Hong Kong unveils Hydrogen Strategy

It includes promoting regional cooperation and investment in hydrogen.

Hong Kong has launched its Hydrogen Strategy as part of the country’s move to achieve carbon neutrality.

The Hydrogen Strategy identified four major strategies to improve legislation, establish standards, align with the market, and create an environment conducive to hydrogen energy development in the markets, according to the government.

“To tackle the challenge of climate change, the world is striving to phase out fossil fuels and accelerate energy transition. Hydrogen energy is regarded as a low-carbon energy with development potential, and countries around the world are actively promoting the development of the hydrogen energy industry,” Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan said.

“Seizing the opportunities brought about by the development of hydrogen energy can help Hong Kong strive towards carbon neutrality, develop a new quality productive force and maintain international competitiveness," he added.

Under the strategy, the government will introduce legislative amendments in the first half of 2025 to regulate the manufacturing, storage, transport, supply, and use of hydrogen or intended to be used as fuel. This will also formulate the approach to certify a hydrogen standard aligned with international practices by 2027.

The government will also promote regional cooperation and investment outside Hong Kong, as well as the development or importation of hydrogen through joint ventures.

Hong Kong will also promote itself as a demonstration base for hydrogen energy development, facilitate the progress of the industry in the Belt and Road region, and promote hydrogen business opportunities in Hong Kong to overseas markets and Mainland China.

In 2022, Hong Kong formed an Inter-departmental Working Group on Using Hydrogen as Fuel to remove barriers and facilitate local hydrogen applications.

The strategy will expand its roles which include to coordinating the development of relevant technical standards and guidelines for hydrogen applications, aside from examining and approving future trial projects.

The working group will also advise on the pathway for wider application and commercialisation of hydrogen projects, provide support for local infrastructure development and capacity building, assist in promoting its applications, and review the progress and update the strategy.