Ir Raymond Poon, Director of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD), explains how smart solutions are driving Hong Kong's low carbon transformation. From energy-efficient buildings to district cooling and hydrogen-powered transport, EMSD is leading the city's push towards carbon neutrality. He also highlights EMSD's role in fostering innovation and cross-border partnerships, positioning Hong Kong as a leader in sustainable energy.
How is EMSD contributing to Hong Kong's energy transition goals?
The Climate Action Plan 2050
In October 2021, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government announced Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2050 (CAP 2050). This outlined the strategies and actions to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050 and to reduce carbon emissions by half before 2035, against 2005 levels.
CAP 2050 outlines various decarbonisation strategies. The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) supports the HKSAR Government in formulating and implementing policies and enforcing related regulations. Additionally, the EMSD fosters technology development in key areas such as net zero electricity generation, energy savings, green buildings, and green transport.
Net zero electricity generation
Electricity generation accounts for over about 60 percent of Hong Kong's carbon emissions. The Government aims to achieve "net zero electricity generation" before 2050 by diversifying the fuel mix and increasing the use of zero carbon energy.
The development of liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure plays a crucial role in this regard. The full operation of the offshore LNG terminal in July 2023 has improved energy security by providing access to competitively priced LNG from global markets, thus reducing our reliance on coal.
EMSD oversees the regulatory framework for LNG facilities to ensure their safety and compliance. Natural gas emits less carbon than coal, and EMSD, along with the HKSAR Government, is committed to promoting natural gas use. The goal is to increase the share of natural gas in power generation to approximately 50 percent by 2035, with the aim to completely replacing coal. This effort contributes to a sustainable energy future for Hong Kong.
Energy savings and green buildings
Buildings in Hong Kong consume about 90 percent of the territory's total electricity and produce over 50 percent of its carbon emissions. Therefore, under CAP 2050, the HKSAR Government's mission is to reduce electricity consumption in commercial buildings by 30-40 percent and in residential buildings by 20-30 percent from 2015 levels, by 2050. The goal is to achieve half of these targets by 2035.
EMSD is responsible for enforcing the Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance (BEEO) that came into full effect in 2012. The ordinance requires certain types of buildings to comply with the Building Energy Code (BEC) and Energy Audit Code (EAC), ensuring the energy efficiency of major building services installations and energy audits.
EMSD reviews the BEC and EAC, pertaining to the BEEO, every three years. This review takes into account the latest technological developments and relevant international standards. Compared to the 2015 edition, the prevailing 2021 edition calls for designs and facilities to be about 15 percent more energy efficient. The latest revision of the codes is underway, with a new edition to be published by end 2024.
To promote energy savings and conservation in buildings, EMSD actively promotes retro-commissioning (RCx) to trade practitioners and property owners. RCx is a key energy management tool that enhances the energy efficiency of existing buildings without requiring significant capital investment. It aims to achieve this through a systematic process of periodic performance checks and operational improvements.
To promote energy efficiency to households, EMSD has implemented the Mandatory Energy Efficiency Labelling Scheme (MEELS) under the Energy Efficiency (Labelling of Products) Ordinance. This scheme has been in place since the ordinance's enactment in 2008. Energy labels are required on all prescribed products supplied in Hong Kong to inform consumers of their energy efficiency.
The MEELS has been implemented in phases. Since 1 September 2023, under the fourth phase, the scheme has been extended to include light-emitting diode lamps, gas cookers, and gas instantaneous water heaters. Together with eight prescribed products under the first three phases, the total energy consumption covered by the MEELS in the residential sector has substantially increased from 50 percent to about 80 percent.
To explore potential renewable energy applications in Hong Kong, EMSD is taking forward a pilot scheme on building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) at the EMSD Headquarters. This will explore how BIPV technology can be used on building facades.
The district cooling system (DCS) is a major energy-efficient infrastructure that supports Hong Kong's low carbon development and carbon neutrality goals. This is a large-scale centralised air-conditioning system that produces chilled water by central chiller plants for distribution to multiple buildings. Compared to traditional central air-conditioning systems, the DCS is more energy-efficient and offers significant environmental benefits.
EMSD is responsible for taking forward the implementation of the DCS in new development areas (NDAs). In Kai Tak Development, the first two DCS plants and the new third plant, contributing a total cooling capacity of 462 megawatts of refrigeration, have been progressively providing district cooling services. Once full utilised, these DCS systems are expected to save about 138 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, reducing carbon emissions by about 96,500 tonnes. Other DCS projects are in the pipeline, including those in Kwu Tung North NDA, Tung Chung New Town Extension (East), and Hung Shui Kiu / Ha Tsuen NDA.
Green transport
In 2021, the HKSAR Government announced the Hong Kong Roadmap on Popularisation of Electric Vehicles and CAP 2050. This plan sets a target to cease new registration of fuel-propelled and hybrid private cars by 2035 or earlier. EMSD provides technical expertise and support to the HKSAR Government to facilitate the introduction of charging facilities, meeting the growing demand for electric vehicles.
In addition to electric vehicles, the HKSAR Government is also promoting hydrogen vehicles as a form of new energy transportation. The Inter-departmental Working Group on Using Hydrogen as Fuel was set up, with EMSD as a member, to promote the local adoption of hydrogen energy through trial projects. The first hydrogen bus began passenger service in February 2024 as part of a trial operation. Furthermore, three hydrogen-fuelled street-washing vehicles are expected to be launched in late 2024, in tandem with the trial of a public hydrogen refuelling station for fuel replenishment.
To support the prudent and orderly development of hydrogen energy in Hong Kong, the HKSAR Government announced the Strategy of Hydrogen Development in Hong Kong in June 2024. This strategy sets out four major areas: improving legislation, establishing standards, aligning with the market, and advancing with prudence. EMSD is working on legislative amendments to the Gas Safety Ordinance, aimed at regulating the importation, manufacture, storage, transport, supply, and use of hydrogen as a fuel. A bill is expected to be introduced to the Legislative Council in the first half of 2025.
In September 2024, EMSD also launched a review to develop a green hydrogen certification system suitable to the development and circumstances of Hong Kong. The system, planned for completion by 2027, will promote green or low carbon hydrogen development for the long run.
How does EMSD foster strategic partnerships with the industry stakeholders to accelerate the adoption of new technologies?
As the HKSAR Government's innovation facilitator, EMSD is committed to encouraging the adoption of innovation and technology (I&T) solutions. These solutions aim to enhance energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption in electrical and mechanical (E&M) facilities. We also engage and educate citizens through public promotion initiatives to accelerate carbon reduction.
Additionally, EMSD continues to leverage our unique strength as a "super connector" between China and the world in the E&M sector. By utilising our close ties with the Mainland, as well as regional and international partners, EMSD drives innovation and further enhances E&M safety and energy efficiency. Last year, EMSD and the General Administration of Customs China (GACC) renewed the Cooperation Arrangement on Electrical and Mechanical Products Safety and Energy Efficiency. This has been in place for 20 years. Our goal is to further enhance E&M product safety and facilitate carbon neutrality.
EMSD actively hosts expert group meetings, conducts projects, and organises workshops for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) on energy efficiency and conservation. We have also expanded cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). We organised the first capacity building training workshop on RCx for ASEAN in Hong Kong this year. Through these collaborations and event engagements, countries can share policy strategies and technological developments for combating climate change.
In this era of rapid technological advancement, collaboration must go beyond knowledge exchange and visions. EMSD actively promotes I&T through initiatives such as the E&M InnoPortal, launched in 2018. This portal matches I&T requests from the public sector with I&T solutions proposed from partners in the sector. Our partners include startups, academic institutions, and service providers. The goal is to drive and promote innovation and green technology development in E&M facilities. So far, over 520 requests have been listed, 1,300 solutions offered, and 200 trial projects conducted, including those related to energy efficiency and renewable energy.
The rapid evolution and advancement of computing technology have enabled smarter and greener E&M facilities through artificial intelligence (AI), optimising operational and energy performance. In 2021, to further encourage the growth of AI applications in E&M facilities, EMSD organised the Global AI Challenge for Building E&M Facilities. This was the largest global AI competition for the E&M industry, receiving over 120 team entries worldwide.
This led to the establishment of the E&M AI Lab in late 2022, establishing a network of specialists from government, industry, academia, and research institutes with the shared goal to apply big data and AI in E&M facilities. The E&M AI Lab has since created and incubated over 12 co-research projects, published more than 10 technical papers, and organised and participated in more than six international collaborations. The E&M AI Lab also won a silver award in the Smart Buildings category of the APEC Energy Smart Communities Initiative (ESCI) Best Practices Awards Program. We anticipate that the E&M AI Lab will continue playing a key role in advancing E&M AI technology in the years ahead.
The theme of SIEW is "A Connected and Sustainable Energy World". What do you expect to be discussed at the event?
With the theme of "A Connected and Sustainable Energy World", SIEW 2024 addresses key issues in identifying areas for inclusive collaboration. It also aims to drive the transition towards a sustainable and resilient decarbonised energy future.
Climate change affects nearly every aspect of our lives, from food sources to infrastructure, and from productivity to health. It is a global issue that transcends national borders. To combat climate change effectively, an energy transition with global collaboration is crucial to paving the way towards achieving carbon neutrality.
SIEW provides a platform for policymakers and energy experts to share advanced low carbon technologies, best practices, and business models in the green energy landscape. I deeply believe that SIEW 2024 will provide insights into how we can overcome the challenges of advancing the energy transition. It will also enhance our interconnectivity with other economies, either regionally within Asia or internationally as we work together towards our shared goal of carbon neutrality.
About Ir Raymond Poon, Director, Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)
Ir Raymond Poon Kwok Ying is the Director of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department. He oversees engineering services for over 100 government departments and public organisations, as well as the enforcement of legislations to ensure public safety in the use of electricity, gas, railway systems, and other electrical and mechanical installations. Additionally, he promotes energy efficiency, conservation, and application of renewable energy in Hong Kong.
With over 30 years of government experience, Ir Poon has held professional and managerial roles in engineering services, project management, business development, and regulatory enforcement.
Ir Poon holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and Master of Science degree in Environmental Management from the University of Hong Kong. In 2019, he earned an Executive MBA degree from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.