I was surprised to read Alan Deidun’s assertion – absurdly in defence of the proposed Sikka l-Bajda wind farm – that the Welsh did not mind the setting up of the Rhyl Flats Offshore Wind Farm at the picturesque sea resort in Lladudno (The Sunday Times, July 29). As a respected environmentalist he should know better.

Whether or not people in Rhyl, Wales, find the view from the beach opposite an offshore wind farm acceptable is of no importance to the establishment of a similar wind farm in Malta – although there are objections to an extension of a nearby wind farm in the Wirral (in North Wales) on the grounds that it would “visually destroy the coastline” in an area of outstanding beauty.

What should be taken into account are more serious objections made against the inshore establishment of such wind farms by the UK Civil Aviation Authority and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, which have led to restraints on such installations.

The Civil Aviation Authority was concerned about interference with airports’ radar systems, while the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds highlighted the massacre of migrating birds when these installations are on birds’ migration paths. Both of these factors apply to Malta, especially the latter, since EU law stipulates that migrating species should be protected.

Apart from sleepless nights from the noise – sound travels long distances over water – of even greater importance to residents of Malta are the costs involved.

A recent UK study found that the power supplied by such wind farms can be achieved at around one-tenth of the capital cost from open cycle gas power units that are in any case required to back up this unreliable source of power. Furthermore, any potential savings in emissions of carbon dioxide are more than offset by the increased emissions from the inefficient operation of gas plants when operating in this back-up mode.

With massive supplies of cheap gas on the international market and already in place in the US, Malta would be well advised to forget about wind. If renewable energy is required by the EU then the only realistic options are solar, thermal and geothermal energy that can supply power on a 24/7 basis.