Electricity in Hong Kong SAR China in 2021

As of 2021, the majority of Hong Kong SAR China's electricity is highly reliant on fossil fuels. More than 70% of the city's electricity comes from such sources, with coal accounting for nearly half and gas contributing just over a third. Coupled with the net imports, which constitute more than a quarter, the amount of low-carbon energy generated locally is close to none.

Suggestions

Hong Kong can look towards more progressive countries as a model for increasing their low-carbon electricity generation. France, Slovakia, and Ukraine generate a significant majority of their electricity from nuclear power, above 50%, making them models for successful low-carbon electricity generation using this method. Similarly, Denmark and Uruguay are successful examples of wind power usage, generating approximately 60% and 40% of their electricity respectively with this clean energy type. Hong Kong, being densely populated and limited by land resources, could heavily invest in nuclear energy as it is less space-demanding compared to wind or solar power infrastructure.

History

Hong Kong's progress in producing low-carbon electricity has been notably slow. According to historical data, there has been zero change in electricity generated from wind and biofuels from 2006 to the present, whereas solar didn't make any progress either until 2019. This lack of development, evident over more than a decade, is a clear indication that Hong Kong needs to accelerate its transition towards greener energy sources like nuclear, wind and solar, and lessen its reliance on fossil fuels to tackle climate change and reduce air pollution.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources