It is very heartening to see two whole pages devoted to the topic of renewable energy (Focus: Renewable energy, What are Malta’s options? TMID, 10 November).

The price of oil continues to climb and the apparent indifference of the present government to the potential of solar and wind power to offset the huge burden of total dependence on oil for generating our electricity is nothing short of irresponsible.

In particular the government’s seeming antagonism to wind energy is incomprehensible. Wind power currently offers the most sustainable way of exploiting renewable energy to produce electricity. The government has tried to entice people into installing photovoltaic systems on their roofs by offering a handsome rebate on installation expenses. This is a very positive move but it is virtually cancelled by the government’s stingy offer to buy back excess electricity at less than half the Enemalta going rate.

There is one point in Mr Lindsay’s excellent and timely article which is puzzling. He tells us that onshore wind farms could offset 5.4 per cent of the total electricity generated by fossil fuels. Surely the amount of electricity that could be produced by wind farms is directly proportionate to the number of wind farms or, more accurately, with the total number (and size) of turbines?

The limiting factor in Malta is space. But it is still not beyond the realms of possibility that a very large part of our electricity could be generated from wind, if the prejudice against turbines is overcome. For instance, if it were possible to set up, say, five wind farms of 10-12 turbines placed strategically in Malta’s uninhabited cliff areas on our south coast, this would reduce our oil consumption by 25 per cent.

Again, it must be emphasised that wind farms are not permanent installations. The commissioning of wind turbines does not damage terrain and the turbines can be removed leaving virtually no trace at the end of their useful life – or when new technology makes other forms of renewable energy exploitation more sustainable.

As things now stand, it will be years before Malta’s government starts to generate a significant part of our electricity requirements from renewable energy. So the electricity surcharge is here to stay – and it will probably go higher as oil prices continue to soar.

Dr George Debono

Sliema