Lord!
We are blessed with wind almost all year round, this could be a very important step for us to become a true eco-friendly nation and an example for Europe. We should have at least one positive record....we seem to top the charts for all the wrong reasons nowadays!

N. Borg

Oct 22nd 2009, 13:55

Tghidu ghal kaccaturi li qed joqtlu ghasafar bladocc! ..................................lol u issa ha tghamlu "a certified BIRD KILLER".

PROSET.

Mark Shaw

Oct 22nd 2009, 13:48

@ Mr. Bonnici,
excuse my ignorance but where in this article does it mention BirdLife Malta?? i note that :" birds" & " shearwaters" are mentioned but BirdLife Malta??, did i miss read or miss something in another article ?? or are you hoping for a band wagon to drive past ??

Regards....

Marc Cassar

Oct 22nd 2009, 13:37

WInd Farms????
while the rest of the world is taking their's down - we consider building one. What a shame.
North Africa is building a massive Sun Farm with the intension of supplying Europe with electricity - so why not look into this?
Even better would be to invest the €130M set aside and run submarine cables to Sicily, where the cost is a fraction of what we Maltese currently pay to Enemalta (which will only go up in future)
This short-term thinking has got to stop

jsammut

Oct 22nd 2009, 13:36

why we have to wait so long to do the windfarm,as oil goes up every day????

r ferriggi

Oct 22nd 2009, 13:31

i repeat,,, the building of the offfshore windfarm on sikka lbajba is a big expensive extravagant mistake.

the main reason is that it can be built on-land with much less expense and maintenance ( I have proposed the western clifffs in gozo) . secondly, sikka lbajda is visible from 1/3 of malta.

the priority should be:
1. get that cable to sicily laid and functioning asap.
2. start working towards a SERIOUS NATIONAL AMBITIOUS ENERGY PROJECT covering all aspects from cars, to houses to industry.
3. utilise solar energy to the maximum.
4. install on-shore wind farms when and where possible.

let us not go for the extravagant. we do not afford mistakes.

Ian Galea

Oct 22nd 2009, 13:25

@P.Borg - '... how big and ugly these wind turbines are?@ ... And, according to you solar panels are works of art? There comes a point where practicality and economy have to take over from aesthetics. Concrete bricks are ugly, so what should we do? Build our houses with tree logs?

L..Galea

Mar 16th 2009, 09:52

P Borg
Ugliness, as beauty, is in the eyes of the beholder.
However, we are fed up by those who say that we do not have the space or that they look ugly.
If they see them as being ugly they can look the other way.
What shall we wait for, an explosion in prices or the end of oil supplies before taking any measures?

This especially applies to the stupidity of birdlife which is more concerned with birds than our own survival. As if birds are so stupid and blind not to avoid the wind turbines!

MARK MIFSUD BONNICI

Mar 15th 2009, 22:35

J. Borg

The whole point of my writing is to criticize Birdlife for kicking up such a fuss over A WIND MAST.

Are you aware of the benefits to Malta of a wind farm or are you there simply to criticize anyone who disagrees with your dear Birdlife?

Judging from all this fuss one might get the impression that Malta's wind farm was unique.

Have you ever wondered why other countries have wind farms and we probably never will?

The answer is quite simple, they did not have Birdlife Malta interfering.

One wind mast and all hell breaks loose. So what is to happen when 30 wind turbines are erected?

MASS HYSTERIA NO DOUBT!!

Guess what Birdlfie have up their sleeve: “If a location is poorly chosen and is found to affect bird breeding and migration, it can be stopped under the terms of the Birds Directive."

How's that for arrogance from you beloved "know it all" Birdlife?

ChrisFinch

Wrong as usual. I belong to Kaccaturi San Ubertu not FKNK. We do not have the word "conservation" in our title.

P Borg

Mar 15th 2009, 21:55

Malta already looks an eyesore from all the matchbox apartments, mepa and terrible roads. These wind farms will simply ruin what little beauty this country has to offer. Do you people realise how big and ugly these wind turbines are? Malta is simply too small to have wind farms. Why on earth are we investing in wind farms when we have NO SPACE for them?? Surely we should use solar or underwater turbines?

This is another mistake you will all regret in the future.

Chris Finch

Mar 15th 2009, 18:27

Mark, Once again we see the FKNK supporters showing the true nature of the word 'conservation' that they use in their title. Come on guys who are you kidding?

J. Borg

Mar 15th 2009, 17:52

Thank God (& the EU) for sending Spring hunting to the history books...

Now our learned, objective and know it all Mr. Mifsud Bonnici, will find more time to continue his socio-cultural contributions and tirades against environmental NGOs.

Keep on typing (instead of shooting).

MARK MIFSUD BONNICI

Mar 15th 2009, 16:30

Professor Mallia seems to have become an expert on ornithology and gives his expert advise on the north of Gozo being a better site for an offshore windfarm, Bahrija for onshore windfarm since bird problems are distinctly less. For Bahrija he states "Unlike Sikka l-Bajda, the site poses no problems to bird population as the area is well outside the circling zone for raptors settling at Buskett"

The objection being brought up by Birdlife for the Mellieha site is,amongst others "guy wires present a high collision risk for the birds" Do Birdlife consider guy wires at Bahrija or Gozo as acceptable?

Birdlfie have already threatened this project when stating “If a location is poorly chosen and is found to affect bird breeding and migration, it can be stopped under the terms of the Birds Directive."

The British consultants Mott MacDonald deemed Sikka l-Bajda as the best site for an offshore wind farm. However it seems ProfMallia and GeorgePullicino are more concerned by Birdlife's threat than what consultants deem best. "Alternative sites were being considered and would be announced in the following days." says George Pullicino, running to the rescue!!!

What a farce!!

MARK MIFSUD BONNICI

Mar 15th 2009, 11:26

As was to be expected. Birdlife are objecting!

I suggest that as in all their undertakings they seek sponsorship and support from MEPA.

How very appropriate!!!

This wind farm is for the benefit of all, as is the enlarging of Mellieha bay. Do we have to put up with al this nonsense from Birdlife?

Chris Finch

Mar 15th 2009, 11:19

I am all for protecting the environment, but after reading this in today's UK express newspaper, I dont think I will be using the energy saving bulbs. I would rather use a few more kilowatts of energy than be exposed to these dangers.
http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/89185/Dangers-of-low-energy-lightbulbs