Hong Kong power firm’s new system predicts tree growth near overhead cables to prevent electricity disruption

System will help prevent disruption in New Territories, Lantau Island and parts of Kowloon, CLP Power says. Researchers identity 200 species, including kapok, camphor wood, bauhinia and Chinese banyan, along power grids. — SCMP

A Hong Kong power company has worked with scientists to develop a model that predicts the growth rate of trees near overhead cables in an effort to prevent them from disrupting electricity supply in the New Territories, Lantau Island and parts of Kowloon.

The monitoring system was introduced last April, and CLP Power’s vegetation management team carried out 80,000 pruning works based on alerts issued by the system over the past year.