A Government spokesman said today (December 10) that the Eighth Technical Memorandum for Allocation of Emission Allowances in Respect of Specified Licences (the Eighth TM), which will result in further emission reduction from the power plants of the two power companies (the Hongkong Electric Company, Limited and CLP Power Hong Kong Limited), has been approved by the Legislative Council on November 27.
The Eighth TM was issued under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (APCO) to cap the annual emission allowances of sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOX) and respirable suspended particulates (RSPs) from the power generation sector from 2024 and onwards at 3 150 tonnes, 12 430 tonnes and 391 tonnes respectively. As compared with the emission allowances for the power generation sector for 2022 set under the Seventh TM, the Eighth TM will tighten the emissions of SO2, NOX and RSPs by 40 per cent, 29 per cent and 20 per cent respectively. This will further improve the air quality in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta region.
In order to meet the new emission allowances, the two power companies are building new gas-fired generating units for completion in or before 2024. By then, the local gas generation will be around 57 per cent of the total fuel mix for electricity generation. The NOX emission performance and thermal efficiency of existing gas-fired generating units will also be improved and more electricity intake from renewable energy sources will be introduced.
In accordance with the APCO, the emission allowances for power plants stipulated in the Eighth TM will come into effect on January 1, 2024. The Environmental Protection Department will conduct a further review by 2021 to ensure timely revision of the emission allowances.
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