Touted as the cleanest energy source, hydrogen is regarded as one of the keys to achieving carbon neutrality. With the central government outlining major economic and social development goals for the 15th Five-Year Plan period and explicitly listing new energy and new materials as national strategic emerging industries, the prospects for hydrogen energy development are looking brighter.
Following the emphasis on "deepening the energy revolution and building a clean, low-carbon system" at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee, new energy and the hydrogen industry have been included as national strategic emerging industries. Under this policy direction, Hong Kong is now aligning with national plans, using hydrogen energy as a starting point to drive green transformation.
In an exclusive interview, Poon Kwok-ying, Director of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) of the SAR government, outlined that Hong Kong will promote hydrogen energy development through four key directions: "improving legislation, establishing standards, aligning with the market, and advancing with prudence." This development blueprint, coupled with collaboration in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), aims to build a cross-boundary hydrogen industry chain, supporting the nation's "dual carbon goals."
EMSD is working with the State Administration for Market Regulation to explore the establishment of a "green and low-carbon hydrogen certification system," slated for official launch in 2027. Poon noted that this initiative will enable traceability of hydrogen sources and align with the carbon emission standards of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, laying the foundation for green financial investments.
"GBA Hydrogen Corridor" for complementary advantages
The SAR government is also fully committed to developing cross-border applications. According to the "GBA Hydrogen Corridor" plan proposed in the Policy Address, the public hydrogen refuelling station at Au Tau, Yuen Long will become a key node in the "Foshan-Guangzhou-Dongguan-Shenzhen-Hong Kong" hydrogen backbone.
Poon stated that EMSD plans to add public hydrogen refueling stations on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon by 2027 and is exploring the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on hydrogen cooperation with Guangdong Province to streamline customs clearance for hydrogen and form a regional supply network.
Hydrogen cooperation is not just an energy project but a crucial platform for promoting a regional green economy. Through the joint development of the "GBA Hydrogen Corridor," Hong Kong can fully leverage its advantages in finance, standards, and regulation, forming industrial complementarity with mainland cities and propelling the Greater Bay Area to take the lead in the hydrogen era.
As early as June last year, the "Strategy of Hydrogen Development in Hong Kong" was released. To pave the way for implementation, EMSD is leading the revision of the Gas Safety Ordinance and has issued three technical guidelines, simultaneously advancing hydrogen regulations, standards, certification, and demonstration projects, laying a solid foundation for Hong Kong to achieve its 2050 carbon neutrality goal.
Poon emphasized that Hong Kong's hydrogen facilities must integrate international standards with the characteristics of a high-density city, establishing long-term monitoring mechanisms. Currently, the public hydrogen refueling station in Yuen Long is operational, and several dedicated hydrogen refueling facilities have been approved, marking the transition of Hong Kong's hydrogen industry from planning to practice.
EMSD provides technical guidance, strictly controlling risks
In terms of application, Hong Kong's hydrogen industry has entered a critical stage of demonstration applications and institutional building. He stated that Hong Kong's first public hydrogen refueling station is already operating in Yuen Long, and all hydrogen facilities in Hong Kong must undergo rigorous risk assessments. "Our technical codes reference international standards while also incorporating Hong Kong's local conditions to ensure each project is implemented within a safety framework, with long-term monitoring mechanisms established."
Beyond the transportation sector, hydrogen energy also shows potential in scenarios such as construction site power supply. Poon revealed that the department is currently compiling a "Code of Practice for Fixed Hydrogen Fuel Cell Power Systems," expected to be released within the year.
He noted, "Traditional diesel generators are noisy and have high emissions, while hydrogen power generation not only achieves zero carbon emissions but also significantly reduces pollution and noise, making it highly suitable for high-density cities like Hong Kong." The new code will cover technical requirements for hydrogen fuel generator design, ventilation, safety cut-off devices, etc., and will be released after industry consultation, providing institutional safeguards for hydrogen-powered construction.
28 hydrogen energy pilot projects approved
Since the establishment of the Inter-departmental Working Group on Using Hydrogen as Fuel in 2022, the SAR government has reviewed and granted in-principle approval to 28 hydrogen energy pilot projects. These cover various areas, including hydrogen fuel cell double-decker buses, street washing vehicles, hydrogen-powered cold chain transport vehicles, and hydrogen generators, with some projects already in daily operation. Regarding infrastructure, in addition to the existing public hydrogen refueling station, EMSD plans to add public hydrogen refueling stations in Kowloon and on Hong Kong Island by 2027, gradually improving the citywide hydrogen refueling network.
Poon mentioned that the department is currently building a "Hydrogen Application Safety Data Platform" to monitor the operation and safety performance of all hydrogen projects in Hong Kong, including refueling stations, hydrogen vehicles, and fuel cell systems. The platform will collect and integrate actual operational data, using big data analysis to grasp operational trends and risk situations, with timely alerts for any abnormalities. He further noted that this platform will not only aid safety monitoring but also provide data support for future hydrogen infrastructure planning, energy allocation, and policy formulation.
Poon believes that the biggest challenges in promoting hydrogen energy applications lie in the supply chain and costs. To expand sources of green hydrogen supply, Hong Kong is actively pursuing various innovative pilot projects for green and low-carbon hydrogen production, including "landfill gas-to-hydrogen." In the long term, the government will consider importing green and low-carbon hydrogen from the mainland and other countries, and explore connecting with the GBA hydrogen supply network to form a regionally coordinated supply system.
Currently, the hydrogen used in Hong Kong is primarily "gray hydrogen," extracted from fossil fuel by-products, which still involves carbon emissions. Poon said that according to predictions by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the cost of green hydrogen is expected to approach that of gray hydrogen before 2030. With the commissioning of large-scale green hydrogen production bases in Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, and other regions in the mainland, coupled with advancements in hydrogen transportation technology, costs are expected to decrease significantly in the future.
(Source: Wen Wei Po; Journalist: Sun Xiaoxu, Nicholas Lai; English Editor: Darius)
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