Case studies

Helping Hong Kong achieve its decarbonisation goal

In 2020, the GHG intensity of the electricity sold by CLP Power in Hong Kong reduced by 26%, down to 0.37kgCO₂e/kWh, compared to 0.50kgCO₂e/kWh in 2019. 

CLP continued with its commitment to decarbonise Hong Kong’s electricity generation and made progress in key capital projects. The reduced GHG intensity is due to:

• The increase in share of natural gas-fired generation.

• The operation of the landfill gas power generation units in the West New Territories (WENT) Landfill of Hong Kong.

• The addition of distributed solar generation from the Feed-in Tariff Scheme.

• Reduced output from the coal-fired Castle Peak Power Station by almost 60%.
• The first new 550MW combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) unit (D1) at Black Point Power Station went into operation in 2020. This enables CLP to support the Government’s target of increasing natural gas use to around 50% of Hong Kong’s fuel mix for power generation in 2020.

Plans are in place to further lower the city’s GHG emissions. For Black Point Power Station, the early civil works for the second new gas-fired generation unit (D2) have already begun. The engineering, procurement, and construction contract for the project has been awarded and the unit is targeted to start operation by the end of 2023. These two CCGT units will contribute to the gradual phasing-out of the oldest coal-fired units at Castle Peak Power Station which are expected to reach the end of their operating life in the mid-2020s.

The offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal is another mega project crucial to enhancing the diversity and security of natural gas supply for power generation in Hong Kong. Construction of the offshore LNG terminal commenced this year after engineering, procurement, and construction contracts were awarded in January for the offshore jetty facility and subsea pipelines.

Meanwhile, enhancement of the Clean Energy Transmission System connecting the CLP grid to Guangdong is progressing, with completion expected by 2025. The system will enable CLP to access more zero-carbon electricity from Mainland China.

In parallel, CLP will continue to develop local renewables through the Feed-in Tariff Scheme, connect with further waste-to-energy projects from the Government, and study other potential renewable energy sources such as offshore wind. Under consideration is the feasibility of constructing an offshore wind farm in the south-eastern waters of Hong Kong. Recent advances in the technology of offshore wind turbines and an increasingly mature supply chain in the region have made it appear more feasible.