Exploring Malta's potential for wind generation

Abstract

Over the past few years the interest in renewable energy technologies has been increasing in all age groups and throughout all strata of our society. This may be partly attributed to more awareness and to growing concerns about the environment we live in. One particular survey showed that 85% of the Maltese respondents think that we should generate clean electricity using the wind. The fact that global oil reserves are a finite resource and that we, as an island nation, have to import all our fossil fuels for electricity production should also induce us to strive to diversify means of appeasing our energy-intensive economy. Renewables have been around for several decades now, but to date there is little to show for this locally. This situation could possibly change in the near future. Malta's indicative target is to produce 5% of the total electricity consumption from renewable energy resources by the year 2010.