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Alan
Discussions Forum Moderator
Joined: 05 Sep 2002
Posts: 2990
Location: Tai Wan Kau Tsuen
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 Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 6:54 pm Post subject: Re: HEC press release |
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| SCMP wrote: | Turbine as quiet as air conditioner
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. The 71-metre-tall wind turbine will be able to generate up to 850kW, producing 700MWh of electricity a year.
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.
That just meets the ambient noise level requirement set for rural areas by the Environmental Protection Department and is 2.6 decibels lower than the area's background noise at night.
"The operation will be very quiet as the noise level will be more or less similar to what an air conditioner will generate at home," said Hongkong Electric chief engineer Cheung Nai-yik.
The island's residents were receptive to the project, he said. The wind turbine would run 89 per cent of the time, day and night, rotating 14 to 31 times a minute when the wind speed reaches between 2.5 and 25 metres per second.
But it will be running at full load for 13 per cent of the time when the wind is strong enough, which is lower than the overseas average of 20 to 30 per cent.
Mr Cheung said Tai Ling had been chosen from among six sites despite having the lowest wind strength - at 5.5 metres per second on average.
Other sites were ruled out because they exceeded height limits, were in an ecologically important area, too close to a developed area or too far from the power grid.
Mr Cheung said the existing access road to the site would not need widening and part of the 4,400-square-metre work area would be restored.
All electricity generated by the wind turbine, enough to light four times the number of street lights on the island, will go into the company's power grid.
But it will constitute a negligible amount of the 100 million megawatt hours of electricity produced by HEC last year. Mr Cheung said the capital cost per kilowatt of electricity produced by wind is about $15,600, double that of coal power. |
Note the noise is measured from 260 metres away from the turbine. It'll be much louder close by. Also the irrelevant stuff about how it makes four times as much power as needed for the streetlights. |
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Lamma-Gung
Site Admin, Webmaster, Lamma-zine Editor
Joined: 01 Aug 2002
Posts: 5631
Location: Yung Shue Wan
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| Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 7:46 pm Post subject: View from East Lamma Channel |
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| HK Electric wrote: | We issued a press release relating to wind turbine project yesterday and relevant materials are attached for your reference.
Please note that the executive summary of the EIA report will be available for public inspection early next week (www.epd.gov.hk/eia). |
Well, I've published their press release already last night, but they sent another wind turbine artist's impression (plus some before/after shots) that haven't been published yet, as far as I know:
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leglessonlamma
Young Barfly
Joined: 12 Nov 2002
Posts: 781
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| Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 7:57 pm Post subject: |
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 ..
Last edited by leglessonlamma on Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:27 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Lamma-Gung
Site Admin, Webmaster, Lamma-zine Editor
Joined: 01 Aug 2002
Posts: 5631
Location: Yung Shue Wan
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| Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 8:06 pm Post subject: |
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What is behind? Easy, one word: publicity!
It's great publicity for them to be painted as a "Green and Caring Company", generating lots of free and positive PR for them, including from me. The $10 million construction costs are well worth it for them for this reason alone. The power generation (3% of Lamma's local needs, Power Station excluded, obviously) is just a little side bonus.
Actually, I like this nice idea a lot, great for tourism and Lamma's reputation in general. I assume it'll remain a single wind turbine for many years to come, probably forever, another cool-looking landmark, fun discussion point and source of local pride (FIRST wind turbine in HK!) for Lamma...
Do I sound too cynical? I hope not...
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leglessonlamma
Young Barfly
Joined: 12 Nov 2002
Posts: 781
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| Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 8:25 pm Post subject: |
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No the opposite you should ask for the publicity job.
Good publicity would be if they got in the business of selling and installing solar panel systems on Lamma roof tops. |
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alexanku
Joined: 15 Dec 2002
Posts: 90
Location: Vienna
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| Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 8:46 pm Post subject: Water heating |
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For starters, the complete hot water requirements in Lamma could be covered by rooftop panels during the summer months. It would reduce costs for water heating AND provide some shelter fromteh sun. That way it also would reduce electricity bills because aircons do not need to be on all the time.
THe biggest but are the local landlords. As they are usually reluctant to invest anything at all (or at least for stuff that they cannot charge for), they rather put an electric boiler in for all year use. |
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Lamma-Gung
Site Admin, Webmaster, Lamma-zine Editor
Joined: 01 Aug 2002
Posts: 5631
Location: Yung Shue Wan
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| Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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The funny thing is that they are actually using solar heating panels inside the Power Station for a number of years now, even promoting them on their website
They seem very happy with them when I asked them about it during a recent familiarisation tour inside.
But they have no plans in promoting them in any way. It would lower the electricity consumption quite significantly, if solar heating panels would be widely adopted all over HK. We definitely get enough sun to make them very viable and save most people a bundle. But who'll pay for the initial setup?
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zep
Flora & Fauna Moderator
Joined: 12 Aug 2002
Posts: 788
Location: Tai Peng
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| Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 9:15 pm Post subject: |
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I'm investigating solar water heating units for domestic use - so far two quotes of $25,000 and $12,000 for installing a system.
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Alan
Discussions Forum Moderator
Joined: 05 Sep 2002
Posts: 2990
Location: Tai Wan Kau Tsuen
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| Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 9:23 pm Post subject: |
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| Lamma-Gung wrote: | | But they have no plans in promoting them in any way. It would lower the electricity consumption quite significantly, if solar heating panels would be widely adopted all over HK. |
That's the reason they don't promote them. They pay lip service to conservation, but are very comfortable with HK using more and more power every year. |
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Alan
Discussions Forum Moderator
Joined: 05 Sep 2002
Posts: 2990
Location: Tai Wan Kau Tsuen
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| Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 9:36 pm Post subject: |
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| leglessonlamma wrote: | | So what is behind building this singularly useless piece of equipment. Are they really trying pursue an entire wind farm on Lamma. It is pretty obvious that works involved for a wind farm would wreck the Lamma countryside, so what is the point of pilot. Windmills would be great off shore or in a vast expanse of countryside. |
The only part of their PR spiel that makes any sense is that it's simply a pilot plant, to get experience in building and operating one. The location is convenient to their facilities, but absurd for any operational use.
They don't seem to be able to make their mind up whether it's supposed to contribute to the main grid or to supply local power. For the latter use, of course having our own coal power plant makes it silly to build here. Personally I think they should put some on top of tower blocks rather than greenfields. That'd enhance the HK skyline all right. Or more prosaically, barren off shore rocks. |
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leglessonlamma
Young Barfly
Joined: 12 Nov 2002
Posts: 781
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| Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 11:25 pm Post subject: |
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| I agree there is no space in the HK countryside it isn't California or Texas. |
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samx
Joined: 29 May 2004
Posts: 73
Location: Sydney,Oz
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| Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 12:57 am Post subject: |
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| The magical spinney thing reminds me ominously of the teletubbies windmill. Will it sprinkle magic dust and make Lammaites aerials light up too? Hang on, that already happens, and FC is always looking for his bag too. Oh my God -- Lamma IS TeletubbyLand |
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Lamma-Gung
Site Admin, Webmaster, Lamma-zine Editor
Joined: 01 Aug 2002
Posts: 5631
Location: Yung Shue Wan
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| Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 1:01 am Post subject: |
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To put this space problem into context, see this article from the SCMP archive:
| SCMP, Tuesday July 6 2004, wrote: | CLP to set pilot wind turbine spinning by 2007
by Cheung Chi-fai
Hong Kong's largest electricity supplier, CLP Power, yesterday unveiled a pilot wind-energy project, to be completed by late 2007.
The $20 million project will identify a site with enough wind to power a 100-metre tall turbine capable of generating 600 kW of electricity.
Environmentalists have fiercely criticised the company's renewable-energy policy and its rising emissions of pollutants as a result of increasing reliance on coal burning.
Unveiling what it claimed to be a 'first-class commercial-scale pilot project' yesterday, the company also announced the appointment of two consultants, Environmental Resources Management and Garrad Hassan from Australia, to carry out the initial stages of the project.
Work is expected to begin in late 2006 after all government requirements are met.
The company said the project would provide a 'factual basis' for evaluating the costs, constraints and benefits of wind energy in Hong Kong.
CLP Power commercial director Richard Lancaster denied the company was lagging in promoting renewable energy.
'Finding a suitable site is always a challenge and we need a thorough process to identify [a site],' Mr Lancaster said.
He said supplying 4 per cent of the city's power needs through wind energy would require wind turbines covering an area the size of the Kowloon peninsula.
CLP Power's current generation capacity is about 8,200 megawatts, which is 13,666 times that of the pilot wind scheme.
Earlier, Hongkong Electric appointed a consultant to conduct an environmental impact assessment on building a wind turbine of the same scale on Lamma Island. Its wind turbine will start operating in early 2006, almost two years ahead of CLP Power's.
Friends of the Earth said the company was being mean and insincere in providing just a single wind turbine capable of meeting the needs of 200 households. 'The single wind turbine can by no means respond to the damage the power company has inflicted on the environment,' it said in a statement. Last year, CLP Power generated about 51,000 tonnes of sulphur dioxide - almost double the amount in 2002. |
As the Lamma wind turbine has similar specifications, we can extrapolate the figures:
* Lamma's wind turbine will suppy less than 200 households.
* Considering HEC's lower power generation capacity, they'd need about 10,000 wind turbines to generate all their electricity.
* Supplying all of HK's power needs through wind energy would require wind turbines covering an area 25 times the size of the entire Kowloon peninsula.
This figures really put the two pilot projects into a bigger context and make you wonder about the bigger picture...
Civic Exchange issued a comprehensive "big picture" report about power generation in HK last year. I found it while doing research for my wind turbine stories. Highly recommended reading:
Restructuring the Power Sector: Options for Reform (2.8 MB, PDF, click to download) - By Stephen Bronstein, May 2003
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Lamma-Gung
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| Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 1:11 am Post subject: |
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| samx wrote: | | Oh my God -- Lamma IS TeletubbyLand |
Thanks for your PERFECT quote for my wind turbine story I'm just right now working on! This would have made a GREAT title for my story!
Would you and/or somebody else care to elaborate on TeletubbyLand as I have to admit TOTAL IGNORANCE on this subject. Never could stand more than 1-2 seconds of watching it, just time enough to hit the remote control while uttering a growling ARRRRRRGH!...
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Everytimeagoodtime
over 200 messages posted
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
Posts: 281
Location: Behind the counter, have a nice day!
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| Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 1:22 am Post subject: |
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It's where Agent Smith is from
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Alan
Discussions Forum Moderator
Joined: 05 Sep 2002
Posts: 2990
Location: Tai Wan Kau Tsuen
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| Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 1:23 am Post subject: |
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| Lamma-Gung wrote: | | Would you and/or somebody else care to elaborate on TeletubbyLand |
| Wikipedia wrote: |
Wikipedia: Teletubbies
Ragdoll Productions, produced 365 episodes of Teletubbies. The program features four colourful tubby creatures: Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa, and Po, who live in a surreal environment with a submerged, grass-covered spaceship at its centre. The most dangerous predators in sight seem to be the herds of rabbits which pop out of their warrens placed in crucial photographic spots on the set.....
The Teletubbies landscape was an outdoor set located in rural Warwickshire, England, at Sweet Knowle Farm, Redhill Bank Rd, Wimpstone, CV37 8NR....
Character summary
Tinky-Winky :Male, purple, triangular antenna, red vinyl "magic bag". Likes to fall down and to take walks alone. A very artistic personality.
Dipsy :Male, green, straight antenna (like a car's dipstick), cowhide print top hat. "Farmer" walk translates into being "cool". A "nature boy", he likes to be with the rabbits.
Laa-Laa : Female, yellow, curly antenna, orange ball. Very concerned with the welfare of all. Thinks she's the best singer. "Drama queen", party-girl and mother type.
Po :Female, red, circular antenna, scooter. Bilingual: Speaks English (or broadcasting country's language) and Cantonese. Problem solver and best "spider-fighter". Tomboy type. |
Seems fertile ground for analogies with Lamma landscape and denizens. |
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Lamma-Gung
Site Admin, Webmaster, Lamma-zine Editor
Joined: 01 Aug 2002
Posts: 5631
Location: Yung Shue Wan
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| Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 2:04 am Post subject: |
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Twinky-Winky definitely sounds like Guy...
Laa-Laa sounds like The Divine Miss D...
Po = bbChris?
So, who are the rabbits... and the insufferable baby sun?
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Guy Mlller
over 200 messages posted
Joined: 02 Sep 2004
Posts: 228
Location: Taking over where I left off
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| Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 5:59 pm Post subject: |
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Sorry to get away from the "teletubby" thread, although I am sure a number of the trolls head off to a restfull sleep every night with the thought that "tellytubby land" is secure and the tellytubbies safe and sound in their beds.
Much the same as tellytubby land here. Thank goodness for HEC having little Lamma Island well being at the heart of their endeavours.
What a load of thingy. They feed you a line & you swallow, hook, line & sinker. And we now have the indominatable moderator of the most gruesome forum in Asia saying
| Lamma-Gung wrote: | What is behind? Easy, one word: publicity!
Actually, I like this nice idea a lot, great for tourism and Lamma's reputation in general. I assume it'll remain a single wind turbine for many years to come, probably forever, another cool-looking landmark, fun discussion point and source of local pride (FIRST wind turbine in HK!) for Lamma...
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And,of course let's not forget the Judas aspect.
You want publicity, why not erect a 300' high statue of Mao, or better still, Lamma-gung. Paint it green, situate it on the same sight & let all the residents at cyberport & the south side of the island marvel at what a "green" community THEY are.
That'll get the tourists flocking over.
HEC have already said it serves very little practical purpose beyond experimental & how many hundreds of them it will take to serve what little % of HK's power needs.
But why "experiment" on what is probably the most "maximum exposure" hillside for HK residents to view & marvel at the monolith to HEC's "green" aspirations, without of course sticking one on top of the Peninsula or Mandarin Hotels. But couldn't do that, the international tourists don't really have the same "tourism" mentality as the domestic population
Beanburglar, Mr.P, Granola Eater et al - why no comment?
Simple they've never been beyond the magical boundary of the first electric road unless it's for a quick sortie to the beach with the kiddies. They've got no idea where the spot is - let alone what the place will really look like once the monstrosity has been built. And why should they care, they can't see it now, and won't be able to see it later.
Wrong. 300' high - it'll be in full view of most of YSW's proud residents.
HEC got away with building a thingy great big power station to serve HK's needs by tucking it nicely out of view of HK Island, but still keep costs within budget with the close proximity.
Now they want to stick a 100m turbine on a prominent position for the opposite reasons. No power, but good for publicity.
And what is the response? Good for tourism.
Not sure who should take the reality pill. HEC or tellytubby land?
Ah well at least tellytubby land is safe & we can all sleep soundly tonight.
Last edited by Guy Mlller on Wed Sep 15, 2004 1:21 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Ronald McBobsy
Joined: 09 Jan 2003
Posts: 77
Location: Up my own arse
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| Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 6:48 pm Post subject: |
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"Turdburglar, Mr.P, Granola Gay et al - why no comment?"
they're probably waiting for you to make a thingy of yourself, like you always do.
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Lamma-Gung
Site Admin, Webmaster, Lamma-zine Editor
Joined: 01 Aug 2002
Posts: 5631
Location: Yung Shue Wan
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| Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 8:17 pm Post subject: |
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| Guy Mlller wrote: | And we now have the indominatable moderator of the most gruesome forum in Asia...
...You want publicity, why not erect a 300' high statue of Mao, or better still, Lamma-gung. Paint it green, situate it on the same sight & let all the residents at cyberport & the south side of the island marvel at what a "green" community THEY are...
...Wrong. 300' high - it'll be in full view of most of YSW's proud residents.
...Now they want to stick a 100m turbine on a prominent position for the opposite reasons. No power, but good for publicity. |
"indominatable moderator of the most gruesome forum in Asia":
Is that a compliment or an insult? You wanna start fighting with me now, Uncle Twinky-Winky? 
You want to spoil the beautiful countryside of Lamma with a 300' high statue of me? What an aesthetical disaster that would be! The wind turbine definitely looks much better up there, as you can see from the artist's impression in the Lamma-zine and the Lamma News Blog.
It's actually just going to be about 70 metres high, including the rotor blades and will NOT be visible from most of North Lamma, except maybe a little piece of the top of the rotors. The EIA report with the details should be online by now at www.epd.gov.hk/eia, as announced last week. Just checking...not online yet, even though it was announced for early this week: Application No. EIA-099/2004, Environmental Impact Assessment Report: Renewable Energy by a Wind Turbine System on Lamma Island.
For your reference, Uncle Twinky-Winky, the HEC smokestacks are 215 metres high, THREE times higher than the wind turbine, even much higher than the 2 addtional, new smokestacks (120m) of the Lamma Extension in progress.
Uncle Twinky-Winky of TeletubbyLand, as we've started clearly, no fighting outside FC! Referring to people with horrific nicknames like "Enola Gay", connected to such a horrific event like Hiroshima, is definitely out for now! Funny, friendly, cute nicknames like Uncle Twinky-Winky are permitted, of course!
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LAMMA-ZINE:
Aug 18: SCMP Pays Up (Finally) 
