Meetings about deep offshore wind energy installations have been held in Scotland during a visit led by Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino.

The delegation had meetings with researchers, operators and the competent authorities and was updated on the developments in Scotland in the past years in the clean energy generation sector.

Particular emphasis was made on deep offshore wind turbine installations as Scotland is one of the areas developing this technology at a fast pace. During the meetings, the Maltese delegation also presented Malta's policy on clean energy, which includes the work carried out so far as part of the application for the installation of wind farms at Sikka l-Bajda.

The delegation was taken to see two wind turbines which generate around 5MW and which are installed in the sea at a depty of around 45 metres. The turbines were installed in 2006 and formed part of the Beatrice Project, which is financed by the European Union.

Talks were also held on the possibility of increasing collaboration in research with the University of Aberdeen, the Scottish European Green Energy Centre u the Scottish Development International.