Hong Kong Offshore Wind Farm Receives Approval

Hong Kong-based utility CLP and UK project developer Wind Prospect moved a step closer to building an offshore wind farm southeast of Hong Kong.

The development partners announced that planning authorities approved the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report on the proposed wind farm.

The plan calls for 67 turbines capable of producing about 200 megawatts of power.

The Environmental report will now be open to government scrutiny for 30 days before development proceeds.

"With this green light on the environmental front, we will soon move on to the rest of the feasibility study of the project. The next phase of the project is the installation of a wind mast at the proposed site, followed by the collection of on-site wind and wave data. We hope a full business case will be ready for assessment by 2011," said Mr Alex Tancock, General Manager of Wind Prospect HK Ltd.

This offshore windfarm will add to Hong Kong Government’s 1-2% renewable energy target. The project will provide clean energy for an estimated 80,000 households.

Wind Prospect began the feasibility study in 2005 and CLP joined as a partner in 2006.