New emission caps for two Hong Kong power plants imposed

The new threshold applies to Hong Kong Electric and CLP Power Hong Kong.

The Legislative Council has approved the memorandum that will set a new limit on the annual emission allowances of The Hongkong Electric Company, Limited and CLP Power Hong Kong Limited.

In a statement, a spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department confirmed that LegCo has approved the Ninth Technical Memorandum for Allocation of Emission Allowances in Respect of Specified Licenses.

The Ninth TM will put a cap on Sulphur dioxide (SO2) at 2,852 tonnes, nitrogen oxides (NOX) at 11,144 tonnes, and respirable suspended particulates (RSPs) at 367 tonnes from power generation sector. This will start from 2026 onward.

“As compared with the emission allowances set under the Eighth TM, the Ninth TM will tighten the emissions of SO2, NOX and RSPs by 9 per cent, 10 per cent and 6 per cent, respectively,” the spokesman said.

“This will help continuously improve the air quality in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta region.”

In line with this, the two power firms will need to complete construction of three new gas-fired generating units by 2024.

This will bring the proportion of local gas generation at around 57% of the total fuel mix for power generation in 2024.

The two power companies will also continue to acquire low-emission coal for electricity generation and maintain the performance of emission control devices so as to reduce emissions from coal-fired generating units.