ENG-2019 — Page 291

15

The Environment

is actively considering the development of large-scale projects at suitable locations in reservoirs and landfills.

To encourage the private sector to develop renewable energy, the government and the two power companies provide a Feed-in Tariff (FIT) scheme and implement facilitation measures, including relaxed restrictions on rooftop installations at village houses. While there were only some 200 private renewable energy systems connected to the power grids in the last decade, the two power companies approved over 5,000 FIT applications from 2018 to end-November 2019. In March, the government launched Solar Harvest to help eligible schools and non- governmental welfare organisations install solar photovoltaic systems. Over 210 applications were received within three months.

Both power companies adopt the use of renewable energy. HK Electric operates an 800kW wind turbine on Lamma and a 1MW thin film photovoltaic system at Lamma Power Station, while CLP Power runs a 200kW renewable-energy generation system of solar panels and wind turbines on Town Island in Sai Kung.

Energy-efficient Buildings

Buildings account for about 90 per cent of the electricity consumed, so promoting their efficient use of energy is paramount to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Building Energy Code under the Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance stipulates the minimum energy efficiency standards for major installations, including air conditioning, electrical installations, lighting, lifts and escalators. The ordinance also requires commercial buildings to conduct energy audits every 10 years. By end-2028, the enforcement of the ordinance is expected to bring about total energy savings of some 27 billion kWh from new and existing buildings, equivalent to the total annual electricity use of about 5.8 million households and a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of about 19 million tonnes.

The government takes the lead to save energy in buildings. It is working to save 5 per cent of electricity use in government buildings from 2015-16 to 2019-20 under operating conditions comparable to 2013-14. To achieve this target by 2018-19, energy audits for about 340 major government buildings were completed, and at least $900 million earmarked to implement energy-saving projects identified in the audits. For private buildings, the capital expenditure incurred in buying renewable-energy installations and building energy-efficiency installations is eligible, starting from the 2018-19 year of assessment, for a full tax deduction in the first year of purchase instead of having the tax cut spread over five years.

Retro-commissioning is a cost-effective and useful means of saving energy in existing buildings. The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department organises seminars to help building owners and relevant trades carry out retro-commissioning. In 2019, it started to conduct retro- commissioning in over 200 major government buildings.

Under the current Scheme of Control Agreements, the power companies will promote energy efficiency and conservation. Each company manages its own energy-efficiency fund to support the retrofitting and retro-commissioning of private buildings.

237