Experimental wind mast approved for Mellieħa

Aldo Chircop

Oct 23rd 2009, 23:28

Tonio, please consider this - governments are scrambling to meet goals like: "By the year 2015, X percent of your energy must come from alternative sources, or there will be penalties".

The natural reaction is to go for what has been done frequently enough to enjoy awareness in the public's mind. However, the most obvious choice is not always the best one. Rushing to introduce some sort of alternative energy to avoid penalties, does not mean that the right choice will be made.

Please follow the link I posted and read the report. 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 one eight of the power. Most of the time, 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.

Tonio Bone

Oct 23rd 2009, 18:24

@Aldo
Habib, I don't think you are totally correct here. Wind turbines are at the moment the form of alternative energy that is receiving the most attention and investment. Large scale wind farms are springing up almost on a weekly basis in Europe, North American...and China!
I agree that they are ugly, there is nothing beautiful about them, but they are effective. I don't think there would be world-wide investment in this form unless it was effective and rewarding.
I also agree that we have the opportunity to persue other forms of alternative energy, but one things for sure: I would have much preferred going the wind turbine route than spend another Euro 170 on a fossil fuel extention at Delimara!

Aldo Chircop

Oct 23rd 2009, 15:02

It seems like everyone is of the idea that wind energy is the 'best' or 'only' viable alternative energy source, and that we should pursue it without any reservations.

I strongly disagree with this opinion. Yes, wind turbines have been in use for many years in several countries, and the technology is readily available. This, however, in no way means that it's the best solution for us. Strangely, no one is mentioning the disadvantages.

The reality is that wind farms have a very bad track record as regards their environmental impact, and their very poor and unstable energy output. Countries which have invested heavily in wind energy are now having to conclude that it has not solved any problems, and that it has been a waste of money!

I strongly suggest that anyone with an interest in the future of our country, carefully read this report on Denmark's experience with wind energy:

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

I also suggest that we should consider another alternative which is getting far less publicity that it deserves: Enhanced Geo-Thermal Energy:

http://www.gerom.org/

Tonio Bone

Oct 23rd 2009, 10:08

A country like Malta needs alternative energy. The best alternative at the moment, one that is objectively affordable and has a enough energy output to replace fossil fuel generated power is wind turbines. They may be ugly and probably no one wants them around their homes, but we must be rational and think about the future. Aside for routine maintenance wind turbines are one a one-time 20/25 year expense, will provide us with clean energy, will reduce our carbon footprint which is currently amongst the worse in the EU, and should eventually be enough to have a fixed cost of energy.
This nation cannot afford internation fuel price fluctuations, especially the way they are translated in Malta.
All parties concerned should work TOGETHER to make this happen!

r ferriggi

Oct 23rd 2009, 10:07

i will repeat wat i said in other posts.

windfarms on sikka lbajda are anextravagance, a gimmick, an expensive dream.

build them on the dwejra cliffs with much less expenses and RUNNING costs.

i hope that the experts and well-paid consultants ar held responsible for this.

the priorities of a power plan for the country should be:

1. install that much needed power cabl to sicily. ( redundancy)
1. embark on a vast solar power switch for houe holds and indiustry.
3. all Vehicles to be fuel efficient and least polluting.
4. START BY CONVERTING GOZO TO A WIND AND SOLAR POWERED ISLAND.

such a long term projects cannot be dependent on parties in power only. this has to be a long term vision for the country. (( are we able to do that??? i doubt it)).

Muscat. Pat

Oct 23rd 2009, 09:11

Although I don't like cowboy hunters who dominate the present Hunter's lobby, neither am I in favour of the vulgar and damaging comments made by BirdLife on the BBC homepage this week. BirdLife lacks the sensitivity of and the willingness not to damage Malta's econ0mic wellbeing. Why do we get these comments, is it because those responsible have nothing to loose? There are enough Maltese who are environmentally conscious, do we really need foreigners to teach us how to go about it?