https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/1182 2026-05-13T07:30:46Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146139 Title: Evaluating sociotechnical factors influencing the feasibility of vineyard photovoltaic integration in Malta Authors: Rexhausen, Aron; Rothstein, Benno; Yousif, Charles Abstract: This study investigates the feasibility of viticultural photovoltaics (Viti-PV) in Malta — a small European island state in the Mediterranean — through a mixed-methods approach, combining a standardised questionnaire (n= 13 viticulturists) with expert interviews involving stakeholders from viticulture, energy and policy. Results show that while Viti-PV offers tangible benefits such as shading, reduced irrigation needs and income diversification to this sunny, warm and relatively dry island, adoption is constrained by high investment costs, regulatory prohibitions and concerns over landscape impacts. For policy and practice, the findings highlight the necessity of tailored financing models, regulatory adaptation and participatory pilot projects to build evidence and stakeholder confidence. Viti-PV can contribute simultaneously to renewable energy targets and viticultural climate resilience, but its implementation depends on coordinated support across technical, economic and institutional dimensions. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145824 Title: Sustainable food packaging : an updated definition following a holistic approach Authors: Dörnyei, Krisztina Rita; Uysal-Unalan, Ilke; Krauter, Victoria; Weinrich, Ramona; Incarnato, Loredana; Karlovits, Igor; Colelli, Giancarlo; Chrysochou, Polymeros; Camilleri Fenech, Margaret; Kvalvåg Pettersen, Marit; Arranz, Elena; Marcos, Begonya; Frigerio, Valeria; Apicella, Annalisa; Yildirim, Selçuk; Poças, Fátima; Dekker, Matthijs; Johanna, Lahti; Coma, Véronique; Corredig, Milena Abstract: Food packaging solutions need to be redesigned to be more sustainable, but determining which solution is ‘more optimal’ is a very difficult task when considering the entire food product value chain. Previous papers paved the way toward a sustainable food packaging definition, but it is far from being commonly accepted or well usable in the broad food systems domain, which further results in uninformed choices for sustainable food packaging made by all stakeholders in the value chain: producers, distributors, practitioners and consumers. Therefore, this work aims first at giving a state-of-the-art overview of sustainable food packaging terms (38 similar terms were identified and grouped into four clusters: Sustainable, Circular, Bio and Other sustainable packaging) and definitions using systematic (narrative) review analysis and ‘controlled expert opinion feedback’ methodology. Second, it aims to offer an updated definition for sustainable food packaging, which is also specific to food packaging and be simple, coherent, easily understandable, and communicable to everybody. The applied holistic approach intends to include all aspects of the food-packaging unit, to consider food safety and packaging functionality, while taking into account different disciplines and challenges related to food packaging along the supply chain. Being a balancing act, a sustainable food packaging may not be a perfect solution, but contextual, suboptimal and in need of constant validation. 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145062 Title: Experimental analysis of a constant blade to jet speed ratio control for a micro-Pelton wheel turbine for use with an offshore hydro-pneumatic energy storage system Authors: Aquilina, Luke; Duane, Iain; Faust, Wilian; Sant, Tonio; Farrugia, Robert N. Abstract: Hydro-Pneumatic Energy Storage is a type of mechanical energy storage system being investigated for providing long duration energy storage which is becoming essential for integrating renewables on a wide scale. Pelton turbines are often being considered for converting the stored energy into electricity. This is due to the low specific speed requirements, resulting from the high pressure and low flowrates that characterise hydro-pneumatic systems. As opposed to conventional applications in hydro power, where variations in the operating head are small, hydro-pneumatic energy storage presents a more complex environment due to the relatively large variations in the head across the discharging cycle. This study implements a control scheme on a physical setup to maintain a constant blade-to-jet speed ratio for a grid-connected Pelton turbine. The proposed scheme increased the turbine’s overall efficiency from 62 % to 65 %, representing a 4.9 % relative improvement in recovered energy compared with the constant-speed control scheme. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145061 Title: Using measure-correlate-predict methodologies for offshore wind resources quantification in a Mediterranean island scenario Authors: Mifsud, Michael D.; Farrugia, Robert N.; Sant, Tonio; La Fata, Davide; Ellul, J. P.; Mule’ Stagno, Luciano; Lauri, A. Abstract: The accurate quantification of long-term wind resources is crucial for the design and optimization of offshore wind farms. This study explored the impact of highresolution Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) wind data on wind resources quantification in the central Mediterranean region, focusing on the generation of predicted long-term datasets and on offshore wind energy production. By correlating long-term wind datasets against measured short-term LiDAR data during two separate yet concurrent timeframes, researchers can improve wind speed predictions leading to better informed wind farm planning decisions. Four different Measure-Correlate-Predict (MCP) methodologies available in the windPRO® V4.0 software suite were employed to assess MCP method performance in predicting wind speeds at four specific locations outside Malta’s territorial waters and at one onshore location, where the LiDAR unit itself was situated. The results demonstrated a strong correlation between the long-term data and measured wind speeds during the concurrent time frames. The findings support the use of the MCP methodology and commercially-available long-term offshore wind data for wind farm planning and optimization decisions, particularly in the central Mediterranean region. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z