Experts say Malta should not ignore wind power - report

Dec 29, 2014 - Renewable energy experts in Malta have expressed their disagreement with the recent government plan not to support wind power development and instead focus on large solar projects, the Times of Malta said on Saturday.

Earlier this month, the government of Malta unveiled plans for the country to source 5% of its energy from solar power plants in 2020, which is half of its 10% renewable energy target. Meanwhile, it has no intention to promote wind project development as studies have shown it is infeasible and unsustainable.

The chairman of the University of Malta’s Institute for Sustainable Energy, Tonio Sant, told the newspaper that the option for wind project development in the country should remain open, stating that onshore wind energy is economically viable. He also noted that some environmental effects of wind turbines can be mitigated and are an issue for solar parks to.

Sant’s position is supported by other experts in the field. So far, no official studies on wind energy have been published by the government, according to the report.

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