Smarter, greener

HK launches major push for cleaner air, green energy

HK government allocates HK$11.4 billion to retire 82,000 diesel vehicles by 2019. Measures to replace coal power, try renewable energy, and coordinate smog control with Guangdong province, are carbon-reduction steps to meet Paris Climate Agreement targets by 2030.

The HKSAR Government strives to build Hong Kong into a world class, sustainable, smart city, by harnessing innovation and technology to improve people’s quality of life. Cleaner air and green energy are two major tasks.

On cleaner air, the concentrations of roadside nitrogen dioxide (NO2), respirable suspended particulates (PM10) and fine suspended particulates (PM2.5) have declined by about 30 percent in the last five years. This improvement follows a HK$11.4 billion program of subsidies to retire 82,000 pre-Euro IV diesel commercial vehicles by the end of next year, alongside other vehicle emissionreduction programs.

Commercial vehicles pollute

Commercial traffic contributes about 95 percent of nitrogen oxides and PM2.5 emitted by vehicles. Apart from fully waiving the first registration tax of electric commercial vehicles, the government has set up a Pilot Green Transport Fund for trials of electric buses, light buses and vans, with the vehicle trades. Hong Kong’s driving conditions of hilly topography and heavy air-conditioning loads, impose severe stress on electric commercial vehicle engines. The trials will help identify suitable green commercial vehicle technologies for Hong Kong.

Currently there are about 28,000 new energy cars in Hong Kong, about 5 percent of the private car population. Though large in number, private cars contribute only about 5 percent of roadside air pollution due to their relatively low daily mileage. Commercial vehicles serve about 90 percent of passenger trips.

To balance car ownership and traffic congestion, we set caps on the first registration tax concession for electric private cars. Car owners replacing old private cars with electric ones enjoy a higher tax concession. To promote wider usage of electric vehicles, charging facilities are crucial. Relevant bureaus and departments are coordinating plans for HK’s future charging infrastructure.

Pearl River smog

Hong Kong also suffers from a smog problem. Since 2002, we have collaborated with the Guangdong Provincial Government to reduce smog in the Pearl River Delta area. Emission reduction targets have been set and a joint regional air quality monitoring network has operated since November 2005 to monitor progress.

Other sources of emissions like power plants, marine vessels, nonroad mobile machinery, products and solvents that emit volatile organic chemicals, are also being addressed. The collaboration has yielded results. As compared to 2006, the concentration levels of sulfur dioxide, NO2 and PM10 in the Pearl River Delta area have been substantially reduced. The improvement ranged from 26 percent to as much as 77 percent.

Green energy

To contribute to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, we have committed to reduce Hong Kong’s carbon intensity by 65-70 percent by 2030. Renewable energy (RE) measures to lower carbon levels for improved air quality are underway. We have budgeted HK$1 billion for relevant government departments to develop RE systems at their facilities.

Renewable energy projects

The solar farm at the Siu Ho Wan Sewage Treatment Plant can generate 1.1 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, equivalent to the annual consumption of 230 households. Last year, we piloted floating photovoltaic systems at the Shek Pik and Plover Cove Reservoirs. These pilots show promising results, to justify developing more and larger floating photovoltaic systems.

Waste is also an RE source. T•PARK which commenced operation in 2015, is the first facility that harvests energy from sludge incineration to generate electricity. Recovery centers to generate electricity from food waste, are also being built. The first one will commence operation soon. A large-scale Integrated Waste Management Facility will take in 3,000 tonnes of municipal waste daily to generate power for the electricity needs of over 100,000 households. Our sewage treatment works use biogas generated in the treatment process, for electricity generation.

To promote RE distribution, we announced the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) scheme in April. Under the scheme, RE power can be sold to HK’s power companies at a rate higher than the normal electricity tariff. The FiT rates range from HK$3 to HK$5 per kWh. For smaller systems, like those installed at village houses and at buildings, the highest rate of HK$5 will apply. With these FiT rates, the payback period of a distributed RE system will be shortened to about 10 years.

The public and organizations are encouraged to purchase RE certificates (units of RE electricity) from the power companies. The revenue from selling the certificates will help balance the cost of paying FiT and moderate the tariff impact on consumers. It will be a proactive way for society to combat climate change and reduce air pollution.

Replace coal, save energy

We plan to use natural gas to replace coal for generating power, to change the fuel mix scenario in Hong Kong. As buildings consume 90 percent of the electricity generated, we promote energy saving in buildings through a comprehensive green building assessment tool — BEAM Plus — as well as energy audits and retro-commissioning. For new development areas, such as Kai Tak, we develop district cooling systems and pedestrian-friendly urban design. We will continue to improve the environment of the city to enhance its liveability.