Hong Kong – Five more trial projects on hydrogen fuel technology given agreement-in-principle by Inter-departmental Working Group on Using Hydrogen as Fuel (with photo)
Five more trial projects on hydrogen fuel technology given agreement-in-principle by Inter-departmental Working Group on Using Hydrogen as Fuel (with photo)
******************************************************************************************
A spokesman for the Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB) said that the Inter-departmental Working Group on Using Hydrogen as Fuel (Working Group) led by the EEB has given agreement-in-principle to five more applications of trial projects on hydrogen fuel technology at its meeting today (March 22).
The relevant projects involve:
- an application submitted by Epro Advance Technology Limited, which involves the use of silicon to produce hydrogen for power generation set to provide electricity for a public housing construction site in Tung Chung;
- an application submitted by Waihong Environmental Services Limited to try out two hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) refuse collection vehicles;
- an application submitted by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) to try out three HFC street washing vehicles on hire for street washing;
- an application jointly submitted by China State Construction Engineering (Hong Kong) Limited and Hong Kong Nation-Synergy International Hydrogen Power Technology Co. Limited, which involves provision of electricity with hydrogen power generation equipment for the operation of electric machinery at a construction site in Sheung Shui; and
- an application submitted by Veolia Hong Kong Holding Limited, which involves production of hydrogen by using landfill gas and installation of related hydrogen refuelling facilities at the South East New Territories Landfill Extension.
The spokesman for the EEB stated, “The Working Group has been following up the aforementioned five trial project applications, and promptly initiated the examination process upon receipt of detailed information of the trial projects. Following the applicants’ enhancement on the designs and technical details to ensure that the trial projects can be carried out smoothly and safely, the Working Group has given agreement-in-principle to the five applications at its meeting today.”
To date, the Working Group has examined and given agreement-in-principle in stages to a total of 14 valid applications of hydrogen energy trial projects (see attachment). Citybus Limited (Citybus)’s HFC double-deck bus commenced daily passenger service in end February this year. Sinopec (Hong Kong) Limited’s target is to put its hydrogen refuelling station into operation within this year. The FEHD can use the hydrogen refuelling station to replenish hydrogen fuel, hence it plans to launch the trial of its three HFC street washing vehicles in tandem with the operation of the station. The MTR Corporation Limited also plans to conduct the trial of a hydrogen fuelled light rail vehicle as a non-revenue train within this year.
The Working Group has been making reference to the result of consultancy studies to formulate interim standards for use by relevant trial projects, which include the safety guidelines for hydrogen fuel system on vehicles and hydrogen filling stations developed with reference to the Mainland and overseas regulations and standards, as well as the technical guidance note on quantitative risk assessment of hydrogen filling stations. The Working Group will continue to make reference to the operational data and experience collected from the trials. In addition, the relevant consultancy study on business environment impact assessment is also underway. All these help establish the relevant guidelines and legislative framework for the application of hydrogen in Hong Kong in the long term.
The spokesman said, “The Working Group has listened to the results of the consultancy study on the use of tunnels by HFC vehicles, including reference to relevant regulations in the Mainland and overseas countries, and has reviewed the design storage capacity, operating pressure and various safety devices of HFC vehicles. The Working Group shares the view that the risk of HFC vehicles using tunnels is comparable to that of liquefied petroleum gas vehicles and other fossil fuel vehicles. They can travel in tunnels if they comply with the relevant guidelines. However, vehicles conveying hydrogen (such as tube trailers), similar to other vehicles carrying dangerous goods, are not allowed to use tunnels. They can only use the sea route.”
The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) conducted a trade consultation exercise from February 20 to March 19, 2024 to explain the study results to the relevant trades (including public transport operators and tunnel operators, etc.) and listen to their opinions.
The spokesman continued, “The EMSD reported the results of the trade consultation to the Working Group at the meeting. Stakeholders strongly conveyed positive feedback and supported the Government’s proposal. The Working Group has also accepted the Code of Practice for Hydrogen Fuelled Vehicles and Maintenance Workshops, the Code of Practice for Hydrogen Filling Stations and the Guidance Note for Quantitative Risk Assessment Study for Hydrogen Installations, which were formulated by the EMSD after consultation with the trades.”
As noted by the Working Group, the EMSD and the Transport Department (TD) will meet with Citybus and tunnel operators on March 25 this year to discuss practical matters pertinent to hydrogen buses passing through tunnels, such as operational procedures, mode of operation, supporting measures, as well as how to let staff and contractors master and get conversant with the daily operations and contingency measures, etc., with a view to ensuring that appropriate arrangements are put in place to cater for HFC vehicles passing through tunnels in the future.
The spokesman supplemented, “as announced in the Chief Executive’s 2023 Policy Address, we will formulate the Strategy of Hydrogen Development in Hong Kong (the Strategy) in the first half of 2024, and commence the preparatory work for legislative amendments pertinent to the production, storage, transportation and application of hydrogen energy, with a view to introducing an amendment bill into the Legislative Council in 2025. The Working Group has also discussed the preparation work and action timeline for the core strategies and actions pursuant to the announcement of the Strategy.”
The EEB has set up a thematic webpage (cnsd.gov.hk/en/inter-departmental-working-group-on-using-hydrogen-as-fuel/) under the Carbon Neutrality and Sustainable Development website, in order to facilitate the public to acquire a better understanding of the work of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in promoting local hydrogen development. The aforementioned codes of practices and guidance note established by the EMSD are also available on the thematic webpage.
The Working Group is formed by the EEB, the Transport and Logistics Bureau, the Development Bureau, the Security Bureau, the Environmental Protection Department, the EMSD, the Fire Services Department, the TD, the Marine Department, the Planning Department, the Lands Department, the Buildings Department and the Architectural Services Department.
As the first and only basketball specialty concept store in the Philippines, Titan started as a brick-and-mortar retail business in 2010. The retailer established stores in posh locations and around the metropolis, such as Bonifacio Global City, Megamall, Conrad, Vertis, Alabang, and Solenad. While a great part of its success can be attributed to its physical stores, the brand recognized the obvious opportunities of opening online stores. This prospect compelled Titan to become an e-commerce pioneer to open an online channel ahead of other industry players. The brand, however, needed internal expertise to operate a digital store. As a result, it chose to hand over its online business operations to a specialist e-commerce enabler, which provided guidance and expertise in the operations and logistics departments of running an e-commerce channel. But like any other business, the company wanted to grow more, leading it to explore potential partners that could help it achieve more success. aCommerce was initially referred to Titan in 2016 by the regional team of one of its biggest brand partners. To succeed in this area, the company believed that simply employing a service provider was not enough. It needed a committed and capable partner. “TITAN saw aCommerce as not just a third-party service provider as an enabler, but as an overall key partner to grow within the long run,” said Raymond Canteras, Titan’s Digital Director. Strategies for Success One of TITAN’s key priorities has always been to continuously innovate to provide consumers with the best experiences, whether online or offline. With the help of aCommerce, the brand launched its first mobile application in 2018, bringing it closer to consumers with just a flick and click on their mobile phones. “By being deeply connected to the consumers, we get to understand them better and know how to serve them in the best and most seamless ways possible,” Raymond Added. The partnership also allowed aCommerce to rebuild and manage Titan’s website Titan22.com and develop a fully customized mobile app until 2021. Today, aCommerce’s role has evolved where it currently manages Titan’s warehousing, logistics, last-mile fulfillment, and customer service line following established service level agreements. The companies also embarked on several successful campaigns such as 11.11 and new activation or program rollouts, some of which have resulted in “single-day – or even just minutes – sell-outs of certain products with thousands of quantities”. Titan is particularly proud of the partnership’s biggest success thus far when aCommerce provided expert support in 2020 as the Covid-19 pandemic exploded. The two entities working together enabled them to quickly serve the sudden burst in online demand and respond to the shift in consumer behavior. “Every campaign we have collaborated in always had a lot of key takeaways that have helped and will continue to help us grow,” adding that “despite all the challenges faced throughout that period, aCommerce was able to provide the best service levels the brand could ask for.” Filling the Gaps Since partnering with aCommerce, Titan has consistently achieved significant growth in its e-commerce business year after year. On its first full year with aCommerce in 2017, the brand’s digital business grew by 50% from the previous year. And now, six years later, the company projects to grow more than 10x bigger from the collaboration’s launch in 2016. This only demonstrates how Titan’s customers consistently enjoy high excellence in services rendered by aCommerce 99% of the time each month. The Titan22.com website has also established itself as a highly reliable channel in the country, from user experience to last-mile order fulfillment. “Titan’s vision is to empower the hoop dreams of athletes around the world. With the help of aCommerce, the brand can reach every part of the country”. Future of the Partnership Even while the retail business landscape and consumer behavior continue to shift, Titan attributes the partnership’s success to the masterful way both companies worked together, adapted, and responded quickly to provide the best service levels possible to customers. “Effective and efficient collaboration is very critical to the success of the partnership. Both sides have made the necessary investments to grow. There’s still a lot more games to win together in the future,” said Henrika Fellizar, aCommerce Philippines Chief Executive Officer. “With the expertise, both parties have in the retail industry and e-commerce, we expect the partnership to keep growing.” About aCommerce aCommerce is the leading end-to-end ecommerce enabler in Southeast Asia. We drive brands to achieve their ecommerce goals with high-performance digital marketing, online store development & management, data & analytics, customer care, fulfillment, and delivery services. The aTeam, our 700+ staff across the region is dedicated to providing seamless integration between offline & online, with 5 fulfillment centers driving global leading clients to e-commerce success. Visit https://acommerce.asia. Released for aCommerce Group by MT Multimedia Co Ltd
Eight projects approved for funding under Sustainable Development Fund
**********************************************************************
The Namami Gange Programme (NGP) is dynamic and evolving in nature to address the emerging needs and priorities for rejuvenation of river Ganga & its tributaries. Under NGP, State level annual action plans are prepared and projects are developed by the States and taken up for implementation after due approval process and efforts are made to complete the projects by their scheduled timelines.
Under NGP, State level annual action plans are prepared and based on that it was targeted that 127 sewerage and Ghat/crematoria projects were to be completed from 2019-20 to 2022-23. Out of the targeted 127 projects 80 projects have been completed till date.
During last three years, 122 projects have been completed resulting in creation / rehabilitation of 1068 MLD STP capacity, laying of 1580 km of sewerage network, development/rehabilitation of 82 ghats & 20 crematoria, river front development at Patna, e-flow notification etc.
Funds are being provided to the Ganga bank State Forest Departments of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal for afforestation works along the river Ganga based on APOs (Annual Plan of Operation) submitted by States. Till date, 30,071 hectares area has been covered with plantation under the Namami Gange programme.
Government of India releases funds to National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), which is the empowered nodal agency for implementation of Namami Gange program nationwide. NMCG releases funds to State Governments /State Missions for Clean Ganga/CPSUSs/ Other Executing Agencies.
Amounts released/expended by NMCG to various agencies, compiled State-wise, during the said period are given at Annexure-I.
NMCG has taken up scientific research/studies towards rejuvenation of river Ganga. Some of important studies are given below:-
Government of India has launched Namami Gange Programme, an integrated umbrella programme, aimed to ensure effective abatement of pollution and conservation of river Ganga and its tributaries by adopting a river basin approach. Under Namami Gange comprehensive set of interventions in the areas of wastewater treatment, solid waste management, river front management (ghats and crematoria development), e-flow, afforestation, biodiversity conservation and Public Participation etc. are being taken up for the rejuvenation of river Ganga.
Further, for aquatic biodiversity conservation, 7 projects at an estimated cost of
More than 56 lakhs of fish seed have been released in river Ganga for conservation and restoration of IMC & Mahseer. 930 number of turtles have been released in Ganga River apart from supporting the conservation & breeding of freshwater turtles & Gharial at Kukrail, Lucknow. In addition, four (4) rescue and rehabilitation centres for aquatic species have been established.
This information was given by the Minister of State, Shri Bishweswar Tudu in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
ANNEXURE-I
Amounts released/expended by NMCG to various agencies, compiled State-wise
State
F.Y. 2017-18
F.Y. 2018-19
F.Y. 2019-20
F.Y. 2020-21
F.Y. 2021-22
Total
Uttarakhand
242.49
341.44
128.20
124.82
143.63
980.58
Uttar Pradesh
549.88
823.77
821.09
472.46
440.21
3,017.41
Bihar
367.18
673.03
1,185.17
194.43
249.70
2,669.51
Jharkhand
21.72
74.23
30.50
28.03
13.61
168.09
West Bengal
249.35
227.62
70.60
105.06
134.43
787.06
Madhya Pradesh
—
—
—
—
—
—
Delhi
81.57
310.69
214.47
235.00
405.00
1,246.73
Haryana
6.88
—
—
—
—
6.88
Rajasthan
—
1.25
—
—
50.00
51.25
Himachal Pradesh
—
—
—
1.25
2.50
3.75
Other basin wide interventions, including NMCG’s operational expenses
105.94
174.51
223.06
178.92
191.47
873.90
Grand Total
1,625.01
2,626.54
2,673.09
1,339.97
1,630.55
9,895.16
Note: Amount released/ expended by NMCG in a particular year includes unspent balance carried forward from previous years.
****
BY
WEBWIRE – Friday, April 15, 2022 Despite the still noticeable effects of the Corona pandemic on project work, help alliance is increasing its commitment in Germany and worldwide. The Lufthansa Groups aid organization is now supporting 17 new projects focusing on education, work and income, including for the first time in Argentina, Italy, Iraq, Cameroon, Colombia and the Philippines. As in the past, the projects were selected from suggestions by employees and are supervised and managed by them on a voluntary basis. In total, help alliance is now involved in 51 aid projects in 24 countries for disadvantaged young people.
The Corona pandemic has further exacerbated the global education crisis. Thats why there is so much for us to do as an aid organization right now. The new help alliance projects are designed to help provide equal opportunities for children and young people after this difficult time. Education is the key to a successful future, says Andrea Pernkopf, Managing Director of help alliance.
In the global south, school closures have had a particularly negative impact on the educational opportunities of children and young people. According to the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), insufficient digitization and a lack of equipment prevented at least one-third of students worldwide from learning from home during the pandemic.
Through its work, help alliance is making an important contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of Quality Education (SDG 4) and Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8).
For detailed information on the 17 new help alliance projects, visit www.helpalliance.org, including:
Germany: New ways to learn to read
Italy: More participation for young people in Milan
Philippines: Best school equipment for Filipino children
South Africa: Houses of Hope in Cape Town
Iraq: Running for more self-confidence
Titan Projects 10x Business Growth in 2022 Partnering with aCommerce in the Philippines
Titan 22 – For Love of the Game
Wasana Wongsiri (Jiab), T: +66 84 359 0659, E: wasana.w@mtmultimedia.com
Topic: Press release summary
Hong Kong – Eight projects approved for funding under Sustainable Development Fund
The following is issued on behalf of the Council for Sustainable Development:
The Council for Sustainable Development (SDC) announced today (August 12) that eight new projects have been approved for funding under the Sustainable Development Fund.
This is the 14th round of applications for the Fund. The Fund was open for application from October to December 2021. The responses were overwhelming, with 84 applications received. The eight approved projects, lasting from 11 months to 24 months, involve a total grant of about $9.74 million (See Annex).
A spokesperson for the SDC said, “These eight projects are of diverse types and cover a wide spectrum of target recipients including students, youths, the elderly, ethnic minorities, new arrivals, small and medium-sized enterprises and so on. These projects will promote a low-carbon lifestyle to the general public through a cross-sectoral approach, so as to help our society move towards carbon neutrality, facilitate sustainable development in the community and meet the objectives of the Fund.”
Grantees will hold a series of activities with new themes and distinctive features, many of which are to be introduced for the first time since the establishment of the Fund, for example:
The Sustainable Development Fund was set up in 2003 to provide financial support for initiatives that will help enhance the public’s understanding of sustainable development and encourage the application of sustainability principles in Hong Kong. So far, 14 rounds of applications have been processed and a cumulative total of 82 projects have been approved for grants from the Fund.
Details of the newly approved projects are available at the Fund’s website (www.eeb.gov.hk/en/susdev/sdf/approvprj.htm).
Projects Under Namami Gange Programme
Rs.162.79 crore have been taken up under Namami Gange. These projects aim at Planning and management for aquatic species conservation and maintenance of ecosystem services in the Ganga river basin.
(Release ID: 1845902)
Visitor Counter : 379
17 new projects: help alliance significantly expands social commitment
– Lufthansa Group aid organization now active in 24 countries
– Project work in Germany and worldwide focuses on education, work and income
– help alliance makes important contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations
The project ensures that children with special needs are not left behind and supports them in learning to read parallel to their school lessons.
The project aims to make children and young people aware of their abilities, potential and skills and to help them develop their talents so that they can consciously choose and shape their future.
By providing school materials, LCD projectors and school meals for disadvantaged children, the project aims to ease the burden on teachers and parents and create an improved learning environment for all students.
Ubomi houses offer children and young people from the poorest parts of Cape Town a place for education, cultural activities and thus create perspectives beyond the dangers of the township.
Outdoor activities not only promote physical fitness, but also offer women and girls the opportunity to develop their skills and competencies. As a result, they gain more self-confidence and contribute to positive change in a war-torn society.Ads
