A permit to build two 20-metre high tower turbines and solar panels on private property in Żejtun has been granted by the Environment and Planning Tribunal.

The applicant resorted to the tribunal after the Malta Environment and Planning Authority turned down a request to install the turbines and 141 square metres of solar panels to generate electricity for agricultural and domestic use.

The planning authority said there was “no valid justification” because there were no structures on site such as a school or farm. It ruled that the proposed project would also breach a planning policy to protect and enhance areas of scenic value.

It would also “compromise” the outcome of a guidance document for micro wind turbines, which stipulated that tower-mounted turbines in outside scheme areas should be built close to large buildings.

The applicant’s architect pointed out that the site in question included a villa and sprawled over 17 tumoli. His client wanted the turbines and panels to venture into an “agricultural enterprise”.

Since there “is no approved planning guidance, it is very easy to dismiss all applications without even looking at them on the basis” that they would compromise the outcome of the guidance document.

Also, the “so-called scenic area” is already dominated by the Delimara power station, the Freeport and so-called dairy farms, the architect noted.

The planning authority pointed out to the tribunal that the turbines would not be screened by large buildings because they would be installed on agricultural land.

In its decision, the tribunal highlighted the fact that the planning guidance document referred to was still a draft and there was a lot of missing information, including about the type and size of turbines and the sort of locations where they would be most effective.

The tribunal said this particular case could be used to collect more information about the scenario to improve the document and make it more effective.

Improving the document could not take place without the collection of scientific data.

Using alternative energy sources in a small country that was geographically isolated was very important in this day and age, the tribunal added.

It ordered the planning authority to issue a permit for 10 years.