Following is a question by the Hon Kenneth Leung and a written reply by the Acting Secretary for the Environment, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (January 31):

Question:

     One of the energy-saving targets set out in the Energy Saving Plan for Hong Kong's Built Environment 2015~2025+ published by the Government in May 2015 was a five per cent reduction in electricity consumption in government buildings within the period from 2015 to 2020. Furthermore, the Government stated in the Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2030+ published in January last year that the public sector would take the lead in applying renewable energy (RE) on a wider and larger scale in the immediate years ahead, and that consideration would be given to implementing a trial scheme as soon as practicable in the public sector and participation of the private sector would be encouraged. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the total electricity consumption of various government buildings in each of the past five years, together with a breakdown by the major type of services (e.g. water supply and waste water treatment, municipal services, disciplinary forces, government offices and quarters, street lighting, and other government services) provided therein;

(2) of the government buildings and infrastructures (including buildings newly built and existing buildings in which major retrofitting works have been completed) that have been installed with RE power generation installations, and in respect of each installation, (i) the RE type, (ii) the year in which the installation works were carried out and (iii) the power generating capacity;

(3) regarding the power generation installations mentioned in (2), of (i) the percentage that the annual total electricity generated represents in the total electricity consumption of the buildings concerned in the same period in each of the past five years, and (ii) the usage of the electricity generated in the past five years; whether it has placed at prominent positions near such installations display panels indicating the quantity of electricity generated, in order to promote the concept of RE to members of the public;

(4) whether it now regularly (i) carries out routine maintenance on the power generation installations mentioned in (2) to ensure that aged and damaged installations will be timely replaced and fixed, and (ii) makes improvements to the power generation efficiency of those installations; if so, of the details (including the relevant expenses incurred in respect of the various installations in each of the past five years); if not, the reasons for that; and

(5) given that the Government issued a technical circular on "Adoption of Energy Efficient Features and Renewable Energy Technologies in Government Projects and Installations" in as early as 2005, requiring various government departments to consider adopting RE technologies when undertaking major retrofitting works in government buildings, whether the Government has plans to update the relevant requirements or guidelines in light of the latest development of RE technologies and the annual electricity consumption of the Government; if not, of the reasons for that; if so, the details, including whether the updating will cover the four technical aspects of safety, equipment protection, reliability and power quality?

Reply:

President,

     For part (1) of the question, the total electricity consumption of government buildings and the electricity consumption by types of government services are shown in Annex 1.

     For parts (2) to (4) of the question, the types and year of installation of the renewable energy (RE) power generation installations in relevant government buildings and other public infrastructure facilities, as well as their power generation capacity, amount of power generated and usage of power are shown in Annex 2.

     For part (5) of the question, the Government issued a circular on Green Government Buildings in 2009 to supersede the circular on Adoption of Energy Efficient Features and Renewable Energy Technologies in Government Projects and Installations issued in 2005, and to set environmental protection guidelines for new and existing government buildings, including arrangements on RE adoption. When installing RE installations, the Government will follow the code for selecting, installing, inspecting, testing and maintaining RE installation in the latest version of the Code of Practice for the Electrical (Wiring) Regulations issued by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department.

     The Government updated the circular on Green Government Buildings in 2015 and in 2017 respectively. The 2017 version has upgraded the target of the use of RE in government buildings and required departments, where appropriate, to install display panels showing the amount of RE generated at prominent locations in new schools and educational buildings, as well as open spaces and public parks to promote the concept of RE to the public.

     There are 11 display panels placed at the RE power generation installations listed in Annex 2.

Ends/Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Issued at HKT 17:30

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