Hydropower And Wind Potentials In Hong Kong Environmental Sciences Essay

Hydropower And tramp emfs In Hong Kong Environmental Sciences EssayFor decades mankind be in search for new-sprung(prenominal) nothing re arisings to deal with the depleting fossil fuel. A lot of renewable might and associated technologies were positive to assist current nix use to mitigate the imperative vim crisis. The current issues of climate remove and global warming accelerated the needs into researches on renewable technologies flush more.Hong Kong is a special city with limited might resources in a densely populated space. Current capability source in Hong Kong enormously rely on imported fossil fuels. The intention of replacing fossil fuel with other alternatives have become clear in twain Government and non- Government Organisations.The might Efficiency Office (EEO) Electrical, Mechanical advantage subdivision (EMSD), HKSARG has performed a analyze on feasibilities of various kinds of renewable susceptibility in Hong Kong in 2001 (EMSD, 2001), the study gave an overview on feasibility of Solar, Wind, Fuel cells, Energy-from-Waste, and rough other alternative free push button. Every technologies was analysed, giving a conclusion that solar go away be the most viable renewable nothing source.The study of tidal, and Hydroelectricity, however, was loosely studied due to the belief that they ar relatively new technologies. However, although they are not being researched until very recent years, they have been utilize by human long beyond history. Mills that uses tidal energy has been found in the 12th century (Wallechinsky), whereas the hydro-energy was employ even get along back to Ancient Greek and Roman, where they use hydro-power for grinding mills (The U.S. Department of Energy).Bagc carried out a research in 2008 targeted to study the probable of underdeveloped a zero energy region in outer Island. Peng Chau was study with different implementations of renewable energy and it is shown that a combination of solar, slew and hydro energy were a possible solution towards an Island that is independent from fossil fuel energy supply (Bagc, 2009).Despite the researches above, there is little research on practiced exceed analysis on the feasibility of Hydro and Tidal energy in Hong Kong. Therefore it is of interest to determine whether the advances of technologies have gain points for Tidal and Hydro energy as potential alternative energy sources in Hong Kong.Tidal EnergyFigure 1. Operating principle of Tidal Barrages (Palmer, 2008)Tidal Energy is a result from gravitational force between aery body much(prenominal) as the earth, moon, sun etc., as the moon is the nearest among other celestial body, it is usually considered as the only contributor to the tidal formation. The moon rotates virtually the earth both 27.3 days and the earth rotates along its axis every 24hr. The net effect is that tidal fluctuation occures twice each 24 hour 50 mins, same as the earth rotation power point with respect to the earth-moon system (World Energy Council, 2004). The amplitude from such fluctuation is called the tidal simulacrum, and is the energy that great deal be captured through a turbo-generator in soar up barrage to produce electricity (Figure 1). It is suggested that Tidal energy give the bounce submits 5 % of the electricity sired worldwide (Palmer, 2008).According to the meteorological data provided by the Hong Kong spotter (HKO), Hong Kong displays a gradual change in tidal characteristics, both in tidal range and tidal occurance of high and low tides travelling from confederationeastern United States to the northwest across the territory. Within a tidal cycle, Waglan Island is the first to draw high tide and low tide whereas Tsim Bei Tsui is the last. Tsim Bei Tsui however, receive the largest mean tidal range of 1.4m, where Waglan Island and Victoria Habour generally possess a tidal range within 1m. (CEDD, 2002 HKO, 2009)Hydro energyHydro energy shares the same ene rgy carrier with Tidal energy, in which energy from water flow is captured with a marine turbine to start out electricity. It dirty dog be install anywhere as soon as water flow exists. Scales of Hydropower generator can be as large as constructions of butch to micro scales, usually found in little villages. Large scale generators were not considered to be implemented as no suitable sites were avaliable. In the make known by EMSD, Hydro-energy were briefly analysed, and it is shown that potential of hydro-power in Hong Kong is relatively low compared to tissue and solar energy (EMSD, 2001).Despite the feasilbility of Hydroelectricity dam in Hong Kong, there is a debate on the emission of nursery gas via this technology. A few studies had suggested that hydroelectric dam will riposte three times more than fossil fuel plant to generate the same amount of electricity, in which plants died underneath an operating dam possess anaerobic digestion, generating a significant amount of GHG, especially in south America tropical (e.g. Brazil, Argentina) where hydroelectricity dam is the main source of renewable energy supply. Therefore the cleanness of Hydropower is back in a debate (Graham-Rowe, 2005).Wind energyWind energy is so easily known and well developed that it is seen as the major potential renewable energy source that are viable in Hong Kong. Turbine were driven by wind to produce energy, scale of wind turbine are ranging from 198m high turbine generating 6 MW of electricity to some 2kW in micro size wind turbine. EMSD also analysed the potential sites for the installation of wind turbine, which a wind map was introduced for references by the public (Figure 2). topical anesthetic applications let in the famous 800kW wind turbine installed in Lamma Island, as well as the proposed wind farm in South-eastern Waters (EPD, 2006).Project DescriptionThis Project was targeted to polish up and anaylse the potential of Tidal and Hydro energy, and to compare the m to the well developed Wind energy in Hong Kong. Since such energy sources are largely depend on meteorology, it is necessary to analyse as well as meteorological tally to determine which energy source are most suitable in Hong Kong. Moreover it is useful to review on current development of mentioned technologies to provide example for the implementation in Hong Kong.ObjectivesThis project aims toGive an overview of current energy consumption patterns in Hong KongProvide an update on researches on Tidal, Hydro and Wind energy, these includeTechnologies involved and their latest developmentOverseas examples of applicationPotential strategy of implementation in Hong KongCompare each of energy source to analyse their potential in Hong Kong, these includeMeteorological assessment and potential energy gainEnvironmental Impact AssessmentCost intensity / CostingFigure 2. Wind Power Density over the constituent of Hong Kong (EMSD, 2001)Scope of WorkTo determine whether the technologies are competent in relief energy crisis in Hong Kong, it is always easier to understand how the locals use their energy, as well as the energy consumption in Hong Kong. Therefore it is reasonable to collapse a brief overview on energy flow pattern in Hong Kong. Energy source distribution, energy usage by different users can be obtained from the EEO, EMSD.Since Wind energy was well researched and there are a lot of applications in Hong Kong, wind energy will be used as a base for comparison with other technologies encountered in this project. Local and overseas examples will be discussed, as it provides a real life example into the application of such technologies.As mentioned before this project requires a significant amount of meteorological data, therefore meteorological observations from the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) will be analysed to review the possibilities of implementing tidal, hydro and wind energy. Despite the HKO, observations from the Environmental Central Facilities can also available to the public for detail analysis of wind and tidal observations. (Environmental Central Facility)Lastly, if viable, a cost analysis on some of the technologies can be carry out to demonstrate the economy of such renewable technologies and thus cost effectiveness can be use as an indicator to compare the aforementioned technologies.Time ManagementThis project is by and large a Literature Research Project with some analysis on meteorological observations. Major milestone includes31 January, 2010 submission of inception report30 September, 2010 submission of preliminary findings21 April, 2011 submission of project ennoble and draft dissertation (tentative), and expression of intention to complete project30 June, 2011 Oral Presentation (tentative)8 August, 2011 submission of final dissertation (tentative) appendix A shows a Gantt chart showing tentative schedule of the project, stating the milestones as well as phases of the project.