CLP Power Hong Kong Limited emerges victorious at Asian Power Awards 2024 with three wins

The power company’s Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Programme and Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) Unit D2 project earned them several accolades from the awards programme.

CLP Power Hong Kong Limited (CLP Power) achieved recognition at the Asian Power Awards 2024, winning in three categories, namely Innovative Power Technology of the Year - Hong Kong, Smart Grid Project of the Year - Hong Kong, and Gas Power Project of the Year - Hong Kong.

Transitioning Hong Kong into a smart city

CLP Power, which operates a vertically integrated electricity supply business that provides safe and reliable electricity to over 80% of Hong Kong's population, launched the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Programme in 2018 to support the city’s transition into a smart city. 

As part of this initiative, all conventional meters for residential and small to medium-sized business customers are being replaced with smart meters. A total of 2.23 million smart meters have been upgraded and connected wirelessly as of December 2023. This has enhanced the safety and reliability of the power supply and provided customers with a range of digitalised services and solutions to encourage energy saving.

The company also addressed the significant challenges of ensuring wireless connectivity in hard-to-reach areas by developing the “Invisible Antenna.” This is a patented solution that transforms the metallic louvres of substations into Radio Frequency antennas, improving the collection rate of smart meter data. After the installation of the louvre antennas, the data collection rate has increased to a remarkable 100%.

Smart grid initiatives

The implementation of smart meters has also facilitated sustainable smart grid initiatives. With near real-time granular meter data, customers can access digital services and energy management solutions. 

CLP Power utilises this data to enhance other services such as the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) scheme, which encourages the connection of renewable energy sources to the grid. Additionally, the Trial of Home-charging Electric Vehicle (EV) Time-of-Use (ToU) Programme promotes EV charging during optimal times, providing a better charging experience for customers in their residential parking lots.
Smart meters enable CLP Power to implement demand response programmes that incentivise customers to reduce electricity consumption during peak demand periods. This cost-effective strategy addresses the growing electricity load challenges. 

Furthermore, the granularity of smart meter data supports the “Local Demand Response” approach by activating demand response measures in specific areas with network capacity constraints. This method also contributes to the development of Virtual Power Plants, where electricity demand is managed rather than met by building new generation plants. In 2023, CLP Power invited residential customers with smart meters to make slight adjustments to their consumption behaviour and reduce their energy use during peak demand periods. These demand response programmes saved a total of 410,000 kWh of electricity, which is equivalent to 160 tonnes of carbon emissions reduction.

Through data analytics and artificial intelligence, the AMI Programme has provided CLP Power with valuable insights, such as accurate customer load measurements, equipment capacity planning, and detection of overhead line incidents. The Meter Malfunction Analyser (MMA) enables the identification of meter issues by analysing specific criteria, including the frequency of critical meter events and erroneous load profile values. Machine learning algorithms are also employed to detect tampering by identifying irregular consumption patterns and unregistered EV charging loads.

Cutting CO2 emissions, enhancing air quality

The Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) Unit D2 began commercial operation in early 2024. Along with its sister unit, Unit D1, these two highly efficient CCGTs play a key role in the Hong Kong Government's efforts to cut CO2 emissions and enhance air quality.

The Unit D2 Project is a new 600-megawatt CCGT built on a brownfield site. It features Siemen advanced H-class gas turbine technology, a triple pressure Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG), and a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system. With approximately 60% efficiency and low NOx emissions, Unit D2 is the largest clean energy plant in Hong Kong that can meet the energy needs of 1,000,000 households. It also reduces CO2 emissions by 1,000,000 tonnes annually.

The construction of the Unit D2 Project showcased remarkable resilience despite significant challenges from COVID-19 restrictions, which lasted for about two-thirds of the execution phase. Whilst these restrictions introduced complexities for manpower availability, productivity, equipment manufacturing, and supply chain logistics, the project team effectively managed these challenges through close collaboration with the contractors and the adoption of new working methods. 

The project was conducted at the Black Point Power Station, where maintaining the continuous operation of nine existing CCGT units was crucial, as they provide up to 60% of the electricity consumed by CLP Power’s customers in Hong Kong.

Furthermore, the project team enhanced efficiency and safety by utilising modularisation and prefabrication for components, including HRSG pressure parts, piping systems and electrical systems. This “plug and play” approach improved work quality and reduced worker exposure to working at demanding site conditions.  

The project prioritised sustainability during construction by using biodiesel and BESS technology to reduce CO2 emission by 5,200,000 tonnes. Additionally, 25,000 tonnes of construction materials were recycled, and 10,000 cubic meters of fresh water were saved through recycling and re-use. Unit D2 also uses closed-loop sea water cooling tower technology, minimising freshwater usage throughout the life of the plant and reducing thermal discharge to nearby waters by up to 95% compared to a once-through cooling system.

The project made extensive use of modern technology including the utilisation of Building Information Modelling (BIM) together with augmented reality (AR) for design reviews, operability checks as well as construction planning and operator training. A systematic process of data management for equipment and components was implemented to ensure a smooth execution and a seamless transfer of the database for asset management post-handover. State-of-the-art cybersecurity measures, including proprietary data diodes, were also employed to safeguard the system.

These innovations have not only cemented CLP Power’s standing as a key player in the industry but also earned the company the recognition it deserves.

The Asian Power Awards is a prestigious event that recognises and celebrates the innovative and ground-breaking projects and initiatives by power companies.

The Asian Power Awards is presented by Asian Power Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2024 awards programme and be acclaimed for your company's revolutionary innovations and initiatives in the power industry in Asia, please contact Danica Avila at [email protected].