
By Patricia Seoane da Silva, Lux Research
Rapid technological developments in recent years have brought about a sea change in green energy thinking and generated a rising tide of global interest in offshore wind farms.
Last year alone, China installed around 17 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind capacity – more than the combined total built by every other country in the world over the past five years. China now has around 26GW of offshore wind capacity – almost half the worldwide total of 54GW.
Hong Kong is meanwhile looking to get in on the act as it works towards a target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, in part through the development of zero-carbon and renewable energy, including wind energy.
The city’s biggest energy provider, CLP, is carrying out a feasibility study into an offshore wind farm in the south-eastern waters of Hong Kong. Early findings indicate improvements in turbine technology and costs make offshore wind farms an increasingly viable medium-term option.