Letters | Hong Kong could be a global leader in embracing hydrogen energy

Readers discuss how the city can be an example to be world on adopting hydrogen as an energy source, and a better approach to regulating idling vehicles

Hong Kong environmental issues

Letters

Published: 11:30am, 15 Mar 2023

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In major markets across the world, hydrogen is becoming an increasingly significant component of the energy mix. Can Hong Kong tackle the challenges relating to cost, storage, distribution and infrastructure, so it can embrace hydrogen for a sustainable future, or even provide an example to the world?

Hong Kong has just developed its first locally built hydrogen fuel cell application, an off-grid hydrogen-powered electric vehicle charger. This was made possible by Hong Kong’s Automotive Platforms and Application Systems (APAS) research and development centre, with Refire as the project partner.

The zero-emission system can charge cars, vans and minibuses. It can provide 220 volt two-phase to 380 volt three-phase electricity to power anything from a coffee machine to a building.

The prototype charger is proof of hydrogen-electric energy delivery and fulfilment in Hong Kong. As APAS’ project partner, we are proud of our contribution to Hong Kong’s latest sustainable energy solution.

Hong Kong is also ready for hydrogen distribution. Almost every corner of Hong Kong is connected to a 3,700km hydrogen-ready pipeline network which has quietly proven itself safe and reliable.

According to the 2022 policy address, we will see trials of hydrogen-powered double-deckers and other heavy-duty vehicles in 2023, meeting some of the milestones on the way to the Hong Kong’s vision for carbon neutrality by 2050.

Hydrogen-powered buses and trucks have already been commercially deployed. At Refire, we have built a seven-year track record in powering the daily operations of now over 4,200 fuel cell vehicles.

With the prototype charger, Asia’s World City can now claim that deployment of hydrogen technology has achieved proof of concept here.

Hong Kong has the potential to set an example for the world in sustainable urban development by incorporating extensive use of hydrogen energy. What is now required is for more dots to be swiftly connected so that industry and people can benefit from this zero-emission energy option. A coordinated effort is critical to ensuring that regulatory frameworks and standards are updated and ready to adapt.

Global interest in the hydrogen value chain remains high, and a window of opportunity exists for Hong Kong to take a leadership role. It is time for all stakeholders to join forces, leverage our capabilities and demonstrate our commitment to a decarbonised future.

Audrey Ma, vice-president, Refire

Rethink laws on idling to boost use of electric vehicles

On the recent controversy over the 90-year-old hawker, whose cart was seized by the police, we agree with your correspondent in “Hong Kong’s streets need a focus on illegal parking, not hawkers” (March 11) and wish to direct readers’ attention to promotional vehicles in Sha Tin.

Until recently, these vehicles were regularly spotted at the end of the pedestrian walkway near Sha Tin MTR station. Not only did the drivers of these vehicles violate the Motor Vehicle Idling Ordinance that prohibits idling a vehicle engine for more than three minutes within an hour, these vehicles also seemed to be parking illegally and illegally displaying advertisements. The Road Traffic Ordinance only permits non-commercial advertising.

Thanks to a law enforcement operation in response to a complaint, all advertising vehicles have disappeared from the area. Yet, it is unrealistic to expect the government to remove all advertising vehicles from the streets as authorised officers only timed 505 vehicles and penalised 13 drivers in the first eight months of 2021.

We believe advertising vehicles for commercial purposes should be allowed in the city as long as they are powered by electricity. We also urge the government to remove the exemptions to the prohibition on idling, such as for selling ice cream and washing the streets, to provide more incentives for using electricity as a power source.

Lai Zhixin, Lau Yu and Sheng Huachen, Kowloon Tong