Cooling water impact assessment in Malta puts capacity increase in clear over molluscs

摘要

Environmental firm SLR Consulting has carried out a study on the impact of cooling water discharges on Maltese marine wildlife. The project, which was carried out for Malta's largest energy company, Enemalta, confirmed that a potential increase in generating capacity at its Delimara power station would not affect rare bivalve molluscs, including the large saltwater clam, the Noble Pen Shell, Pinna nobilis. The project included modelling cooling water discharges and mapping the existing and predicted thermal impacts for a range of hydrographic, seasonal, weather and operating conditions to assess the impacts on the Noble Pen Shell.