1. Explain the problem of acid rain.

(4 marks)
As acid rain has a high acidity, it does a lot of problems on environment. Such
as the rain can affect the photosynthesis of plants and dissolve materials that
plants need in soil which is harmful to the plant ecology, and also it can trigger
respiratory disease which may kill people, and it can erode metals and objects
which damage a lot of heritage as the structure is quite weak. Thirdly, it can
also acidic lakes and cause fishes cannot reproduce and grow normally.
2. Explain the problem of global warming. (4 marks)
Global warming is the situation when the greenhouse effect intensifies. The
increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere will
intensify the greenhouse effect, more and more heat will be trapped in the
atmosphere, hence, the average temperature of the surface of earth will
increase and making the earth warmer. With this result, global warming speed
up the rate of ice sheet melting on land. This may cause the homes of residents
in these areas are under the threat of being drowned in the long run. Also, the
risen of the temperature lead to a massive change of number of different
species, increase or decrease. It will cause the coral reefs died more with the
rising temperature in sea and oppositely it speeds up the breeding of pests.
The high temperature is also favourable to the breeding of bacteria and its
carrier. Diseases will become more dangerous and threatening to us.

(a) With reference to the sources above, how does the CETS with China
Southern Power Grid and Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station enhance the
sustainable development of Hong Kong? (8 marks)

First, Hong Kong can receive support from China, from source B, When the CETS
completed in 2025, the strengthened network will give Hong Kong the capability
and flexibility to use more zero-carbon energy from the Mainland to manage the
local fuel mix, thereby advancing Hong Kong's achievement of its carbon intensity
reduction target for 2030. Secondly, the CETS can make a future plan for Hong
Kong, from source B, the CETS will delay the plans for and/or reduce the capital
investment on new gas units to replace the coal units which are due to retire in
2025 and beyond. Possible options of utilising more zero-carbon energy will be
covered by the Public Engagement exercise on Long-term Decarbonisation Strategy
to be conducted by the Council for Sustainable Development at the end of 2018.
This shows that the CETS can make a long-term good decision for Hong Kong
energy use. Some people may think that, Hong Kong has enough energy for future
electricity generation. However, the energy Hong Kong most rely on are coal and
gas. Which these energies are not good to environment. The gas release why using
them may cause air pollution, they may produce more greenhouse gases and
speed up the global warming. The trend of the future energy use are renewable,
nuclear energy and grid purchase. Which these energies are either expensive or
cannot rely in Hong Kong. The CETS can help on the point. And when the time we
use up all coal and gas, the energy from CETS can still ensure and even enhance
Hong Kong’s sustainable development.
1. (i) According to Source A, describe the use of renewable energy sources in
Hong Kong.
According to source A, Hong Kong has a really low use in renewable
energy. We have a 0.1% of Installed power capacity (GW) and share by
energy source. Compare to 88.5% and 11.5% in fossil fuel and nuclear,
Hong Kong has a sharp gradient between using renewable energy and
others.

(ii) Suggest one reason for the situation you described in (i) with your own
knowledge. (4 marks)

I think that it is because the local condition for generating renewable energy is not
good enough as Hong Kong is a small country and with less materials. Also, Hong
Kong has a lot of restriction on different kind of renewable energy, such as the
huge amount of tall buildings may bring difficulties to generate sun and wind
energy, etc.

2. ‘The FiT Schemes are beneficial for the sustainable development of Hong
Kong.’ Do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer with reference to
Source B and your own knowledge. (8 marks)

I agree, first, from source B, the FiT Schemes can start a new market. This
mean that there will be more job opportunities for us. The scheme needs people
to install and safety cautions of ones solar PV systems. Also, it will need
professional people to teach people how to use and how to avoid accidents. All
this will be continued for years as the solar PV system is the trend of electricity
generation. More and more people will join, and the market will give a constant
boost in Hong Kong’s economic. Hence, the sustainable development of Hong
Kong.

Secondly, as the solar PV system is a renewable energy which doesn’t

need materials like coals and gas. Although this may make some of the electricity
company make less profit. However, with the decrease in importing materials for
traditional electricity generation, the economics of Hong Kong has less burden and
has more money for other financial activities such as pay-out cashes to people. As
the popularity of the system will increase in Hong Kong and even the whole world,
from source B, the positive impact it makes will continues for years and can help
the sustainable development of Hong Kong.

Some people may think that the solar PV system may bring danger, such as
fire accident or electric strike. However, from source B, the system is pushing all
around the world, also, solar panel has been using by the world for a long time,
every new house built in Australia has solar panel on it and seldom accidents
happen. This shows that the system is already very mature and can be guaranteed.
Moreover, from source B, the Hong Kong government has a duty to ensure a sound
implementation of the feed-in tariff system and promote the uptake of renewable
energy. These all that proved the system doesn’t do any damage on Hong Kong
and even can contribute to HK sustainable development,
 3. Identify and elaborate on difficulties for the Hong Kong government
to promote the FiT Schemes. Explain your answer with reference to the sources
provided and your own knowledge. (6 marks)

First, with the building way of HK may bring difficulties, the old short
buildings in HK cannot join the system especially the buildings behind the tall, big
commercial buildings, they can barely contact with sun and hence they can earn
nothing from the system. Also, most of the living places in HK are flats, this means
that there is little space to store the solar panels, and this make a lot of Hong Kong
buildings are not suitable for the system.

Secondly, the time and money cost on installation, purchasing panels and
maintenance maybe also be a difficulty. From source C, FiT does not pay for solar
panel installation or maintenance directly. This mean that we need to spend a
plenty of time and money to solve this in order to join, not finished, we also need
to submit a proposal and application forms to their electricity supplier and the
required documents to relative government departments. Electric companies and
the government will then decide if the potential producers qualify. After all this
complex procedure, you can finally join the system. However, the electricity you
use will always over the electricity you make from the system, and the tariffs every
year, we can’t earn much profit from it. This make a lot of people wouldn’t want to
join the system as they need to spend a plenty of time and money to exchange a
little decrease in their bills.