12 wind energy malta ariolo
TRANSCRIPT
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
1/37
Establishing environmentally compatible wind energy
potential in Europe- Malta Case Study-
fo r: Malta Resources Authority
by: Antoine Riolo
Chief Executive Off icer
9th November 2006
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
2/37
Page 1
Introduction
Large scale wind is by far the only RES
technology that can make a significant impact to
the Maltese energy economy, followed by
energy from waste.
Incentives to adopt RES are:Diversification of our fuel mix;
Environmental improvement on the local scale and a
moral contribution to international efforts.
Conditions are very difficult, both for onshoreand offshore wind exploitation.
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
3/37
Page 2
To outline the work carried out in Malta todetermine onshore and offshore wind potential
on an island specific basis;
To consider the applicability to Malta as a small
island state of the proposed EEA methodology
for estimating wind energy potential.
Objectives of the Presentation
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
4/37
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
5/37
Page 4
Population density of Malta
Malta - 1,261 inhabitants / km2
EU Average - 115 inhabitants / km2
Next highest (Netherlands) - 395 inhabitants / km2
Also relevant to wind-energy potential is the relative
disproportionate size and impact of certain national critical
infrastructure, more so in view of Maltas strategic position e.g.
2 major harbours including a major transhipment terminal;
an international airport;
communications facilities.
Other important characteristics
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
6/37
Page 5
Large scale wind
Onshore wind
potential and possibilities
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
7/37
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
8/37Page 7
A bottom up approach
Mapping unconstrained potential onshore sites (1)
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
9/37
Page 8
A bottom up approach
Mapping unconstrained potential onshore sites (2)
Unconstrained wind potential defined as unconstrained availability
of wind resource combined with unconstrained sites, e.g. wind and
areas of exposed ground for wind generation
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
10/37
Page 9
Constrained wind potential issues considered with respect to each
specified site:
Lack of access:
serious barriers in Qasam San Gorg, Gozo.
Airport interference analysis:
excludes Hal Far Airfield and Gebel Ciantar;
Ghemieri and Wardija Ridge highly compromised;
possible impacts at Bajda Ridge, Marfa Ridge, Ta Hammud and Qasam San Gorg;
Ecology and landscape Impacts:
Least compromised sites: Ta Hammud, Marfa Ridge, Bajda Ridge
Maximum capacity at sites likely to be reduced by planning constraints, ecological value
and landscape sensitivity;
Bajda Ridge limited by bird sanctuaries;
Marfa Ridge surrounded by various grades of designated landscape.
Visual Impacts:
In view of characteristics of Maltese landscape and scale of developmentvisual impacts
can be significant and likely to limit number of windfarms.
A bottom up approach
Wind resource characterisation
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
11/37
Page 10
Areas of zero potential include:
Surface water bodies;
Infrastructures (roads);
Touristic sites;
Military areas;
Woodland/ forests;
Water bodies;
Natura 2000 sites;
Important bird areas.
Other areas to consider as discuss:airport plus buffer;
urban areas plus their buffer.
Mapping areas of zero potential
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
12/37
Page 11
Areas of zero potential: Aviation
Buffer zone around airport
proposed at minimum of 4km from the aerodrome reference point
Based on wind turbine size of 1 MW/ (Hub height = 60m; Total height =
90m);
Based on ICAO requirements for physical obstacle limitation namely those
included with ICAO Annex 14 Vol 1: AerodromesChapter 4 (Obstacle
Control and Removal);
Potential effects on aerodrome and/or navigation instrumentation and radarcoverage;
Buffer of 2.5 km proposed by EEA is not considered sufficient;
Impact on total area of the country is as on the table below. Of course
other considerations overlap.
Areakm2
% of total area of MaltaAirport 3.79 1.2 %
Airport + 2.5 km buffer 50.74 16.1 %
Airport + 4 km buffer 85.36 27.0 %
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
13/37
Page 12
Urban Areas
The potential is considered in terms of the urban area plus a buffer for visibility;
The width of the buffer is conditioned by visibility;
Note re visibility constraints in Malta: The Maltese archipelago is very small- area 316 km2.
Best sites in terms of wind speeds and elevations are located in sensitive
landscape areas. The landscape is open with little tree cover affording long distance views.
Skyline dominated by the copulas of churches and historic buildings. Tallest
building rises some 70m from the ground and may be seen from any
panoramic location within Malta and from high points in Gozo.
Weather in Malta characterised by high number of days with very good
visibility and very good natural light.
A combination of all these factors suggests that large onshore wind farm
development likely to have a significant visual impact and likely to be
prominent from a large number of areas.
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
14/37
Page 13
Characteristics of urban areas in Malta
Areakm2 % of total area of Malta
Estimated urban area 73.6 23.3 %
Estimated urban area + 1 km buffer 254.8 80.6 %
Estimated urban area + 2 km buffer 302.6 95.8 %
Estimated urban area + 3 km buffer (2) 313.9 99.3 %
Notes:
(1) Urban areas includes green urban areas (0.5%), urban fabric (22.2%),sports and leisure facilities (0.6%);
(2) From the remainder - 1.4 km2equivalent to 0.4 % of the total area is part of
Comino an environmentally sensitive area.
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
15/37
Page 14
Visual impacts
Taking into account research undertaken by Scottish Executive in
the UK on the effect of distance on the perception of wind energydevelopments in open landscape:
Up to 2 km: likely to be prominent feature;
2 - 5 km: relatively prominent;
515 km: only prominent in clear visibilityseen as part of wider
landscape;
1530 km: only seen in clear visibilitya minor element in the landscape;
(Source Planning Advice Note (PAN ) 45Renewable Energy Technologies)
Buffer zone around urban areas proposed at minimum of 2km.
With no large-scale exploitation considering the high populationdensity and size of island, taken together
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
16/37
Page 15
Other issues
For completeness, other issues are:
Industrial areas Industrial areas are generally located on the peripheral or part of urban
areas. Since these are an extension of main urban areas, and in view of
limited land availability in Malta within such areas, they are included with
urban areas.
Touristic sites:
A minimum 2000 m buffer zone for touristic areas should be considered asfor urban areas due to visibility considerations.
Mining sites: Extraction of minerals is carried out by open pit quarrying. Due to physical
limitations it is highly unlikely that such quarries (with the exception of
shallow disused quarries) offer suitable potential for siting windfarm
development.
Dump sites: Disused dump sites offer limited scope for hosting wind development in
view of visibility issues as well as physical limitation including structural
integrity considerations of the sites.
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
17/37
Page 16
Other concerns and issues
Agriculturearable land, fruit tress, olive trees, vineyards Due to high competing pressures for available land resources agricultural
land is of strategic value. Thus feasible average % of maximum potential
may be significantly less in such circumstances.
Forests: Woodland have a strategic and significant environmental value and would
similarly pose serious constraints (0%) to wind development.
Semi natural grassland: Garigue, phyragana, Mediterranean xeric areas and grasslands are very
rich species in a Maltese context are protected under the Habitats
Directive. The wind energy potential is highly dependent on the habitat
type and species richness of the particular locality.
Important bird areas: Depends on the type of birds involved for ex. lighting and noise associated
with wind turbines may affect seabirds in coastal important bird areas.
M i f t ti l t ki i t t l l i l
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
18/37
Page 17
Mapping of potential areas taking into account local visual
(2km buffer around urban areas)and aviation concerns (4km buffer)
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
19/37
Page 18
Integrating potential sites and all constraints
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
20/37
Page 19
Large scale wind
Offshore wind
potential, possibilities andconstraints
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
21/37
Page 20
Offshore wind (near shore)
Given the constraints hindering onshore wind development, the
Government decided to investigate the potential of off-shore wind.
Current proven offshore technology is limited to 30 meters depth.
This contour in Maltese waters lies within a 4-km coastal band and
most of it lies very close to the shoreline.
This makes this type of development difficult.
Economic constraints : tourism, bunkering activities, inland maritime
traffic;
Infrastructural constraints: approaches to harbours, airport, interference
with radar and communications;
Environmental constraints: reefs, bird rafting, posedonia beds.
It was therefore decided to investigate the possibilities offered bydeepwater off-shore wind.
This presupposes connection to the European electricity network,
which is a parallel project.
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
22/37
Page 21
Bathymetry of Malta
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
23/37
Page 22
Call for EOI for Offshore Windfarm Development
Detailed assessment carried out in preparation for a Call for EOI
for offshore windfarm development within Maltese territorial
waters;
Extensive consultation carried out with key Government entities
and authorities:
Aviation: Department of Civil Aviation, Malta International Airport,
Malta Air Traffic Services Ltd.;
Maritime: Malta Maritime Authority;
Environment: Malta Environment & Planning Authority;
Tourism: Malta Tourism Authority;
Fisheries: Fisheries Conservation and Control Division;
Military: Armed Forces of Malta;
Communications: Malta Communications Authority.
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
24/37
Page 23
Categorisation of Offshore areas
3 categories of zones/areas identified:
No Go areas; Sensitive zones;
Other areas.
No Go areas established in view of the unacceptable impacts or
risks associated included: the harbour approaches and shipping lanes including areas of heavy
maritime traffic, waiting areas identified as important for coastal navigation
and the Gozo Channel;
approaches to airport runways and areas identified as posing
unacceptable impact on aviation or radar operations;
marine protection areas, nature reserves (area in the vicinity of Filfla),
areas of environmental significance(selected areas where seabed is
colonised byposidonia oceanicameadows); areas marked for military purposes including firing practices areas or those
previously used as explosives dumping grounds;
areas identified as important from a tourism perspective e.g. diving sites,
wrecks etc. Includes Sikka l-Bajda and an area around the coast and
extending up to 3 km seawards.
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
25/37
Page 24
Sensitive Zones (1)
Areas identified as being potentially restricted to windfarm
development in view of serious conflicts with important key
economic activities or due to possible adverse negative impacts
arising from any such development.
The level of such impacts and risks would have to be determined
at an early stage and included:
areas identified by the Civil Aviation Department as potentially
affecting the performance of VOR coverage.
areas identified by the Malta Maritime Authority as posing possible
unacceptable impacts on navigation, bunkering or other related
activities.
areas which if developed may result in other unacceptable impacts
or such as impacts on tourist-related activities.
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
26/37
Page 25
Areas identified by MEPA as important from an environmental
perspective (e.g. rafting zones for particular protected bird
species; maerl beds and other ecological concerns; submerged
wrecks and archaeological features; visual concern and
landscape value.
Areas identified by the Malta Communications Authority aspossibly posing unacceptable impacts on telecommunications.
the areas (130 sites) established as dolphin fish distribution in
accordance with EU Council Regulation 813/2004 and areas
established as trawlable areas around the Maltese coast,
aquaculture installations.
Sensitive Zones (2)
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
27/37
Page 26
Other Areas
Other areas which were not included in the no go areas or
the sensitive areas were pr ima facieconsidered as areaswhich are available for offshore wind development subject to
normal environmental impact assessment and other studies
in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment
Regulations.
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
28/37
Stakeholder specific no go and sensitive areas -
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
29/37
Page 28
Stakeholder specific no go and sensitive areas -
Aviation(1)(Total WTG height = 144 m)
Stakeholder specific no go and sensitive areas -
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
30/37
Page 29
Stakeholder specific no go and sensitive areas -
Aviation(2) - (Total WTG height = 183 m)
Stakeholder specific no go and sensitive areas -
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
31/37
Page 30
Stakeholder specific no go and sensitive areas -
Maritime navigation, bunkering & related activities
Stakeholder specific no go and sensitive areas -
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
32/37
Page 31
Stakeholder specific no go and sensitive areas -
Fishing
Stakeholder specific no go and sensitive areas -
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
33/37
Page 32
Stakeholder specific no go and sensitive areas
Environment
Stakeholder specific no go and sensitive areas -
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
34/37
Page 33
Stakeholder specific no go and sensitive areas
Tourism
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
35/37
Stakeholder specific no go and sensitive areas -
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
36/37
Page 35
Stakeholder specific no go and sensitive areas
Military
-
8/13/2019 12 Wind Energy Malta ARiolo
37/37
Thank you for your attention