When Hong Kong built its first wind turbine, on Lamma Island
Despite initial concerns about noise pollution, the 71-metre turbine proved successful, prompting Hongkong Electric to consider further wind farm development
“Hongkong Electric and a green group have teamed up to explore the feasibility of wind-generated electricity in the SAR,” reported the South China Morning Post on December 27, 2000. “The power company has commissioned the Friends of the Earth to conduct a $1 million exploratory project on wind power.
“They hope to produce a ‘wind atlas’ to show the power potential of different areas and persuade the Government or private developers to invest in wind power. Friends of the Earth researcher Eric Walker said the group would lead the way because the Government had been reluctant to take initiatives.”
On September 10, 2004, the Post reported that “noise from the city’s first wind turbine, to be built on Lamma Island, will just meet Environmental Protection Department limits, a Hongkong Electric-commissioned study has found. The wind turbine will be built on a 90-metre hilltop in Tai Ling on northern Lamma by early 2006, provided its environmental impact is acceptable to the public.
“Releasing its impact assessment report on the $10 million project yesterday, Hongkong Electric said the turbine would have little adverse effect. The noise level would be about 45 decibels, estimated from the closest settlement 260 metres from the site, where there was only one resident, it said.”
By publication time on February 24, 2006, the 71-metre wind turbine was operational, and the Post reported that “Hongkong Electric is studying the feasibility of building a wind farm south of Lamma Island, but says there are technical difficulties to overcome. The proposal follows one by Wind Prospect, a renewable energy company based in Britain, to build 50 wind turbines off Sai Kung.