Electricity in Hong Kong SAR China in 2023
Hong Kong SAR China is heavily reliant on fossil fuels for its electricity generation, with more than three-quarters of its electricity coming from fossil energy sources. Predominantly, this includes gas, which accounts for almost half of the electricity mix, and coal, which contributes to more than a quarter of it. Despite being a modern city with significant energy demands, only a small portion of their electricity is generated through clean energy sources, making their carbon footprint significant. Net imports, which can consist of a mixture of both fossil and low-carbon energy sources, cover nearly a quarter of their electricity needs, highlighting the region's dependence on external suppliers for its energy supply.
Is Electricity Growing in Hong Kong SAR China?
When examining trends in electricity consumption, there are noticeable changes over the past decades. In 2023, electricity consumption per person stood at 6615 kWh, marking a slight decline from the peak in 2012 of 6772 kWh per person. This decrease of 157 kWh per person indicates a contraction or stabilization in energy demand. On a more positive note, low-carbon electricity generation has seen a small yet important rise, with an increase of 4 kWh per person from 2022, recording the highest-ever contribution of low-carbon sources in the city's energy mix. This slight yet crucial uptrend illustrates an emerging commitment to sustainable energy solutions. However, much improvement is needed to reach significant levels of clean energy consumption.
Suggestions
To support the growth of low-carbon electricity generation, Hong Kong SAR China could benefit from looking at the successful examples of other countries. For instance, France has efficiently harnessed nuclear power to cover more than two-thirds of its electricity needs. Similarly, South Korea and Slovakia have utilized nuclear energy to great effect, with it providing around a third or more of their electricity. Furthermore, Denmark's focus on wind energy, which covers more than half of its electricity, offers an example of maximizing local resources for sustainable energy. Emulating such strategies, with a focus on the development of nuclear and solar energy as primary clean sources, could lead to significant reductions in Hong Kong's carbon footprint and foster a resilient energy sector.
History
Throughout the years, the journey of low-carbon electricity generation in Hong Kong SAR China has seen minimal changes, with solar energy making small increases in recent times. From the mid-2000s onwards, the data reflects close to no advances in biofuels and slow progress in solar energy, marking an era of stagnation for low-carbon electricity development. Aside from a minor increase in biofuel generation in 2019, the region has primarily relied on traditional energy sources. It is clear that historically, there has been little momentum or prioritized investment in clean energy technologies. Moving ahead, the considerable potential for solar and nuclear energy growth remains largely untapped, setting the stage for strategic, sustainable transformation in the city.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.