Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1518433
5 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 3 APRIL 2024 NEWS KARL AZZOPARDI kazzopardi@mediatoday.com.mt CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The calculation was based on estimates provided by the Energy & Water Agency (EWA) on the potential power generation capacity of offshore wind RES projects. According to these estimates around 400MW of electricity can be produced in an offshore RES area of 100sq.km. Theoretically, all four alternatives con- sidered in the study "hold enough room to offset all non-renewable power gener- ation sources in Malta". The report also refers to the possible surplus of renewa- ble energy, which can be generated and exported to other countries or stored to produce hydrogen which can be used as fuel for power stations. But the report acknowledges that these estimates "oversimplify the potential for renewable energy generation in each cluster" due to several "unknowns" which include the variability in power-generat- ing capacity per unit area, whether solar or wind energy is employed and the phys- ical dimensions and layouts of the instal- lations. Moreover, "it is improbable" that the entire site footprint is utilised and developed exclusively for offshore RES projects. One also must consider other limiting factors like intermittency of renewable energy. According to the study the devel- opment of battery energy storage systems will be crucial to minimise the intermit- tencies of renewable energy and the strain this would otherwise put on the national energy grid. One of the disadvantages posed by choosing Area 3 is its vicinity to existing bunkering areas and shipping routes but since only a part of the site will be de- veloped, renewable energy plants can be planned in a way which minimises the impact on sea traffic. On the plus side, Area 3 also includes some of the shallowest areas, thus offer- ing specific technical and financial advan- tages which may be exploited by project proponents. One potential obstacle is the presence of two recognised submarine volcanoes in Area 3, which are presumably inac- tive. But due to the substantial footprint of Area 3, it is anticipated that designers of RES projects would successfully man- age to steer clear of these two underwater structures. The study evaluated a total of five al- ternative scenarios, ranging from the Do-Nothing Scenario (Alternative 0) to the full development of all six sites con- sidered (Alternative D). With the exception of the Do-Nothing Scenario all alternatives considered have sufficient potential to meet and exceed Malta's electrical consumption demands by 2040, thus increasing significantly the share of renewable energy sources in the local energy market. But the establishment of offshore devel- opments could have adverse effects on ge- ology, biodiversity, landscapes, maritime transportation, and cultural heritage. The main negative impacts are caused by the deployment of anchoring systems and large-scale floating structures, cable laying, and excavation works. Moreover, the necessary infrastructure may lead to visual impacts, noise and light emissions. The development of all six areas was excluded despite having the greatest po- tential, as it yielded the highest number of major adverse impacts, primarily asso- ciated with biodiversity and impact on maritime transportation. Alternative B was preferred over the other alternatives as it was deemed to have a less adverse impact on avifauna since it is located further away from the main bird migration routes. It also poses less biodiversity concerns particularly on cetaceans, turtles and seabed habitats. Offshore solar and wind farms could meet Malta's electrical demand in 2040 Areas 3 and 4 have been identified as best suited for the development of solar and wind energy farms THE Naxxar Local Council has criticised the lack of information provided to it over the relocation of the hazardous waste incinera- tor to Magħtab. "The Naxxar Local Council feels it would have been fair, just, and preferable if there had been more communica- tion from the outset with the council, because ultimately the Local Council is the represent- ative of the people of Naxxar," it said in a statement. Last week, MaltaToday re- ported on Wasteserv's plan- ning application to relocate of the incinerator used to burn hazardous waste like animal and clinical waste from its current location in Marsa to Magħtab. The council said that follow- ing the newspaper's report, it requested a meeting with Was- teserv CEO Richard Bilocca who assured councillors that the project is still at a prema- ture stage, and studies are still ongoing. The council reiterated its opposition to the project, and said it will continue to asses the process of the incinerator's re- location. Wasteserv replies "It is pertinent to note that the hazardous waste treatment facility project had been an- nounced by WasteServ in 2020 through a press release which received wide coverage in me- dia. Far from anyone being kept in the dark about this pro- ject, WasteServ has taken steps to ensure that both the Naxxar Local Council and the gener- al public have been informed about the ECOHIVE strategy, which incorporates five pro- jects including the relocation of the incinerator. "It should also be noted that this strategy was finalised fol- lowing consultation with af- fected parties including neigh- bouring farmers, who asked WasteServ to reduce land up- take. "During the meeting held yesterday with the Naxxar Lo- cal Council, Councillors were shown plans of the project and provided with reassurances that the ECOHIVE strategy – which is based on the circular economy principle instead of the past practice of landfill- ing – will not leave any nega- tive impact on the area. On the contrary, it will improve the environment in the vicinity of Magħtab. "The mayor and councillors, including the Executive Secre- tary, were also given a tour of the Complex which provided them with the opportunity to observe how an organic bag is converted into energy, how thousands of tonnes of recycla- bles are being processed so that they are returned in the econ- omy, how well the landfills are maintained, and the constant tree planting and maintenance works on the old Magħtab landfill. "During a very constructive meeting yesterday, WasteServ also agreed to a proposal by the Council to hold meetings with residents in the immedi- ate vicinity and will continue to provide any information and assistance required to the local council and the general public." Naxxar council says it was kept in the dark by Wasteserv over incinerator relocation