Valletta, Malta – Plans for a 5-megawatt (MW) solar farm on Malta’s disused Magħtab landfill are poised for final approval, seven years after Enemalta plc initially filed the application. The ambitious project, designated PA/01384/18, proposes the installation of over 20,000 photovoltaic (PV) panels and four substations across approximately 74,000 square meters, with the PV array occupying 54,000 square meters of the Ta’ Zwejra landfill site. This development marks a significant step in Malta’s strategy to expand its renewable energy capacity by repurposing brownfield land.
A Planning Authority (PA) case officer has formally recommended the project for approval, anticipating a final decision by the PA's board on July 31. This recommendation follows comprehensive assessments by key regulatory bodies. The Environmental Resources Authority (ERA) raised no objections, concluding that the solar farm is not expected to exert a significant environmental impact, even considering its proximity to a Special Area of Conservation located 400 meters away. This clearance underscores the project's adherence to environmental safeguards.
Conversely, the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage (SCH) expressed reservations regarding the visual impact, noting that “the panels will be installed on the relatively steep sides of the hillocks created by the landfill, extending to a considerable height and creating an unbroken façade of glass.” Despite these aesthetic concerns, the SCH did not oppose the fundamental principle of installing PV panels on the site. The PA case officer, however, countered that given the pre-existing landfill, the proposed development was unlikely to introduce a new negative visual impact.
Crucially, the proposal aligns directly with Malta’s 2021 solar farm policy, which explicitly identifies disused landfills as preferred locations for such installations. This policy framework also stipulates a critical condition: the entire solar farm must be decommissioned and the site restored to its original condition within 30 years of the development permission being issued. Furthermore, the project resonates with the objectives outlined in the 2015 Strategic Plan for Environment and Development, which prioritizes initiatives aimed at controlling greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change. The case officer's recommendation for approval is firmly rooted in these policy alignments and environmental considerations, positioning the Magħtab solar farm as a cornerstone in Malta's transition towards a more sustainable energy future.