Sustaining Power Generation for a Sustainable Future

Securing cleaner energy to achieve better air quality is a cornerstone of CLP’s operations. Our Energy Vision is for a greener Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region for now and in the future.

We understand the community’s aspirations of improved air quality for Hong Kong and we are committed to playing a key role in this important cause. Our goal is to work closely with all parties concerned in order to build a greener home for all in Hong Kong and in the PRD region.  

For many years, CLP has demonstrated our steadfast commitment to generating electricity in a sustainable manner. We have introduced many initiatives such as the employment of the advanced technologies and cleaner fuels which include the cleanest fossil fuel of all, natural gas plus zeroemitting nuclear power. The gas-fired Black Point Power Station had the first high efficiency gas turbines of its type in Asia. CLP’s involvement in the emerging nuclear industry in mainland China beginning in the late 70s recognized the importance of a balanced generation portfolio for a variety of technical, environmental and economic reasons. We have also implemented incremental measures to continuously improve technical and environmental performance over the years. In fact since the early 1990s, an almost 85 percent reduction in emissions has been achieved while generating approximately 80 percent more electricity. CLP has been able to produce more with less emissions, a significant achievement over the last two decades. 

Since 1991, we have been implementing a series of significant environmental measures at our coal-fired 4,110 MW Castle Peak Power Station in Hong Kong. These projects include the installation of electrostatic precipitators during 1991, which resulted in a substantial 99 percent reduction in respirable suspended particulates (RSP), the installation of low nitrogen oxide (NOx) burners in 1993 to reduce the formation of NOx during the coal-fired power generating process, and the introduction of low sulphur coal since early 2000’s to further reduce SO2 emissions. We then retrofitted the Castle Peak ‘B’ Power Station’s generating units with large scale emissions control equipment to further enhance its already high-standard of low emissions performance.

Most recently, a technically complex emissions control project with an approximately US$1 billion budget was commissioned. The project not only enabled us to meet the regulatory requirements but improved upon them with regard to particulates, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions levels to the tune of almost 60 percent reductions. Additionally, the project went even further in terms of environmental protection in that the water used in the power plant is treated on-site and where reused when possible. The innovative three-stage wastewater treatment plant utilizes three different technologies which include emerging biotechnical technologies, physical filtration, and chemical treatment. All of these emission control measures have served to make CLP’s Castle Peak Power Station one of the cleanest coal-fired power plants in the world today. 

In the long run, CLP has issued a proactive environmental strategic framework with hard targets to reduce carbon emissions and increase its investment in renewable generation sources. One of the initiatives is to increase the level of natural gas in our fuel mix. With the signing of an MOU in 2008 for energy co-operation on new gas supplies, we are now working closely with authorities in mainland China and other relevant organisations to secure a stable long-term supply of natural gas for power generation in the future. CLP recognizes that a prudent, reasonable approach must be taken in order to sustain its continued success. Therefore, we believe that maintaining a balanced generation portfolio with available technologies is critical to a robust system in terms of mitigating environmental, technical and economic risks. 

With regard to developing local renewable energy (RE), given Hong Kong’s densely populated urban environment and the nature of our terrain there is limited potential for Hong Kong to develop significant land-based renewable energy projects. However, developing wind power resources offshore is a possible alternative and we are actively exploring the possibility to develop a wind farm in the southeastern waters of Hong Kong. Besides, we have also been developing a total RE solution for Town Island which includes wind and solar technologies. We have also provided connection facilities to over 70 small scale RE facilities to our grid. 

CLP commits to striving for a sustainable power generation and we will continue to play our part in efforts to combat air pollution and climate change while ensure a reliable and affordable electricity supply to the people of Hong Kong.