Christian Peregin
Gozo Minister non-committal on offshore wind farms
Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono is prepared to accept alternative energy projects such as an offshore wind farm but only "if they are environmentally friendly".
"I cannot say whether I approve or object to an offshore wind farm. What I am saying is that, as part of Eco-Gozo, we are in favour of alternative energy projects as long as they are environment-friendly and the best solution to improve the quality of life," she said.
The Ministry of Resources and Rural Affairs recently announced that an offshore wind farm near the northern coast of Gozo was always being considered as part of the Eco-Gozo project.
However, this proposal does not feature anywhere on the Eco-Gozo website and the document entitled Eco-Gozo Proposed Action 2010-2012 only refers to onshore wind farms and micro wind turbines.
Labour Party environment spokesman Leo Brincat said the Resources Ministry's recent comments were "baffling, to put it mildly" because the government had refrained from carrying out any tests on the proposed site.
When contacted, Mrs Debono would only say that the topic was "on the agenda" and she would wait for expert advice before taking a decision.
Although she said she tended to rely heavily on scientific studies, she said it was "imprudent" to confirm beforehand that she would definitely accept it if the experts advised her to go for an offshore wind farm.
She said meetings were being held to find the best solutions for Gozo in terms of alternative energy and nothing had been excluded or put aside yet, as part of the Eco-Gozo vision.
Calls on the government to study the possibility of an offshore wind farm in Gozo gained ground recently when doubts were raised about the site currently earmarked for Malta's offshore wind farm, Sikka l-Bajda in Mellieħa. Two large underwater caves were discovered recently on the reef, worrying experts that the geology may be too unstable for a feasible wind farm.
An expert committee chosen to advise the Resources Minister had identified a site off Ramla l-Ħamra in Gozo as a location that should be kept "under review". It even drew up an artist's impression of what it would look like.
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12 Comments
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George Debono
Jun 23rd 2010, 19:45
victor rodenas
Interesting point ---
I have not come across any distinction between night & day - and I assume that all the data apply to birds both at night and daytime.
In one study in Denmark the mortality was 2 -3 bird strikes per turbine per year. presumably this included nocturnal flights as well..
G
George Debono
Jun 23rd 2010, 18:19
To victor rodenas: RE Waiting for bird lovers groups to comment........ Comment is very easy: This bird thing has been exaggerated by opponents to wind energy. The myth of bird deaths started when there was some mortality among birds in connection with the old-style lattice-work wind turbine towers with large birds seeking to perch on them…. Now the turbine tower is a solid structure, and birds are not attracted. In the intervening years it has become evident that bird mortality from wind turbines is, in fact, insignificant. 1) The Royal Society for protection of birds is in favour of Wind energy. 2) Far more birds are killed by colliding with motor vehicles, plate glass windows, power lines, communication towers, etc., than by a wind farm. 3) The current oil spill in the USA will probably kill more birds than have ever been killed by wind turbines. Many birds are also killed in oil slicks left by oil tankers. Ditto the Exxon Valdes tragedy. 3) Significant bird mortality from wind turbines only occurs if the wind farm is placed directly in bird migration paths or between nesting and foraging sites. This is taken into consideration nowadays when siting a farm. G
victor rodenas
Jun 23rd 2010, 19:30
Sur Debono thanks for your explanation.I only asked if wind turbines are a hazard for birds flying at NIGHT.Since no bird lover during the last 8 hrs made any comment,so I`m now certain that the birds will not be in trouble.
S.Zammit
Jun 23rd 2010, 20:23
@Victor Rodenas
Wind turbines do pose a threat to birds. The main birds that die to collisions with wind turbines are birds like vultures and birds of prey which use heat thermals to soar in the sky and collide with the blades. One should remember that birds aren't humans, so they don't know how to reason what is dangerous or not.
Wind turbines shouldn't pose a major threat to birds IN Malta as we don't have resident birds of prey what so ever.Nonetheless CAUTION should always be taken as we still have migrating birds flying over.
Lets say we have a mountain and you fill it with turbines then yes they can pose a threat to birds as buzzards and harriers can easily collide with one while soaring over their breeding sites or migratory routes.The following link is a clear example...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xe85OaacwB8
Regarding night migrants:Night migrants which fly at night usually fly at high altitudes so wind turbines shouldn't pose a threat to nocturnal migrants. The majority of night migrants include warblers and small birds fly high above.Hope this clarifies
Regards
victor rodenas
Jun 23rd 2010, 15:55
Are offshore wind farms environmentally friendly ? During the migrating season flocks of birds flying at night will slam into these man made obstructions and die.Is this true or false?Waiting for bird lovers groups to comment........
T Camilleri
Jun 23rd 2010, 18:34
victor rodenas do you think birds are so blind? Then why not level the earth because there are hills, mountains, trees, houses etc etc
George Debono
Jun 23rd 2010, 13:50
The question of land based wind energy in Malta is very misunderstood. Malta missed a golden opportunity when a company offered to build a wind farm on Marfa ridge 5 years ago. This project withan estimated annual output of 55 GWh (equivalent to approximately 5% of Malta’s electricity needs at the time) would also have provided a valuable opportunity for our technicians to gain hands-on experience in the servicing and maintenance of wind energy generators and to test the logistics of adding a major source of intermittent electricity to our grid. It would also have provided new employment opportunities.
it would by now have been into its fifth year of electricity generation and it would have given us a realistic estimate of the potential of wind energy in Malta and whether such a land based wind farm was aesthetically acceptable to the Maltese and provided information on the advisibility of going offshore. In these five years Malta would have benefited in other ways.
The decision by MEPA to turn this down was a phenomenally stupid and ignorant decision - it has put Malta back by 10 years and left us 100% dependent on oil.
Vision 2015? No, just backward ignorance....
George Debono
Jun 23rd 2010, 13:34
What an incredible show of ignorance at ministerial level!
We are told that the Gozo Minister is prepared to accept "alternative" energy projects such as an offshore wind farm but only "if they are environmentally friendly".
1) Wind energy is not "alternative" but "renewable"
2) A wind turbine is more "environmentally friendly" than any other man made structure on this planet. If on land, it stands on small foundations, (wild) life goes on normally beneath it, it can be removed leaving virtually no trace and it produces absolutely clean energy for 20 - 25 years.
As to Paul Caruana's comment "…the more I hear about offshore wind farms, the less I am convinced that these are the most cost effective solution for Malta"
The only possible basis for such a comment is that the cost of electricity from land-based wind farms is cheaper than fossil-fuel generated electricity.
As to those recommending PV - that's fine - except that they produce no energy at night.
The secret of renewable energy is DIVERSITY - in the case of Malta we should exploit wind(land and sea-based) PV, investigate the possibility of exploiting sea currents and link up to the EU grid.
l fenech
Jun 23rd 2010, 13:32
ll-vera gvern " Gone with the wind".
George Gauchi
Jun 23rd 2010, 13:08
That`s the best reward that she is giving to the Gozitan people for always electing her, the best sandy beach in the whole of Malta with a nice view of the wind turbines. Prosit, we will remember this .
Paul Caruana
Jun 23rd 2010, 11:18
The more I hear about offshore wind farms, the less I am convinced that these are the most cost effective solution for Malta.
I think we should seriously consider scrapping such plans for the moment, and utilise the considerable financial rescoures liberated from such doubtful projects to increase the amounts of subsidy granted to government/private institutions during the setting up of photovoltaic panels.
I. X. Gatt
Jun 23rd 2010, 11:12
The suitable location for wind generated turbines is always debatable and open to controversy. Whilst their popularity is on the increase, they are also subject to the whims of Mother Nature and their output or contribution to the power grid is directly proportional to the speed of ambient air particles at the time. An alternative to the above, are the installation of PV's and Gozo has great potential in this regard. Many old stone quarries abound and some are soon to be abandoned. The fact that they are basically pits dug into the ground with little or no use (unless used as controlled land fills) may provide a suitable protected environment for PV installations, they would have a minimum visual impact and the quarry walls can also be used to accommodate panels accordingly, again the orientation of the quarry will determine the efficiency of the installation. The good minister would do well to consider such green energy options especially when a minimum of environmental impacts are involved.
I. X. Gatt
Ecoscientist