Page 18 - Sphere No.17 (Sep 2006)

team of environmental engineers and chemists uses state-of-
the-art technology to monitor and minimise the impact on the
environment. Low sulphur coal is used, coal dust is suppressed
and newer generating units are fitted with Hong Kong’s first
flue-gas desulphurisation system that removes more than 90
per cent of the sulphur dioxide produced by combustion.
The company’s latest initiative is to generate more of its elec-
tricity through the use of natural gas. It is not a change that can
be implemented overnight, necessitating the construction of a
93-kilometre-long pipeline to bring in the gas from the liquefied
natural gas terminal in Guangdong province. The beneficiary will
be the quality of the Hong Kong air and the return of blue skies.
“We recognise the need to do something about the air quality
– it is an issue that concerns us,” says Dr Tso. “But people have to
understand it is not just Hong Kong, it is a regional issue – there
is a limit to how much we can do. Having said that, we will still
do as much as we can to meet community aspirations.”
Positive reception
Dr Tso is gratified that Lamma Winds has received such a posi-
tive reception from the general public. As well as being a work-
ing model of green power, albeit one that generates less than one
per cent of the company’s total output, it is a chance to put the
sustainable energy issue into some kind of perspective. Wind
turbines are not realistically the way forward for Hong
Kong; other renewable energy forms, such as solar
power, also have limited usages in place where build-
ings are squeezed together so tightly. The potential
of solar power is limited due to high upfront capital
costs and roof ownership issues.
Even the government believes it will be possible
to achieve only between one and two per cent of
Hong Kong’s total electricity supply by power gener-
ated from renewable sources by 2012.
Adds Dr Tso, “The main objectives of the Lamma Winds
project are to acquire knowledge and experience in the design,
construction and operation of wind turbines and to promote
public understanding of the benefits as well as the limitations
of harnessing wind power generation in the context of Hong
Kong’s unique situations.”
The company has started using natural gas
to power Hong Kong’s energy needs
THE GREEN MESSAGE
O N TOP OF the green energy it supplies, Lamma
Winds has also generated other environmental
initiatives.
Lighting in the mini-park around the base is solar pow-
ered, rainwater is used to irrigate the soil (part of which is
furnace bottom ash), bricks on the walkway are made from
pulverised fuel ash mixed with concrete and the seats are
made from recycled pipes.
The idea was to make the project as educational and eco-
friendly as possible, an instruction Hongkong Electric engi-
neers have carried out with diligence and inventiveness.
A digital board mounted on the tower gives
the technical details on wind speed and the
amount of energy being generated. If
the wind is too strong, exceeding 25
metres per second, it automatically
shuts down for safety reasons.
Thousands of school children have
already visited Lamma Winds and
Hongkong Electric has established
a HKD1 million Clean Energy Fund
that is open to all schools and aims
to support projects that raise public
awareness about renewable energy.
LammaWinds has also received support
from one of Hong Kong’s leading green groups.
“In terms of developing renewable energy it is
a good step,” says Dr L K Cheng, who has conducted studies
of natural energy issues for the environmental group Green
Power. “It is a good starting point. It takes time for people
to accept any new source of energy and with this, they can
see wind-generated power first hand.”
16 SPHERE