A new proposed policy framework has been published by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) together with the Ministry of Energy and Health to provide guidance for the location of new solar farms while identifying design criteria and mitigation measures to address their potential impact.

The policy document will also facilitate Malta’s achievement of its 2020 EU target of 10% Renewable Energy.

The proposed policy document defines a solar farm as a sizable commercial installation with a footprint larger than 1000m2, not usually related to residential development, for the purpose of renewable energy generation by means of photovoltaic technology.

To limit grid connection costs, reduce distribution losses and limit sprawl towards the countryside, the proposed policy recommends that solar farms are sited in the vicinity of urban areas, or areas with high electrical consumption.

The document identifies preferred sites for solar farm installations which include large scale roof tops of public buildings and areas within development zones, industrial/commercial facilities and parking areas.

Also considered appropriate for such a development are Areas of Containment, sites earmarked for Small and Medium Enterprise (SME sites), official disused landfills and quarries, large farm sheds, large water reservoirs and greenhouses lying outside the development zone.

The policy favours the use of quarries especially in the flatter areas of the Island such as in Mqabba, Hal Kirkop, Mqabba, Qrendi and Siggiewi where a better visual integration of the Solar Farm can be achieved.

The draft policy specifically states that solar farms will not be considered in the open countryside, Natura 2000 sites, fertile and tilled arable land, on garrigue and maquis, in valleys, ridge edges, or sites with considerable breaks of slope and Areas of Archaeological, Cultural or Scientific interest.

The policy document also dissuades sites where significant infrastructural works are required to connect the installation to the grid.

MEPA said that it is “fully aware that solar farms can create potential adverse visual impacts, the proposed policy sets minimum design requirements. To be considered positively, a proposed solar farm should fit appropriately in the site topography with attention given to limiting the height of the panels above the surrounding terrain.”

Where possible, the draft policy encourages that the solar farm’s ancillary infrastructure are placed underground and trenching works and access routes should be limited to existing paths.

The policy also calls for the introduction of appropriate context-adapted boundary treatment and peripheral landscaping and require a decommissioning and site-reinstatement plan should the project cease to operate.

Additionally, the document is also proposing that a specific planning permit condition should be included for this type of development whereby within a 30 year period the solar farm should be decommissioned and the site re-instated to an acceptable use. In the case of disused quarries, the infilling of the quarry shall also be a condition in the development permission.

An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and/or Appropriate Assessment may be necessary depending on the size and location of a ground-mounted solar farm and on the scale of ancillary interventions.

Last year the Authority sought to gauge the interest of third parties that are interested in committing their roof space, open car parks, industrial land and quarries for the development of large scale solar farms.

From the seventy-two submissions which were received and following a mapping and assessment exercise, MEPA said that it was calculated that potentially there is just under 0.7km2 of available area. This could theoretically accommodate around 50MWp of PVs and would contribute by almost a third of the projected PV capacity necessary to meet Malta’s 2020 target.

In September 2013, the Authority had published the proposed objectives which were to guide the formulation of this proposed policy framework. The Authority is publishing the submissions it had received from the public and other stakeholders, related to the proposed policy objectives.

The draft policy together with the submissions received from the public can be viewed on the Authority’s website at www.mepa.org.mt/public-consultation.

Individuals and organisations are being invited to send their submissions pertaining to this draft policy in writing to:

MEPA, Chief Executive Officer, Solar Farms Policy P.O. Box 200, Marsa MRS 1000;

or by emailing: solarfarms.policy@mepa.org.mt.

Submissions should reach the Authority by Friday the 13th of February 2015.

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