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HK x JP: Energy Use x Carbon Emissions
By Matthew H.
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Energy Supply, Consumption, and Carbon Emissions
Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2030+ outlines a comprehensive strategy to transform the city's energy landscape and reduce carbon emissions. The plan addresses key areas of energy supply and consumption, recognizing the unique challenges faced by this densely populated urban centre.
A cornerstone of Hong Kong's strategy is the significant reduction in coal usage for electricity generation. According to the "Reduction of coal in the fuel mix for electricity generation 2015-2030" chart, Hong Kong aims to decrease coal's share from about 50% in 2015 to less than 25% by 2030. This shift is crucial, as the electricity sector accounts for about 66% of Hong Kong's carbon emissions (Environmental Protection Department, 2021).
Source: Climate Action Plan 2030+. Environmental Protection Department.
To compensate for the reduction in coal, Hong Kong plans to increase its reliance on natural gas and non-fossil fuel sources. The plan proposes to increase the share of natural gas to around 50% of the fuel mix by 2030. While natural gas is still a fossil fuel, it produces about 50% less carbon dioxide than coal when burned (World Nuclear Association, 2022).
The "Electricity Consumption by Sector, 2014" chart reveals that commercial buildings are the largest consumers of electricity (65%), followed by residential buildings (27%).
This information guides the city's focus on improving energy efficiency in the built environment. The Hong Kong Green Building Council has been instrumental in promoting sustainable building practices, with over 1,800 building projects registered for BEAM Plus certification as of 2021 (Hong Kong Green Building Council, July 2021).
Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2030+ also outlines initiatives to diversify its energy sources, albeit on a smaller scale compared to some other cities. The plan aims to increase the share of renewable energy in the fuel mix to 3-4% by 2030. While this may seem modest, it represents a significant increase given Hong Kong's spatial limitations and high population density.
One notable aspect of Hong Kong's diversification efforts is its foray into hydrogen energy. The government has been supporting the development of hydrogen fuel cell technology and infrastructure. For instance, the city has introduced hydrogen-powered buses on a trial basis and is planning to build more hydrogen refuelling stations. These initiatives, while still in their early stages, demonstrate Hong Kong's commitment to exploring innovative, low-carbon energy solutions.
Credit: Self-generated Chart using Tableau based on
東京都における最終エネルギー消費及び温室効果ガス排出量総合調査
(2020(令和2)年度実績). 東京都環境局 気候変動対策部 計画課.
Tokyo's approach to energy diversification appears more advanced, as illustrated in the self-generated chart based on Tokyo's comprehensive energy survey. Tokyo's energy mix shows a higher proportion of renewable sources at 13.4%, attributed to Japan's national policies and larger land area allowing for more distributed generation. The chart also highlights significant energy losses during conversion and power generation processes, emphasizing the importance of improving efficiency in both generation and distribution stages.
Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2030+ addresses this issue by focusing on supply-side efficiency, particularly in the transition from coal to gas-fired power plants. The plan states, "While our existing gas plants can achieve an efficiency of about 45%, the latest technology can achieve around 60% thermal efficiency" (Environmental Protection Department, 2021). This improvement is substantial compared to the current coal plants' average thermal efficiency of 37%. By investing in more efficient gas plants and encouraging power companies to optimize operations through better management and training, Hong Kong aims to reduce energy losses during power generation, addressing a similar challenge faced by Tokyo. These efforts demonstrate Hong Kong's commitment to improving energy efficiency across the entire power supply chain, from generation to end-use consumption.
Despite Hong Kong's limited land area and high urban density, the city is promoting solar energy adoption through feed-in tariff schemes and exploring offshore wind farms (Environmental Bureau, 2017). The transportation sector is another focus, with plans to cease new registrations of fuel-propelled private cars by 2035 and promote electric vehicles. (Environmental Protection Department, 2022).
While Hong Kong's efforts are commendable, it could potentially learn from Tokyo's success in integrating a higher proportion of renewable energy into its grid. Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2030+ demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainable urban development through comprehensive strategies, focusing on reducing coal usage, improving energy efficiency, and exploring innovative technologies like hydrogen fuel cells.
However, challenges remain, particularly in increasing renewable energy generation in a space-constrained environment. Moving forward, Hong Kong will need to continue exploring innovative solutions and adapting strategies to its unique context. The city's experience offers valuable lessons for other densely populated urban areas, demonstrating that significant progress towards sustainable urban development is possible with careful planning, political will, and technological innovation.
Carbon Emissions.
Musicamatics Labs x The Once Times.
Hong Kong Edition.
Citations:
Environmental Bureau. (2017). Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2030+.
Hong Kong Green Building Council. (2021, July). GreenMAG Plus+.
World Nuclear Association. (2022, February). Carbon dioxide emissions from electricity.
