The environment ministry has confirmed it is working on a ‘framework’ for floating wind farms at sea. It said studies are underway to identify the ideal zones for the development of offshore farms, according to risk levels and wind speeds. “Tapping into this sector can provide significant socio-economic opportunities including the creation of green jobs and improved local value chains,” the ministry said on Monday. It said it had for the past months been working to develop “an enabling framework for floating offshore renewable energy”. Studies are underway to identify low, medium and high-risk zones and to identify wind speeds and other variables, “crucial for the implementation of such projects and for prospective economic operators”, a ministry spokesperson said. “In parallel, the ministry for finance issued a preliminary market consultation to receive submissions for economic activities within Malta’s exclusive economic zone.” During a Times of Malta event about the budget last month, Finance Minister Clyde Caruana described Malta’s huge continental shelf as a massive opportunity for offshore wind farms. At one point he painted a picture of a future Malta as an offshore...
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