The Anonymous Widower

Malta Months Away from First Offshore Wind Tender, Identifies Six Floating Wind Areas

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.

This is the sub-heading.

Malta’s Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise has issued a draft National Policy for the Deployment of Offshore Renewable Energy for public consultation and has demarcated six floating offshore wind development areas located beyond the country’s 12-nautical-mile territorial waters and into its potential Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

These are the first three paragraphs.

According to the Ministry, an international call for expressions of interest will be launched after the public consultation and the subsequent updating of the policy document, while a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) will be prepared at the same time. The completion of a plan-level SEA will help further narrow down the preliminary areas and pinpoint the preferred locations for offshore renewable installations.

The six areas, as well as the rest of Malta’s potential EEZ, have been deemed most suitable for floating offshore wind and solar technologies and, according to the policy, the government has taken into account the possibility of having projects that combine the two technologies.

Looking at other offshore and marine renewables, the government has determined that, although not precluded, wave and tidal energy potential for Malta is considered very limited.

Note.

1. Malta has no domestic resource of fossil fuels and no gas distribution network.
2. Renewable energy on Malta has one of the lowest shares in the European Union.
3. Malta has four operational electricity plants , with a total capacity of 537.8 MW.
4. There is a 200 MW interconnector to Sicily.
5. Malta has run a pilot project to assess floating solar power.
6. The article embraces solar power, but dismisses wave and tidal power.

As the article says that Malta has 25 GW of offshore wind potential, I suspect that Malta will attract bids for the offshore wind licences around the island from some of the world’s largest, experienced and most well-respected offshore wind companies.

I do have a few thoughts.

A Large Generation Capacity

If Malta develops its full 25 GW of offshore wind potential, it will have more than enough electricity for its normal use.

This could mean.

• Malta could have all the electricity needed to run air-conditioners everywhere.
• Malta could export electricity to Sicily.
• Malta could become a hydrogen production centre.
• I also suspect, it could mean that Malta would need some energy storage.

I’ll look at the last two points, in the next two sections.

Hydrogen Production

In the last year or so I’ve written several posts about Offshore Hydrogen Production and Malta would it seems be an ideal location to develop this industry.

• Hydrogen could be used for transport on the island.
• Hydrogen could replace imports of gas.
• Hydrogen could be exported by tanker.
• Lhyfe and other companies are developing offshore hydrogen production.

I don’t think, there would be a problem recruiting engineers to develop the industry.

Energy Storage

Because of the large generation capacity around Malta, even with substantial hydrogen production, I am sure there will be a need for some energy storage around the island.

In UK Cleantech Consortium Awarded Funding For Energy Storage Technology Integrated With Floating Wind, I described a technique called Marine Pumped Hydro, which is being developed by the STORE Consortium.

• Energy is stored as pressurised water in 3D-printed hollow concrete spheres fitted with a hydraulic turbine and pump.
• The spheres sit on the sea-bed.
• This page on the STORE Consortium web site, describes the technology in detail.
• The technology is has all been used before, but not together.

I think it is excellent technology and the UK government has backed it with £150,000 of taxpayers’ money.

I also believe that Marine Pumped Hydro or something like it, could be the solution to the intermittency of wind farms.

It could be ideal to use in the seas around Malta.

Conclusion

Malta could be a renewable energy hub in the middle of the Mediterranean.

I think the Malta renewable energy developments, will show how various technologies can work together.

September 4, 2023 - Posted by AnonW | Energy, Energy Storage, Hydrogen | Air-Conditioning, Lhyfe, Malta, Offshore Hydrogen Production, Offshore Solar Power, Offshore Wind Power, STORE Consortium, Tidal Power, Wave Power, Wind Power