Background
In face of the challenges brought about by climate change, the world is striving to achieve carbon neutrality by making efforts to phase out fossil fuels and expedite green transformation. The process of converting hydrogen energy into mechanical or electrical energy does not emit greenhouse gases or other air pollutants. When the opportunity for using green hydrogen produced from renewable energy is ripe in the future, it would strengthen the role of hydrogen as clean energy carrier from production to application.
Inter-departmental Working Group on Using Hydrogen as Fuel
To keep pace with the development trend of hydrogen as fuel, the Government set up the Inter-departmental Working Group on Using Hydrogen as Fuel (the Working Group) in 2022, to coordinate preparation works of bureaux and departments for using hydrogen as fuel locally, with a view to encouraging local application of hydrogen energy. Currently, the Working Group comprises the Environment and Ecology Bureau, Transport and Logistics Bureau, Development Bureau, Security Bureau, Environmental Protection Department, Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD), Fire Services Department, Transport Department, Marine Department, Planning Department, Lands Department, Buildings Department, Architectural Services Department and Labour Department.
Terms of Reference and Membership
Strategy of Hydrogen Development in Hong Kong
As set out in the 2023 Policy Address announced by the Chief Executive, Hong Kong will make every effort to promote the use and supply of new energy in sea, land and air transport so as to spearhead green transformation. To prepare for the wider application of hydrogen energy in Hong Kong in the future, the Government published the Strategy of Hydrogen Development in Hong Kong in June 2024. Moreover, the Government has commenced the preparatory work for the necessary legislative amendments pertaining to the production, storage, transportation and application of hydrogen fuel with a view to introducing a bill into the Legislative Council in 2025.
The Strategy of Hydrogen
Development in Hong Kong
Proposed Amendments to the Gas Safety Ordinance
EMSD conducted trade consultation from 20 February 2024 to 19 March 2024 in respect of the proposed amendments to the Gas Safety Ordinance (Cap.51)
Consultation Paper for Proposed Amendments to the Gas Safety Ordinance (Cap. 51)
Technical Guidelines on Hydrogen Fuel Application
The Working Group is responsible for studying the development and commercialisation of various hydrogen energy technologies to promote local application of hydrogen, and also exploring the future regulatory frameworks of hydrogen as fuel under statute, and necessary regulations, standards and technical guidelines to ensure the safety of local use of hydrogen as fuel. EMSD has already formulated relevant technical guidelines for local application of hydrogen as fuel for reference by the trade.
Code of Practice for Hydrogen Fuelled Vehicles and Maintenance Workshops
Code of Practice for Hydrogen Filling Stations
Guidance Note for Quantitative Risk Assessment Study for Hydrogen Installations in Hong Kong
Trial Projects on Hydrogen Fuel for Local Application
Moreover, the Working Group reviews applications of trial projects on hydrogen as fuel, and advises on aspects such as safety and planning, in order to facilitate the relevant trades to commence their trials as soon as possible. The Working Group has assessed and given agreement-in-principle to a number of applications of trial projects, including hydrogen fuel cell double-deckers, hydrogen fuelled light rail vehicle, hydrogen tube trailer, hydrogen refuelling facilities and hydrogen power generation at construction site etc.
The Government has set aside funding under the New Energy Transport Fund (NET Fund) to support trial projects for hydrogen fuel cell double-deck buses and heavy hydrogen vehicles to test out their operational performance in the local environment. We will also explore the use of the NET Fund to support the construction of hydrogen storage and filling centres in order to facilitate the importation of low-carbon hydrogen energy from the Mainland and overseas countries to meet the hydrogen filling needs of local transportation facilities and equipment. Besides, the Government has injected a total of HK$2.2 billion to the Construction Innovation and Technology Fund (CITF) to subsidise and drive a wider adoption of innovative technologies in the construction industry to improve the performance of the construction process, including applications of hydrogen energy.
Information, Latest News & Related Websites
Information
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
TV Programme - Towards A New Era of Hydrogen Energy
News and Events
Relevant websites
New Energy Transport Fund
Green Tech Fund
Environment and Conservation Fund
Construction Innovation and Technology Fund
EMSD ENERGY LAND
Trade consultation conducted by EMSD on the proposed amendments to the Gas Safety Ordinance (Cap.51)