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Lo Hoi-ying

Hong Kong’s first waste-to-energy incinerator is in its final phase of construction and environmental authorities have pledged to ensure the multibillion-dollar plant will run as normal even during bad weather after it begins operations.
The I·PARK1 incinerator, on an artificial island of about 12 hectares (29.65 acres) off Shek Kwu Chau in Hong Kong’s southwestern waters, will undergo testing early next year, the Environmental Protection Department announced on Wednesday.
“We are now full steam ahead with the construction of I·PARK1 and hope it can be completed by 2025,” Michael Lui Hok-leung, the assistant director of waste infrastructure, said.
Lui said the department aimed to commission tests early next year and expected the plant to begin full operations by the end of 2025.
I·PARK1, which costs HK$31.3 billion (US$4 billion) and has taken more than seven years to build, is part of the government’s plan to stop reliance on landfill sites by 2035.
The plant will be able to handle around 3,000 tonnes (3,307 tons) of waste a day and reduce volume by 90 per cent after treatment.

Lui said construction of the incinerator’s chimney had passed the halfway mark, and the contractor was also carrying out work on the electrical and mechanical systems after 12 main modules were delivered from its Zhuhai factory to the artificial island by last month.
But he added the process was not without its difficulties as bad weather had affected transport of the modules, which weigh up to 6,000 tonnes each.
“In Hong Kong, we experience frequent typhoons from May to October, but can only do the delivery on a day with very good weather, weak wind and small waves,” Lui said.
When the Post visited the plant near south Lantau on Wednesday, the main building that houses the incinerator was almost completed and generator modules for conversion of heat to electricity had yet to be installed.
The heat produced by the plant when it is fully operational will be able to generate the electricity needed for daily operations and export an estimated 480 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of power each year to the grid.
Lui said the department had made contingency plans to deal with extreme weather such as typhoons that could hinder the transport of waste to the plant.
“Poor weather will seriously affect the shipping of units of waste to the island,” he added.
But he said “a refuse transfer station in West Kowloon would be used to store the waste temporarily” and transferred to the incinerator when the weather improved.
Lui added that the island also had bunkers that could store waste for up to four days and that the incinerator would operate as normal even during bad weather.
The Environment and Ecology Bureau announced on Tuesday that the city’s second incinerator, I·PARK2 in Tsang Tsui, Tuen Mun, could be completed two years ahead of schedule.
I·PARK2’s estimated daily treatment capacity could also be increased by 50 per cent from 4,000 to 6,000 tonnes, authorities said.
The two plants will have a combined capacity sufficient to process 9,000 of the 11,000 tonnes of rubbish produced each day in Hong Kong when they are fully operational.

Lui revealed that the Tsang Tsui plant would rely on marine transport as the main way of receiving waste shipments.
“This will greatly reduce disturbance to residents who might be affected by refuse collection vehicles,” he said.
Lui added that once the two incinerators were up and running, the city’s waste processing methods would be in line with international standards.
“Hong Kong is currently very reliant on landfills for waste disposal,” he said. “That is considered backwards compared with the rest of the world.”


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Hong Kong expected to fire up first waste-to-energy incinerator by end of 2025

I•PARK1 at Shek Kwu Chau, Hong Kong’s first waste-to-energy facility for treating solid waste is expected to start operations next year. Photo: Sam Tsang

When fully operational, I·PARK1 (above) and I·PARK2 will have a combined capacity to process 9,000 of the 11,000 tonnes of rubbish produced each day in Hong Kong. Photo: Sam Tsang

Construction of the I·PARK1’s chimney is more than half-completed. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong’s second waste incinerator ‘may be completed 2 years ahead of schedule’, bureau says

An artist’s impression of the Tsang Tsui site, where I·PARK2 and T·PARK are located. Photo: Handout

I·PARK1, the city’s first waste-to-energy incinerator, is being constructed on an artificial island off Shek Kwu Chau. Photo: Handout

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News

Hong Kong

Health & Environment

Environmental authorities say plant to be tested early next year, with plans in place to deal with waste delivery problems during bad weather


Environmental authorities say plant to be tested early next year, with plans in place to deal with waste delivery problems during bad weather.


Energy

Recycling and waste reduction

Waste Management