Ron Lam expresses concerns about Macau’s low standard of clean energy sources

Lawmaker Ron Lam is concerned about what he claims are the low standards of environmental protection in Macau, specifically regarding the sources of electricity.

In a written inquiry to the government, he expressed concerns over Macau’s contract with China’s Southern Power Grid, noting that it only requires 40% of the electricity supplied to come from non-fossil fuel sources, a standard he claims is outdated.

He is also concerned about the authorities’ capacity to comply with the goal of the “Macau Long-Term Carbon Reduction Strategy” project, which, among other objectives, aims to achieve near-zero emissions by 2050.

He wrote that, “as early as the end of 2018, the proportion of non-fossil fuel-based installed capacity and electricity generation in the Southern Power Grid had already exceeded 50% (with traditional fossil fuel-based thermal power generation having dropped to 48.2%, while hydropower, nuclear power, and wind power accounted for 37.4%, 5.1%, and 5.6%, respectively).

However, the contract between Macau and the Southern Power Grid only requires that the proportion of electricity generated from non-fossil energy sources exceed 40%, which is lower than the average proportion of non-fossil energy sources in the Southern Power Grid.”

He also expressed concerns about the limited developments made towards energy production from solar sources.

In response, the Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA) said that the government is indeed striving to comply with the goals established for 2050 but noted that changing the current system to a different one, as suggested by Lam, in which users would have different electricity rates according to usage, is a complex matter that requires broad public consensus.

“At this stage, we will continue to hear and collect opinions,” DSPA noted.
One of the projects mentioned by Lam was the idea previously proposed of installing photovoltaic panels at the Seac Pai Van water reservoir, with the lawmaker questioning the potential impacts on neighboring buildings.

On this topic, DSPA stated that a feasibility study has been conducted to assess the potential effects of the solar photovoltaic system on the sunlight exposure of adjacent buildings through simulation calculations.

The study will serve as the basis for system design.
DSPA also noted that the current feed-in tariff for solar photovoltaic power generation exceeds the electricity sales price, aiming to encourage private individuals to install this type of power generation system.

Regarding the future of contracts for the electricity supply concessionaire, DSPA noted that negotiations for the renewal of the agreement are ongoing, with conditions that strengthen the concessionaire’s obligations, including the need to align with the implementation of the national “dual carbon” goals, among others.