Wind measuring mast at Ahrax Point

An 80-metre-long mast will be built at Ahrax Point in Mellieha to start monitoring the wind, paving the way for the offshore wind farm at Sikka l-Bajda to be developed.

The Resources Ministry on Tuesday filed an application with the planning authority for the temporary wind monitoring mast to be installed.

So far, the technical studies were based on climate data for the Mediterranean region around Malta.

The next step of the evaluation phase involves the collection of site-specific data, to remove any uncertainties, a ministry spokesman told The Times.

The mast will, among others, measure wind speed and its direction at different heights above the sea, so as to determine how the wind turbines should be positioned for the highest efficiency.

Ahrax Point was selected as the most suitable location since it is close to the Sikka l-Bajda site. The mast will be installed for two years, after which it will be removed, together with any other related equipment.

Sikka l-Bajda is a reef located about two kilometres off Ahrax Point, where there are shallow waters on a stretch of about seven square kilometres of sea.

Experts have suggested that about 15 large wind turbines (about 100 metres diameter) could be located at this site. This could produce about 10 per cent of Malta's energy needs.

According to the government, the wind energy farm at Sikka l-Bajda would provide around four per cent of Malta's energy requirements.

The project has been controversial because of the chosen location and the fact that offshore wind farms are more expensive and risky than land-based farms.