2014-2015 EG114101/1A Group 1

Global Vision

SDD4002 Whole Person Development:

Presentation Proposal:

The Feasibility of Developing Renewable Energy in Hong Kong

Part A: Rationale and Theoretical Review
Global issue which is related to the discipline of study
The topic is related to three perspectives, namely environmental (continuous
development), technological (advance technology) and political perspective
(legislation).
Background and formation
Definition of renewable energy:
Renewable energy will never run out, unlike fossil fuels such as coal and oil. It can be
come from the sun, running water, wind, wave and biomass.
Advantages:
That renewable energy can be reused is the most important advantage of using
renewable energy.
Another important advantage is that they don't emit greenhouse gases or
atmospheric pollutants; therefore, the global problem, greenhouse effect can be
improved.
Should more renewable energy is used, the environment can be improved and
achieve the sustainable development.
Definition of sustainable development:
It can be defined as a process for meeting human development goals while sustaining
the ability of natural systems to continue to provide the natural resources and
ecosystem services upon which the economy and society depend. Using renewable
energy is one of the way to achieve this aim.
Give evidence to illustrate the influence of the global issue
1. In the world, energy crisis is getting more and more serious. In accordance with
the statistics (IEA/OECD, Population OECD/World Bank), it is shown that the
energy consumption is raised dramatically from 102.3 TWh (1990) to 142.3 TWh
(2008) with an increase percentage of 39%.
2. In addition, the population in the world is keep increasing and hence the energy
demand is also increasing. Developing of renewable energy is one of the way to
resolve the problem of energy demand.
Therefore, this topic is a global issue.
2 Reasons to explain the choice of the global issue:
1) Energy crisis is serious and the energy demand is keep increasing due to high
population. Moreover, the most source of producing energy is from fossil fuels. It
is a non-renewable energy, which means it will be run off, but also induces a lot of
environmental problem, such as air pollution, water pollution and so on.

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Developing of renewable energy is one of the way to improve the environmental

and energy problem.
2) Hong Kong is an international metropolis. Good air quality and attractive
environment are the key for Hongkonger living and attracting people coming to
Hong Kong. Therefore, developing renewable energy can be through its
advantages to achieve the aim.
Therefore, this topic is chosen as it is a global issue.

2014-2015 EG114101/1A Group 1

Global Vision

SDD4002 Whole Person Development:

Analyze the global issue with three perspectives and illustrate its influences
Environmental perspective (continuous development)
Solar Energy:
Refers to the light and heat of solar radiation from the sun is a growing range of
technologies utilized, for example, solar thermal collectors, solar photovoltaic power
generation, solar thermal power generation.
Advantages:
1) Solar energy is the most abundant human beings can use energy:
It is estimated that 1.1 billion over the past long years, the sun consumes only 2%
of its own energy, over the next few billion years the sun will not change
dramatically, so the sun can be used as a permanent human energy, taken from
endless, inexhaustible. It is 15 minutes to the ground irradiation energy, enough to
use around the world for one year.
2) Solar energy is everywhere, no transport.
It is generally believed that in areas within 50 to 60 degrees latitude north and
south, has a wealth of solar energy can be used, as long as the initial spent a
certain price, cast a fund, made good use of solar energy equipment, energy will
continuously tumbled into his lap, "free" supply. During need to spend a few
sticks of equipment maintenance.
3) Solar energy is a clean source of energy:
Harmful gases and waste coal, oil and other fossil fuels, and the use of solar
energy does not pollute, does not emit any material adverse effects on the
environment, it is a clean energy source. Of course, after the large-scale use of
solar energy, due to the full use of solar energy, the environment temperature will
result slightly elevated, but this temperature rise, will not adversely affect the
environment.
Disadvantage(s):
1) Solar climate, by day and night.
Greatly affected by climate solar energy, day and night, to reach the pole is not
constant. So there must be storage devices, which not only increases the technical
difficulties, but also the cost increases. Although currently made from a variety of
storage systems, but always enough for you, there are certain difficulties in
specific applications.
Wind Power:
Wind power is energy available because of the air flow generated. Air stream has the
kinetic energy of the wind. The higher the air velocity, the greater its kinetic energy.
Advantages:
1) Wind energy facilities are being progressive, significant reduction in production
costs, it is a considerable renewable energy economically competitive and
development potential; in many cases, the cost of wind power has been
comparable to that of conventional power generation, and even in some places, the
wind has been more than fuel coal power generation cheaper.
2) Harmful gases and waste coal, oil and other fossil fuels, and the use of wind

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Global Vision

SDD4002 Whole Person Development:

energy does not pollute, does not emit any material adverse effects on the
environment, it is a clean energy source. Of course, after the large-scale use of
solar energy, due to the full use of solar energy, the environment temperature will
result slightly elevated, but this temperature rise, will not adversely affect the
environment.
Disadvantages:
1) It will damage the Ecological Environment because of the large area it need. It
need a large area for create a well energy.
2) It will produce large amount of noise and induce the surrounding.
3) Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a usable form of energy, in
modern times, the turbine blades of the gas stream to mechanical energy into
electrical energy and become a generator. A large wind power plant can lose
hundreds of wind power grid connection consists of an engine.

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Technological perspective (advanced technology)

Nowadays, advanced technologies increase the feasibility of developing Renewable
Energy in Hong Kong where have few main renewable energy to develop from
advanced technologies for example solar and wind energy.
Example of using solar energy:
Solar Water Heating, Solar Photovoltaic, Light Tube Installation and Solar absorption
air-conditioning system are commonly using in Hong Kong.
About Solar water, solar water heating systems harness the heat in solar radiation to
produce hot water. Domestic solar water heating system usually comprises of solar
collectors and a water tank. The solar collectors absorb the heat in solar radiation to
heat up water, either directly or indirectly. The hot water so produced is stored in the
storage tank for subsequent use. An alternative arrangement is to use a packaged type
solar water heater, with solar collectors and an insulated storage tank packaged
together in one integrated unit.
About Solar Photovoltaic, the basic building unit of a PV system is a PV module,
which in turn is made up of solar cells. A solar cell converts the light energy in
sunlight into electricity by means of the photoelectric phenomenon found in certain
types of materials such as silicon and selenium. When sunlight strikes on a solar cell,
electrons are "excited" to become "free electrons" which can flow through an external
circuit, and hence generate an electric current. This system is using in many place
such as Wanchai Tower.
Examples of using wind energy:
For wind, Large Wind Turbine and Small Wind Turbine are using in Hong Kong. The
most cost-effective size range was 600-750 kW with rotor diameter in the range of 4047 m of the large and Small Wind Turbines is applicable to wind turbines with a rotor
swept area smaller than 200 m2, or around 17 m in diameter which could be 100W or
so in rated power, to tens of kW in rated power. Large Wind Turbine is placing in
Lamma Island and Nanao Island and Small is placing in many place such as Hong
Kong Observatory.
Renewable Energy system for Wind is also using in the world but not place in Hong
Kong which is Offshore Wind Farm and using in North Hoyle in UK. I think it can
also place on the sea where West with Tuen Mun because there always appear large
winds the most in Hong Kong.
Political perspective (legislation)
Hong Kong Government develops renewable sources enthusiastically. In 2000, a twostage consultancy study was commissioned to investigate the viability of using
renewable energy resources such as solar energy, wind energy, wave energy, landfill
gas, etc. in Hong Kong. Stage 1 of the study evaluated the potentials of various forms
of renewable energy for wide-scale local use, and their related legal, institutional and
promotional issues. It also made recommendations for formulating an implementation
strategy. Public consultation on the findings and recommendations was carried out in
2003.Stage 2 of the study involved the installation of different types of photovoltaic
panels in Wanchai Tower so as to collect technical data to assess their performance
under local weather and environmental conditions. The 12-month performance
monitoring work was completed in March 2004.

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Apart from the study report, Hong Kong Government launch on the renewable
sources greatly. Early from 1983, the government did the investment to installing
solar heating on the ShekPik Maximum Security Prison. This investment gave
encouragement to renewable source companies.
Besides, Hong Kong Government popularizes public education. HK Sustainable
Technology Net is one of the examples.
The HK Sustainable Technology Net is a portal site to a number of thematic websites
focusing on environmentally friendly technologies. This portal site is developed by
the Energy Efficiency Office of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department
and its purpose is to provide comprehensive information on environmentally friendly
technologies with emphasis on those technologies suitable for applications in Hong
Kong and to facilitate wider adoption of such technologies in Hong Kong.
This portal site contains three thematic websites focusing on renewable energy
technologies, energy efficient technologies and green building technologies. The three
thematic websites are the HK RE Net, the HK EE Net and the HK Green Building
Technology Net.

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Trade-specific recommendation and participation for local development

Recommendation:
As we all know, Hong Kong has been relying mainly on imported fossil fuels to
support its energy sector due to no indigenous energy resources such as oil, gas or
coal, but the major barriers and potential technologies for develop renewable energy is
the lack of government support and incentives remains key limiting factor in Hong
Kong. It has been criticized that Hong Kong completely lacks legislation, strategies
and incentives for the integration of renewable energy. In order to change the
situation, Hong Kong government has to take the responsibility to realize the potential
of renewable energy.
To seize the opportunities, Hong Kong should establish a renewable energy market
and gradually build up the experience with the technologies. The barriers and
constraints to the diffusion of renewables should be removed. The legal,
administrative and financing procedure should be established to facilitate planning
and application of renewable energy projects. Government could pay a useful role in
promoting renewable energy technologies by imitating.
Since the use of renewable energy often involves awareness of perceived needs and a
change of life style and design approach, it is essential to develop effective
information exchange, education and training programmers. Human resources for
renewable energy technologies should be strengthened by establishing education and
training programmers.
To overcome obstacles in initial implementation, programmers should be designed to
stimulate a renewable energy market so that options can be exploited by industries as
soon as they become cost-effective. Financial incentives should be provided to reduce
up-front investment commitments and to encourage design innovation.
Local development:
Solar Energy:
Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) are photovoltaic materials that are used to
replace conventional building materials in parts of the building envelope such as the
roof, skylights, or facades. They are increasingly being incorporated into the
construction of new buildings as a principal or ancillary source of electrical power
Hong Kong is abundant with sunlight. Building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) is a
good application of solar energy in urban areas. This is especially true for office
buildings in tropical and subtropical cities. For BIPV systems in Hong Kong situation,
it is believed that AC grid-connected is the best choice because of several unique
geographical, economic and social characteristics of Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, a
number of medium-scale BIPV systems were completed in last few years. Considered
by the Hong Kong local characteristics, BIPV is the most potentially feasible for
application in Hong Kong.
Wind energy:
Recognizing the potential contributions of wind energy, the Government is now
implementing a wind measurement programmer. By installing wind monitoring

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Global Vision

SDD4002 Whole Person Development:

equipment at potential sites for measuring their site specific wind characteristics,
more accurate assessment of the electricity generation potentials can be done. Sites at
Tung Lung Chau, Town Island, Miu Tsai Tun, Pottinger Peak, and the Government
Logistics Centre Building have been selected for the wind measurement programmer.
High wind resource areas in H.K. are mainly located at mountain tops on the eastern
side of Hong Kong and most of the offshore marine areas. More promising locations
for wind farms appear to be outlying islands and off-shore marine areas Such as
Lamma Island, Shek Kwu Chau etc.
Conclusion:
To sum up, the renewable energy has an important role to play in meeting future
energy needs in both the rural and urban areas in Hong Kong. Their development and
utilization should be given the highest priority, especially in the light of increased
awareness of the new generation. In order to change the situation, the solar energy and
wind energy is most approach to solving the energy problems effectively. Moreover, it
is expected that the Hong Kong government will commits to develop the renewable
energy and meet the challenges of environmental objectives in future.

Reference:
EMSD (2007). Hong Kong Sustainable Technology Net, Retrieved
June 8, 2015 from
http://sustech.emsd.gov.hk/index.html
EMSD (2015). HK RE NET Solar water heating, Retrieved June 8,
2015 from
http://re.emsd.gov.hk/english/solar/solar_wh/solar_wh_ep.html
EMSD (2011), Examples of Solar Water Heating Projects by the
Government, Retrieved June 8, 2015 from
http://re.emsd.gov.hk/tc_chi/solar/solar_wh/files/gov_swh_Nov2011.p
df
EMSD (2015), Global Perspective on Renewable Energy, Retrieved
June 8, 2015
http://re.emsd.gov.hk/tc_chi/gen/overview/over_global.html
GovHK , Renewable Energy. (December 2014).
Retrieved from
http://www.gov.hk/en/residents/environment/energy/renewableenerg
y.htm

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Hkedicity (2008), Solar Energy advantages and disadvantages,

Retrieved June 8, 2015
http://www2.hkedcity.net/sch_files/a/kws/kws-solar/public_html/solar_advantage.htm
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45.pdf
Leung, K. M. & Chan, K. C. (2007). USE OF SOLAR ENERGY
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