Professional Documents
Culture Documents
12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
Introduction
Large scale wind is by far the only RES technology that can make a significant impact to the Maltese energy economy, followed by energy from waste.
Incentives to adopt RES are:
Diversification Environmental
Conditions are very difficult, both for onshore and offshore wind exploitation.
Page 1
Page 2
Area: 316 km2; Population: 400,000; Large perimeter relative to surface area (Malta 136km, Gozo 43km); Urban area: (23 %) distributed amongst some 65 towns and villages;
EU Average
Next highest (Netherlands)
Also relevant to wind-energy potential is the relative disproportionate size and impact of certain national critical infrastructure, more so in view of Maltas strategic position e.g.
2 major harbours including a major transhipment terminal;
Page 4
Page 5
Determining potential
An island-specific approach:
Bottom-up approach identification of sites with wind energy potential (wind speeds and elevation) and then considering site specific constraints; In contrast to the Top down approach - EEA
Approach adopted:
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Lack of access:
serious barriers in Qasam San Gorg, Gozo.
Visual Impacts:
In view of characteristics of Maltese landscape and scale of development visual impacts can be significant and likely to limit number of windfarms.
Page 9
water bodies; Infrastructures (roads); Touristic sites; Military areas; Woodland/ forests; Water bodies; Natura 2000 sites; Important bird areas. Other areas to consider as discuss: airport plus buffer; urban areas plus their buffer.
Page 10
Based on wind turbine size of 1 MW/ (Hub height = 60m; Total height = 90m); Based on ICAO requirements for physical obstacle limitation namely those included with ICAO Annex 14 Vol 1: Aerodromes Chapter 4 (Obstacle Control and Removal); Potential effects on aerodrome and/or navigation instrumentation and radar coverage; Buffer of 2.5 km proposed by EEA is not considered sufficient; Impact on total area of the country is as on the table below. Of course other considerations overlap. Area km2 % of total area of Malta 1.2 % 16.1 % 27.0 %
Page 11
Urban Areas
The potential is considered in terms of
The width of the buffer is conditioned by visibility; Note re visibility constraints in Malta:
The Maltese archipelago is very small- area 316 km2. Best sites in terms of wind speeds and elevations are located in sensitive landscape areas. The landscape is open with little tree cover affording long distance views. Skyline dominated by the copulas of churches and historic buildings. Tallest building rises some 70m from the ground and may be seen from any panoramic location within Malta and from high points in Gozo. Weather in Malta characterised by high number of days with very good visibility and very good natural light. A combination of all these factors suggests that large onshore wind farm development likely to have a significant visual impact and likely to be prominent from a large number of areas.
Page 12
Area km2 Estimated urban area Estimated urban area + 1 km buffer Estimated urban area + 2 km buffer Estimated urban area + 3 km buffer
(2)
Notes: (1) Urban areas includes green urban areas (0.5%), urban fabric (22.2%), sports and leisure facilities (0.6%); (2) From the remainder - 1.4 km2 equivalent to 0.4 % of the total area is part of Comino an environmentally sensitive area.
Page 13
Visual impacts
Taking into account research undertaken by Scottish Executive in the UK on the effect of distance on the perception of wind energy developments in open landscape:
2 - 5 km:
relatively prominent;
5 15 km: only prominent in clear visibility seen as part of wider landscape; 15 30 km: only seen in clear visibility a minor element in the landscape;
(Source Planning Advice Note (PAN ) 45 Renewable Energy Technologies)
Buffer zone around urban areas proposed at minimum of 2km. With no large-scale exploitation considering the high population density and size of island, taken together
Page 14
Other issues
For completeness, other issues are: Industrial areas
Industrial areas are generally located on the peripheral or part of urban areas. Since these are an extension of main urban areas, and in view of limited land availability in Malta within such areas, they are included with urban areas. A minimum 2000 m buffer zone for touristic areas should be considered as for urban areas due to visibility considerations. Extraction of minerals is carried out by open pit quarrying. Due to physical limitations it is highly unlikely that such quarries (with the exception of shallow disused quarries) offer suitable potential for siting windfarm development. Disused dump sites offer limited scope for hosting wind development in view of visibility issues as well as physical limitation including structural integrity considerations of the sites.
Touristic sites:
Mining sites:
Dump sites:
Page 15
Due to high competing pressures for available land resources agricultural land is of strategic value. Thus feasible average % of maximum potential may be significantly less in such circumstances.
Forests:
Woodland have a strategic and significant environmental value and would similarly pose serious constraints (0%) to wind development.
Garigue, phyragana, Mediterranean xeric areas and grasslands are very rich species in a Maltese context are protected under the Habitats Directive. The wind energy potential is highly dependent on the habitat type and species richness of the particular locality.
Depends on the type of birds involved for ex. lighting and noise associated with wind turbines may affect seabirds in coastal important bird areas.
Page 16
Mapping of potential areas taking into account local visual (2km buffer around urban areas) and aviation concerns (4km buffer)
Page 17
Page 18
Page 19
Economic constraints : tourism, bunkering activities, inland maritime traffic; Infrastructural constraints: approaches to harbours, airport, interference with radar and communications; Environmental constraints: reefs, bird rafting, posedonia beds.
It was therefore decided to investigate the possibilities offered by deepwater off-shore wind. This presupposes connection to the European electricity network, which is a parallel project.
Page 20
Bathymetry of Malta
Page 21
Extensive consultation carried out with key Government entities and authorities:
Aviation:
Department of Civil Aviation, Malta International Airport, Malta Air Traffic Services Ltd.;
Military:
Page 22
the harbour approaches and shipping lanes including areas of heavy maritime traffic, waiting areas identified as important for coastal navigation and the Gozo Channel; approaches to airport runways and areas identified as posing unacceptable impact on aviation or radar operations; marine protection areas, nature reserves (area in the vicinity of Filfla), areas of environmental significance (selected areas where seabed is colonised by posidonia oceanica meadows); areas marked for military purposes including firing practices areas or those previously used as explosives dumping grounds; areas identified as important from a tourism perspective e.g. diving sites, wrecks etc. Includes Sikka l-Bajda and an area around the coast and extending up to 3 km seawards.
Page 23
areas identified by the Civil Aviation Department as potentially affecting the performance of VOR coverage. areas identified by the Malta Maritime Authority as posing possible unacceptable impacts on navigation, bunkering or other related activities. areas which if developed may result in other unacceptable impacts or such as impacts on tourist-related activities.
Page 24
Areas identified by MEPA as important from an environmental perspective (e.g. rafting zones for particular protected bird species; maerl beds and other ecological concerns; submerged wrecks and archaeological features; visual concern and landscape value. Areas identified by the Malta Communications Authority as possibly posing unacceptable impacts on telecommunications. the areas (130 sites) established as dolphin fish distribution in accordance with EU Council Regulation 813/2004 and areas established as trawlable areas around the Maltese coast, aquaculture installations.
Page 25
Other Areas
Other areas which were not included in the no go areas or the sensitive areas were prima facie considered as areas which are available for offshore wind development subject to normal environmental impact assessment and other studies in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations.
Page 26
No Go Areas (integrated)
Page 27
Stakeholder specific no go and sensitive areas Aviation (1) (Total WTG height = 144 m)
Page 28
Stakeholder specific no go and sensitive areas Aviation (2) - (Total WTG height = 183 m)
Page 29
Stakeholder specific no go and sensitive areas Maritime navigation, bunkering & related activities
Page 30
Page 31
Page 32
Page 33
Page 34
Page 35