Design and cost evaluation of a deep water support structure for an offshore wind turbine in Maltese conditions

Abstract

Offshore wind energy is an emerging industry that is regarded as a key player in achieving the European Union 20% renewable energy target by 2020. Malta, being a small densely populated island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, has little space for large scale renewable energy projects. The large Maltese territorial waters are mostly too deep for conventional wind farms to be constructed. There is a considerably sized offshore location towards the south of the islanci (calleci Hurd Bank) with a depth of up to 70 metres that could be used for a 300 - 400 Megawatt offshore wind farm which in tum would provide much of the island's electricity needs.