Drainage Services Department

The “Yuen Long Effluent Polishing Plant” project was awarded the Champion of “2022/2023 Environmental Paper Award” of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineer, Environmental Division

The paper titled ‘Yuen Long Effluent Polishing Plant – Our Journey Towards An Energy Neutral Sewage Treatment Plant With High Sustainability’ under ‘Yuen Long Effluent Polishing Plant’ (YLEPP) project of the Drainage Services Department (DSD) has been awarded the champion prize of “2022/2023 Environmental Paper Award” of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineer (HKIE), Environmental Division for its outstanding performance in promoting environmental conservation, sustainable development, renewable energy and reduction of carbon emission.  The Award was presented at HKIE on 8 May 2023. 

To cope with the population growth and development needs, Yuen Long Sewage Treatment Works will be upgraded and transformed into Yuen Long Effluent Polishing Plant (YLEPP) within the same tight footprint.  The plant will be upgraded from its treatment capacity of 70,000m³/day to 150,000m³/day in stages and from secondary treatment level to tertiary treatment level to meet the more stringent discharge requirements.  

In combating climate change, the design of YLEPP had actively incorporated various sustainable features, taking multiple measures to minimize energy consumption of the treatment plants and maximize the use of renewable energy, striving towards energy neutrality. YLEPP is the first sewage treatment plant in Hong Kong adopting the advanced technology of aerobic granular sludge (AGS) for biological treatment, thus, requiring less energy demand than traditional activated sludge biological treatment process. In addition, more than 5000 nos. PV panels (installed capacity of over 2.5MW) will be installed on most of the building roof of YLEPP to generate electricity to support the daily operation. Furthermore, the biogas generated from the anaerobic digestion process of sewage sludge will be harvested and turned into electricity and heat to support the daily plant operation of YLEPP. Undigested sludge from other sewage treatment plants will be imported to generate additional biogas and electricity to fulfill the power consumption demand of YLEPP, achieving energy neutrality. YLEPP has also incorporated extensive greening features and provision of public co-use facilities for use by local community, including riverside promenade, viewing deck and education corridor to promote sustainability.

The outstanding sustainable features and energy efficient design of YLEPP had been well recognized and awarded an array of accolades both locally and internationally, including 2022 Edmund Hambly Medal of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), the BEAM Plus Neighbourhood Version 1.0 Platinum rating and BEAM Plus New Buildings Version 1.2 Provisional Platinum rating, which demonstrated DSD's efforts in combating climate change and DSD's achievements in enabling sustainable development over the years.

Assistant Director/Projects & Development, Mr. CHOI Wing-hing (eighth from right) and the YLEPP project team receiving the Certificate of Champion Prize.

Certificate of Champion Prize