Letters | In the fight against climate change, hydrogen could be the answer to Hong Kong’s quest for greener fuel
- A hydrogen-natural gas blend could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions if the hydrogen is produced from a low-carbon source. With government support, Hong Kong could be the perfect ‘lab’ to test out the idea and make it work
Mixing hydrogen with natural gas for energy supply can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions if hydrogen can be produced from low-carbon or zero-carbon energy sources, such as solar, wind or biomass. Energy experts have proposed blending hydrogen into a natural gas pipeline network as a feasible means of supplying hydrogen to markets.
The introduction of hydrogen into Hong Kong’s energy mix can help Hong Kong achieve its goal of becoming sustainable, smart and green. Hong Kong is a “laboratory” capable of experimenting with this idea, which could serve as a model for other metropolitan cities. While the technology of hydrogen production is progressing rapidly, industrial-scale utilisation of hydrogen is limited by the development of a hydrogen delivery system. Opting for hydrogen as a long-term sustainable solution would require action from now on to help it grow at scale.
Due to the complexity of the pipeline network system and the varying composition of natural gas, the appropriate blend concentration may vary significantly from one place to another. A systematic study of the requirements and consequences of hydrogen and natural gas blends for Hong Kong would need to be undertaken. Specifically, the study should encompass analysis of the technical, environmental, economic, societal, and political aspects.
The technical considerations include safety, material durability and integrity management, leakage and downstream extraction. To address safety concerns, risk assessments must be conducted for the specific pipeline system.