Hong Kong government publishes strategy for hydrogen energy promotion

The strategy specifies key areas, and aims to develop regulatory systems for hydrogen

In June, 2024, the Environment and Ecology Bureau of Hong Kong published the Strategy of Hydrogen Development in Hong Kong to promote hydrogen energy. This strategy defines targets for hydrogen energy promotion, analyses opportunities and challenges of hydrogen application, and provides a strategy and an action plan for hydrogen development.

The strategy has been developed to help achieve the national goals of “carbon peaking by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060”. Its core means for hydrogen development are “improving legislation”, “establishing standards”, “aligning with the market” and “advancing with prudence”.

Key areas for hydrogen energy promotion

The key areas for Hong Kong’s plan to promote hydrogen energy include transport, mobile machinery and power plants.

Transport

Hong Kong places emphasis on fuel-intensive large vehicles for hydrogen energy promotion. The first double-decker bus in Hong Kong began operation in early 2024. Trial operations of three hydrogen fuel cell street washing vehicles are planned for the second half of 2024.

Mobile machinery

Hong Kong considers promoting hydrogen-powered portable generators for distributed power supply, including for machinery and offices at construction sites, as an alternative to diesel generators. Hong Kong also considers introducing hydrogen-fueled mobile machinery in airports and ports.

Power plants

Power plants account for 63% of Hong Kong’s total CO2 emissions. They are the biggest CO2 source in Hong Kong, and it is important to achieve the low-carbon transition of them. The city considers the feasibility of adding hydrogen to natural gas fuel used in power plants.

Development of regulatory systems

Hydrogen is a new type of energy, and Hong Kong doesn’t have regulatory systems for it yet. The city plans to develop legislation to standardize the production, storage, transport, use, etc. of hydrogen.

Revision of the Gas Safety Ordinance

The Hong Kong government introduced the Gas Safety Ordinance 20 years ago to ensure the safe use of gases. For the standardized use of hydrogen, the government now plans to revise the ordinance and its subsidiary legislation to regulate hydrogen as a fuel gas. It expects to send an amendment bill to the ordinance to the Legislative Council in 2025.

Standards development

In addition to the law amendment, the Hong Kong government plans to develop a series of standards, and provide practical guidelines for the supply, storage, transport and application of hydrogen.

At the time of the strategy’s publication (June 2024), the Hong Kong government has already approved 14 trial projects. Alongside these projects, the government plans to develop standards, infrastructure and human resources.