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UNIVERSITY OF MALTA INSTITUTE FOR ENERGY TECHNOLOGY Triq il-Port Ruman, Marsaxlokk, MXK 1531, Malta TEL: (+356) 21650675/21652249 FAX: (+356) 21650615 |
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UNIVERSITY OF MALTA INSTITUTE FOR ENERGY TECHNOLOGY Triq il-Port Ruman, Marsaxlokk, MXK 1531, Malta TEL: (+356) 21650675/21652249 FAX: (+356) 21650615 |
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It’s in the
Breeze!
– Assessing Malta’s Potential for Wind Power Generation
Ing. Robert N.
Farrugia
Malta’s primary electrical energy comes from two power stations fired by imported fossil fuels. This scenario may, in an extreme case, leave Malta in the dark if one considers the liquidity and volatility of the oil market. The fact that global oil reserves are finite and predicted to last only another century or so should be equally disquieting if one is interested in long-term planning strategies. Whether Malta joins the European Union or not is besides the issue; diversification of our electricity generation mix would make good business sense. Wind and solar energy have long been perceived as resources with which the Maltese Islands seem to be abundantly endowed. Electricity generation using wind power is currently one of the front-running renewable technologies both at European and international levels. It is safe, abundant, and environmentally clean with little of the externalities associated with other modes of generation. Moreover, wind is a free natural resource in every sense of the word; a resource which is liberated of national, geographic or political boundaries. Modern wind machines today can come with ratings between a few watts to up to more than 2 MW. As a basic prerequisite, the choice of a machine suitable for operation at a location in Malta will depend very much on matching that wind machine to the wind climate at the site of interest. It is for this reason that a methodological approach to determine wind characteristics is required; an approach that must quantify the selected site’s wind resource as well as evaluate other issues and concerns that could make this mode of generation successful. Although the Maltese Islands are popularly perceived as ‘windy’, a scientific approach is first required to quantify and substantiate such classification. The wind database of the Meteorological Office at Malta International Airport, Luqa, runs into decades of wind speed and direction records gathered for aeronautical and meteorological purposes. On one hand, the records are important due to their long-term continuous nature and on the other, being site-specific Luqa data does not reflect wind characteristics at other locations identified for possible wind turbine installation. It is for this particular reason that wind information must be gathered at these latter sites to portray regional wind conditions. As early as 1994 the Institute for Energy Technology of the University of Malta embarked upon a wind research programme designed to address issues relating to this up and coming renewable energy technology. A way of using the inherent wealth of wind data at Luqa and yet extend outwards to other locations around the islands was implemented. This consisted of a combination of short- to medium-term measurement programs at various locations using wind masts all around the Islands. The selection of potential sites was based upon geographical and physical characteristics as well as instrument availability. To date measurements have, or are being taken up on Marfa Ridge, at Bahrija, Dingli, Delimara, Marsaxlokk and Kercem in Gozo. Other sites such as Tal-Gordan in Gozo and Marfa were also evaluated; the information being made available by the Atmospheric Research Project and the Physical Oceanography Unit, both of the University of Malta. To date, the research has yielded a generous sprinkling of details about local wind characteristics such as the wind speed fluctuations according to the time of day. Such characteristics are expected to be especially useful in evaluating the performance of small wind machines. Higher aloft, the day to night speed variation becomes less marked and will arguably bear less weight in evaluating higher and bigger machines. More readily obvious are the lower wind speeds during the warm months as compared to the windier colder period. Site-specific details relating to the way the wind varies with different heights above the ground and depending upon local landscape types are also being studied. Additionally, other methods are being used to generate more information about the wind climate. Wind modelling using the latest techniques is being used to build and extend a regional wind resource database. Such computer models take into account geographical and physical data as well as suitable wind records to generate wind maps at sites or regions of interest. These models are also being used to estimate wind machine performance for a number of currently available turbines subject to ‘Maltese’ wind conditions. Based upon the results of a correlation between field measurements and modelling, a number of sites have exhibited reasonable wind characteristics. The existence of a good wind climate is a basic prerequisite for a representative wind resource assessment. Other factors need to be addressed to enable a more holistic evaluation of the potential for this renewable energy. These factors are being addressed using a multi-disciplinary approach and subject to Malta’s indigenous characteristics and peculiarities. Students from the University of Malta and James Madison University, Virginia have undertaken such case studies, each project providing the teams with new and diversified challenges inherently linked to the selected location. Sites investigated to date include locations on the north west coast such as Bahrija, Marfa, and Mellieha Ridge, which are characterized by tracts of garigue and sparsely cultivated land, as well as others such as Delimara and Hal Far; the latter being a prime example of a location with an industrial landscape. All this work is helping pool a wealth of information very relevant and appropriate to wind electricity generation in the local context and will be especially useful in selecting, installing and planning for the best technology variant, whilst striving to minimise or mitigate the impact of these machines on the environment and third parties. Earlier this year, another case study evaluated the potential for offshore wind generation. In this case, the advantages and disadvantages associated with turbine installation on an offshore reef known as Sikka l-Bajda, which lies about 1.5 kilometres northeast off l-Ahrax were appraised. In this, and all the other studies, wind speed, topographic features, obstacles and terrain roughness were evaluated and quantified. The single or multiple turbine installations considered ecological and geographical characteristics, visual intrusion and turbine aesthetics, noise pollution, possible interference with telecommunications, road access, land ownership, as well as historical and archaeological features amongst others. One-to-one meetings with experts knowledgeable in their respective field were a prime tool used to gauge and address sensitive issues. In the case of the offshore wind analysis, additional facets such the interaction with leisure and commercial marine activities, the ecosystem, fish farming and tourism were also probed. Last but definitely not least, assessment tools such as photomontages are prepared in order to establish zones of visual impact from scenic spots, vantage points and urban zones. The growing environmental awareness is increasing both at international and national level. Popular reaction to environmental issues is also maturing substantially. Whilst no technology is without its limitations and side effects, it is also worth mention that in order to be successful, that technology must be adapted to suit the people and surroundings it is envisaged to serve and operate in. This research is giving a better insight to the potential for wind energy in the Malta and should help avoid costly mistakes and shortcomings, mistakes that would adversely effect the Maltese public’s perceptions of wind energy. The work carried out to date by the Institute for Energy Technology in its Wind Research Programme should be well utilised and broadened to make sure that wind technologies are given a sporting chance to provide clean energy to the islands when and if such an opportunity does materialise. Ing. Robert N. Farrugia may be contacted at: robert.n.farrugia@um.edu.mt |
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