Winds of Change
Feasibility Study Now Underway
Is the government's Council for Sustainable Development fulfilling its duty by concluding that aiming to meet 1% to 2% of Hong Kong's total electricity supply through renewable sources by 2012 should be a 'strategic objective'?
Is wind power the right choice for Hong Kong to achieve this objective?
A feasibility study is underway to look at the possible impact on air and water quality, noise, ecology and fisheries, as well as the visual effects, for a wind farm near the Ninepin
Islands in Sai Kung. Jointly funded by CLP and
| Pleasure boaters' potential view near Basalt Island (picture prepared using GPS and height scales for Paul Etherington) |
Hong Kong Offshore Wind, a 100% owned subsidiary of Wind Prospect (HK), it will also assess environmental protection measures to be incorporated in the design of the wind farm.
Proponents of renewable energy sources in general say that they help combat climate change by providing a cleaner alternative to the destructive pollution of coal-fired electricity plants. Certainly, the results of three opinion surveys reported by Greenpeace indicate that Hong Kong people – 90% – thought renewable energy is a good way to reduce air pollution and 63% wanted the power companies to develop renewable technologies. At the same time, the majority surveyed understood the impact of global warming and said they wouldn't object to paying more for renewable energy. Although 73% did not object to having renewable energy facilities in their neighbourhood, they did add it depended on the type of facility. These findings seem to be in line with previous European surveys from the 1990s that found about 80% of people supported wind power.
The visual impact of the wind turbines, while a subjective one, is one aspect that seems to stir the greatest emotions. "Looking south from Sharp Peak or east as the sun rises over Clearwater Bay, imagine a nine square km area covered in wind turbines! That's like having the whole of Port Shelter full of wind mills. Do we really want that?" asks Paul Etherington, long time local resident and owner of Kayak-and-Hike. He says the coastline and islands here are truly unique formations and visually stunning. "I'd suggest that the money spent on this project would be better spent on reducing energy wastage or encouraging the use of solar power," he adds.
Our pristine coastline looking out from Clearwater Bay (Paul Etherington photo) |
"Considering all the limitations, wind farms may be the best way for Hong Kong to move towards renewable energy sources," says Professor Alexis Lau, Manager, Environmental Central Facility, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. "The potential for other renewable types of energy is much lower." He explained that the cost of solar electric power is two to three times that of wind power and that Hong Kong's incoming solar radiation has been steadily decreasing in recent years. Solar thermals may be good for private homes but not in the terms of electricity generation on the scale needed.
If the wind farm goes ahead as proposed there will be 50 wind turbines in a grid 2.2 km west of the East Ninepin by 2011. Residents of Clearwater Bay and those hiking at the High Island Reservoir area will see the turbines, 7.5 km out to sea, on a clear day, which could be fairly often considering Sai Kung's good air quality.
The feasibility study states that it will consider designing the array "such that it had a reduced potential size on the horizon, and site it as distant from sensitive receivers as possible to reduce potential visual influence onshore". Placing turbines in a simple geometric pattern in flat areas is more aesthetically pleasing for those viewing them, according to the Danish Wind Industry Association, though they also suggest that on land, following the natural landscape contours "may be even more elegant". This Ninepin plan won't, however, lessen the visual impact for those involved in enjoying the pleasures of Sai Kung waters. Basalt Island, 3.2 km from the proposed wind farm, is a favourite haunt of kayakers and pleasure boats.
Other considerations for the design to "reduce potential visual and landscape impact" include "using paint and colour schemes which balance visual considerations with safety considerations". Light grey paint is used for Danish-built turbines in Sweden so they blend in better with the landscape while larger sized turbines that spin slower were found to be easier on the eyes.
"It's premature to discuss the impact of wind power on our environment at this time. We should at least look at the feasibility study results first. If we attempt to quash the wind farm through public outcry before the study is
| How the view of the wind farm from Pak Lap, High Island might look (prepared using GPS and height scales for Paul Etherington) |
completed then we may never have renewable energy in Hong Kong," says Professor Lau. "Once the study is done, that's the time for the whole community to discuss the impacts and trade-offs." His words echo an older German survey, where it was found that what mattered most in the acceptance of wind farms was the involvement of the local population in the procedures for choosing a site, having a transparent planning process and dissemination of information.
In any case, CLP will have to decide if the wind farm is a financially sound project before taking the process any further. We hope that, as in other communities, they would at least have a public consultation prior to any final decision.
Earlier this year the government of China enacted its Renewable Energy Law, which promotes the development and use of renewable energy sources and requires major power companies to provide 5% of power from renewable energy by 2010. CLP already stated in 2004 that it's committed to providing 5% of its generating capacity from renewable energy sources by 2010, and a project such as this would almost fulfill that promise.
CLP has been investing considerable sums in joint venture wind farms in mainland China and Australia yet, interestingly, this project would be their first in their home jurisdiction. The EU increased its wind energy by 24 times in the past decade with a 35% average annual increase in power in recent years. This has already surpassed the targets set by the European Commission White Paper for 2010, according to the European Wind Energy Association's report earlier this year. It's expected that as technologies improve, wind power will eventually supply nearly 23% of demand in Europe. At the moment, 20% of Denmark's electricity comes from wind power and by 2025 it will go up to 50% with about ? the present number of turbines. Spain and Germany are the next in line is use of wind power, with parts of northern Germany now getting 30% of their electricity from the turbines.
But, we ask, is 5% enough for Hong Kong? The 150 MW of electricity from this proposed wind farm will be enough to supply 70,000 to 80,000 four-people households, less than the present population of Tseung Kwan O. Why should renewable energy only account for 1% to 2% of the total electricity demand? If we are going to make such dramatic changes to landscapes in one of Hong Kong's most pristine areas, shouldn't the project produce enough energy to make a significant difference?
When there's an official channel to present your opinions on this, Explore will let you know. Till then, let us know what you think.