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Following is a question by Hon Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, in the Legislative Council today (April 14):
Question:
In her reply on March 16 this year to my question in relation to the examination of the Estimates of Expenditure 2010-2011, the Director of Environmental Protection indicated that discussions were being held with franchised bus companies about launching a Government-funded trial of retrofitting Euro II and III buses with selective catalytic reduction devices to reduce nitrogen oxides emissions. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the latest progress of and the implementation timetable for the aforesaid trial;
(b) whether it has studied the experience of other places in using selective catalytic reduction devices, including the effectiveness of such devices in reducing nitrogen oxides emissions and the prices;
(c) whether it will consider giving priority to retrofitting selective catalytic reduction devices on buses which at present run in busy areas (such as Mong Kok, Central and Causeway Bay, etc.); and
(d) apart from retrofitting selective catalytic reduction devices, whether at present there are other means to help reduce emissions from Euro II and III buses?
Reply:
President,
The Government has been encouraging franchised bus companies to retrofit their existing buses with suitable emission reduction devices to further reduce emissions. All pre-Euro and Euro I franchised buses have already been installed with diesel oxidation catalysts to reduce particulate emissions by 30% and hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions by 50%. Moreover, where technically feasible, franchised bus companies are retrofitting their Euro II and III buses with diesel particulate filters, which can reduce the emissions of particulates, hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide by about 80% to 90%. We expect that the retrofitting works will be completed within 2010. Apart from installing emission reduction devices, franchised bus companies have fully switched to Euro V diesel with sulphur content below 10 ppm (0.001%), which is cleaner than the ultra low sulphur diesel.
As regards another major roadside air pollutant, nitrogen dioxide, which is mainly formed by the oxidation of nitrogen oxides (NOx) emitted from motor vehicles, it is now technically feasible to retrofit buses of some newer models (such as Euro II and III buses) with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) devices to reduce their NOx emissions. We understand that in some places in Europe, such as London in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Hagen in Germany and Arnhem, Nijmegen and Almere in the Netherlands, they have retrofitted some of their buses with SCR or are making the necessary preparation for conducting the retrofitting works. Among these places, London and Belgium are more experienced in this area. London has confirmed the environmental benefits of retrofitting buses with SCR back in 2006, and it is now looking further into the arrangements for the retrofit. A bus operator in Belgium has retrofitted about 170 single deck buses with SCR, and it is expected that the retrofitting works for another 80 plus single deck buses will be completed within 2010.
The experiences of London and Belgium show that the devices can reduce NOx emissions by about 60%, thereby enabling Euro II and III buses to meet the Euro IV or above emission standard for NOx. The estimated cost of retrofitting a bus is about HK$150,000. The final retrofitting cost and the additional recurrent expenditure after retrofitting will depend on the complexity of the retrofitting works, exchange rate and results of the trial.
To better understand the SCR technology and overseas experience, we have contacted the major SCR suppliers. We also invited those two franchised bus companies mainly operating in the urban areas to join us and the Transport Department for a visit to the Transport for London (TfL) and a bus operator in Belgium in early 2010. The Kowloon Motor Bus Company Limited joined the delegation. Both TfL and the bus operator in Belgium confirmed the environmental benefits and technical feasibility of retrofitting buses with SCR, but the crucial factor lies in the availability of sufficient space in individual bus models for retrofitting.
We consider that as the first step we should conduct a trial locally to confirm whether retrofitting SCR can effectively reduce the NOx emissions from Euro II and III buses. We have requested information from major SCR suppliers to help us as well as franchised bus companies to ascertain the availability of sufficient space in local buses for retrofitting SCR. We are in close contact with the franchised bus companies and hope that, where technically feasible, the trial can begin as soon as possible with a view to studying in detail the feasibility and costs of the proposal.
Subject to a successful trial, we will discuss with the franchised bus operators how best to take forward the retrofitting works. We will also consider encouraging the operators to give priority to deploying retrofitted buses to run in busy corridors.
Ends/Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Issued at HKT 15:40
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