Government exploring possibilities of Gozo windfarm

A spokesperson for the Ministry for Gozo, which presented the application to The Malta Environment and Planning Authority, confirmed that the testing is aimed at exploring the potential for the development of wind energy sources in Gozo.

“Through the wind measurements collected through this research project as well as data collected so far at other sites across the Maltese islands, it will be possible to assess the potential for harvesting wind energy in Gozo and the surrounding waters,” the Ministry spokesperson told MaltaToday.

A proposal for an offshore wind farm in the northern shore of Gozo was previously made by Edward Mallia, who had argued that a wind measuring mast in Gozo would offer the government backup in case the Sikka l-Bajda proposal failed to go through.

Writing in 2009, Mallia had specifically referred to a strip of water within a 20-meter contour between Qbajjar and the Mistra rocks at the eastern end of San Blas Bay as the site of a potential offshore wind farm. 

Contacted by MaltaToday, Mallia said that a wind mast at il-Hotbna tal-Imgieret will only be able to assess the potential of land-based turbines sited to the west of Wied Mielah up to Ras San Dimitri.

“It will do nothing for any useable sea-areas of Gozo, which lie well to the east of Wied Mielah,” Mallia said. He also pointed out that the Gordan lighthouse station already has large quantities of high quality data on the potential of wind energy in Gozo.

While measurements from Gordan are as good as those taken il-Hotba tal-Imgieret to assess the potential of a land based wind farm; the latter is not good to assess offshore potential as it is too far away from the shallow sea areas to the east of Marsalforn.

The decision to start studies in Gozo comes in the wake of a government’s decision to request a two-year extension to the L-Aħrax Point wind mast permit to confirm results on the viability of an offshore wind farm at Mellieħa’s Sikka l-Bajda.

Wind studies at L-Aħrax began in November 2009 after an 80-metre wind mast was installed.

The Environmental Impact studies on the Sikka l-Bajda site, which are costing the government around €300,000 are expected to be concluded next year. 

One potential obstacle for the Sikka l-Bajda site is the presence of under water caves in the area.

Before the 2008 election, the government had completely excluded land and near-shore windfarms and lost valuable time by issuing a call for expression of interests for a deep water wind farm despite the fact that this technology is still being developed.

After the election the government changed direction by hedging its bets on a windfarm at Sikka l-Bajda and smaller land based installations in Bahrija and Hal Far.