Green energy:
Drainage Services Department Senior Electrical & Mechanical Engineer Keith Dao shows the high-voltage combined heat and power generator at Sha Tin Sewage Treatment Works.
Green energy:
Drainage Services Department Senior Electrical & Mechanical Engineer Keith Dao shows the high-voltage combined heat and power generator at Sha Tin Sewage Treatment Works.
New generators cut emissions
April 14, 2014
The Drainage Services Department saved $20 million in power bills and cut carbon dioxide emissions by 16,000 tonnes between 2006 and 2013 by turning marsh gas generated during the sewage treatment process into electricity and heat.
The enhancement was due to combined heat and power generators the department installed in recent years at major secondary treatment works, including Shek Wu Hui and Tai Po.
The department commissioned Hong Kong’s first high-voltage combined heat and power generator in Sha Tin Sewage Treatment Works last December, which is so far Hong Kong’s largest combined heat and power generator in terms of capacity.
Briefing reporters today, the department’s Senior Electrical & Mechanical Engineer Keith Dao said using marsh gas to generate electricity is more environmentally-friendly than using diesel.
Between 2006 and 2013, total installed power generating capacity at these sewage treatment works progressively reached 3,000kW and the generators converted more than 10 million cubic metres of marsh gas into 24 million kWh of electricity, which is equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of more than 2,600 households.
Another $15 million in electricity bills will be saved this year, and 12,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions cut.
