The sixth Technical Memorandum for Allocation of Emission Allowances in Respect of Specified Licences was gazetted today to further reduce the emission of air pollutants from power plants from 2021.
Issued under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance, the memorandum will further tighten the annual emissions of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and respirable suspended particulates by 8%, 3% and 6% for the electricity sector, compared with the emission allowances for 2020 set under the previous memorandum.
The latest electricity demand forecasts for 2021 for Hongkong Electric and CLP Power are expected to be lowered by 2.4% and 1.4% compared to those of 2020 when setting the fifth memorandum, the Environmental Protection Department said.
The projected load reduction is attributable to the Energy Saving Plan for Hong Kong's Built Environment 2015~2025+ released last May which aims to reduce energy intensity by 40% by 2025 when compared to 2005.
As emissions from the power generation sector accounted for 53%, 33% and 17% of Hong Kong's emissions of SO2, NOx and respirable suspended particulates in 2014, the tightened emission allowances will help improve air quality in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta region, the department added.
The memorandum will be tabled at the Legislative Council on October 26 for it to be implemented by year's-end.
The new emission allowances will come into effect from 2021, in accordance with section 26G(4) of the Air Pollution Control Ordinance.
