Resources Minister George Pullicino said this morning that the 18-20 wind turbines at Sikka l-Bajda (together with those at Hal Far and Bahrija) would generate close to 40 percent of the clean energy Malta needed to reach the 2020 EU-imposed targets.
The EU stipulates that by that deadline 20 percent of the energy Malta generated had to come from clean renewable sources.
The minister was speaking at the launch of a wind monitoring mast at L-Ahrax which would create a wind profile of the area around Sikka l-Bajda, by measuring wind speed and direction, to see whether the offshore wind farm was feasible.
Mr Pullicino pointed out that wind monitoring would also take place in Bahrija and Hal Far, the other two smaller proposed sites for onshore farms.
In Hal Far, a mast similar to the one in Mellieha would be installed, whereas in Bahrija use would be made of the telecommunication poles already there.
The government was also working on a number of other renewable energy projects including solar panelling on public buildings, domestic and industrial schemes to incentivise wind and solar energy as well as energy from waste.
Mr Pullicino added that together with the two-year wind monitoring campaign, the ministry also had to study the reef to ensure that the ecosystem was not too sensitive for the development.
The monitoring mast, which received the planning authority’s seal of approval last week, stands on its own weight and did not require any drilling for it to be installed.
It is supported by strong ropes which are decorated with red markers to reduce bird collisions - following Birdlife Malta’s warning that the area is populated by Shearwaters.
However, Mr Pullicino said he was sceptical about whether birds would actually hit the mast.
The mast has lights, CCTV cameras and data recording equipment, all powered by two small solar panels.
The mast cost €150,000, a figure which prompted Mr Pullicino to point out that although renewable energy came at a cost, fossil fuels came at an even greater cost because of the pollution they generated.
He said that the €300 million investment for the wind farm would be private and not paid for by the taxpayer.
The mast is equipped with some 17 small wind vanes which will record the wind’s power and velocity from different directions and at different altitudes.
The monitoring mast is also a precursor of the actual wind turbines that would hopefully be installed.
The area is to be fenced off in the coming days.