Hong Kong is in a position to be the first city in the world to be powered entirely by hydrogen energy as the city moves to the next level in green city development. Hydrogen trials conducted in the town in the recent past have shown encouraging outcomes, which are even better than the benchmark set initially. Leveraging the institution of superior connectivity and infrastructure with the support of the government and business partners, Hong Kong has started to position itself as a significant player in the emerging hydrogen energy economy.
HK Electric’s innovative strategy for integrating hydrogen into energy sources
HK Electric has advanced the integration of hydrogen into the energy sources compared to the initial projections. The transition to increase the percentage of gas-fired generation is based on the construction of new generation units at Lamma Power Station that is expected to come online by 2029. These units are mainly gas-fired but are designed to be converted to hydrogen as a fuel to help Hong Kong progress toward its decarbonization targets.
This is a new kind of strategy that not only minimizes emissions but also ensures enhanced performance. The latest gas-fired power plant, L12, which started in 2024, has an efficiency level higher than 58%, rather than the previous coal-fired power plants.
Moreover, the collaboration between HK Electric and Mitsubishi is the development of hydrogen energy by technological innovation at Takasago Hydrogen Park in Japan. Here, hydrogen is produced through electrolysis, is held, and is used for generation systems, making it the world’s first center for proving the whole hydrogen value chain. These innovations have placed Hong Kong on the cutting edge of the global climate change fight, which focuses on energy change.
Government initiatives supporting hydrogen trials and projects in Hong Kong
The other advantage of Hong Kong in shifting towards hydrogen energy is the support of the government in trial projects that target the use of hydrogen in different and viable settings. As of March 2024, nine hydrogen trial projects have been approved, out of which two are big projects that include the use of hydrogen in the production of electricity.
From supplying hydrogen energy to the construction site to extracting hydrogen for electric vehicle charging stations, these trials demonstrate how hydrogen can be applied across various sectors of the economy. Among the pioneers of these trials was Towngas, a major gas supplier to the city.
Through cooperation with other partners like Padel sports companies and China State Construction Engineering, the city has been able to experiment with the use of hydrogen across the sectors. These projects are already underway, and with Hong Kong paving the way for the use of hydrogen as a reliable and sustainable energy source, more projects are likely to follow.
The future of energy: How hydrogen is exceeding expectations in Hong Kong
The pilot trials in Hong Kong have shown that hydrogen is more efficient and cleaner than initially estimated, at least in the early stages. The versatility of hydrogen resources for both powering the urban infrastructure and as a source of energy for transportation suggests that hydrogen could be a significant building block of the city’s energy sector.
By the year 2035, with the phase-out of coal and the use of hydrogen, the emissions of carbon are to be reduced significantly in Hong Kong. Not only has the technology been shown to be workable, but it has also created new horizons for the formation of the economy.
The more hydrogen projects are approved and commencing operations, the more the city can potentially develop into a center of attraction for the hydrogen industry with investors and specialists from all over the world. These environmental impacts, combined with possible economic gains, make Hong Kong’s hydrogen experience an example from which other cities interested in the journey toward decarbonization can learn.
A hydrogen-powered future: Hong Kong as a model for global cities
The strategy of developing hydrogen energy in Hong Kong is an amazing story of success not only for the city but for other world cities as well. While the world wakes up to the reality of climate change and the importance of transitioning to cleaner forms of energy, lessons can be learned from Hong Kong’s vision of powering itself with hydrogen.
The case of this city is a clear example of how cities can act proactively to provide public policies, corporate investment, and advanced technologies in one single strategy. These trials and infrastructure development currently being undertaken suggest that hydrogen could indeed be the future of energy in cities. If the city of Hong Kong succeeds in its goal of operating on 100% hydrogen, this will create a template for other global cities to follow and fast-track global energy transition.
All in all, Hong Kong is caught up in a hydrogen revolution that may transform the energy mix of cities worldwide. From new technologies, governmental incentives, and partnerships with the private sector, the city is demonstrating that the power of hydrogen is not just a concept of the future but is today’s reality. While the world has its eyes set on Hong Kong’s development, the city has the potential to turn into an example of how sustainable cities of the future could be powered solely by hydrogen.