In 2023, Hong Kong SAR China relied on fossil fuels for about three-quarters of its electricity consumption: gas supplied almost half, while coal accounted for just over a quarter. Net imports provided another 24%, or almost a quarter. Locally generated low-carbon electricity contributed less than 1%. The supplied data do not identify the electricity sources behind those imports, so they should not automatically be classified as either fossil or clean electricity. Reducing reliance on gas and coal through more low-carbon electricity would help address climate change and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in Hong Kong SAR China?

Electricity consumption per person has not surpassed its historical peak. In 2023, it stood at about 6,615 kWh per person, around 157 kWh—or 2%—below the record of 6,772 kWh set in 2012. This comparison does not establish whether total consumption or consumption in the latest year increased, but it shows that the per-person record remains unbroken. Local low-carbon generation, meanwhile, reached a new high of 48 kWh per person, up from 44 kWh in 2022—an increase of about 9%. That clean-electricity growth is encouraging, although its very small scale underscores the need for faster expansion to support electrification and future demand, including AI.

Suggestions

Hong Kong can increase local clean electricity generation by expanding rooftop and building-integrated solar installations, while exploring suitable wind projects. Japan, where solar supplies 11% of electricity generation, offers a relevant regional example; the US state of Hawaii, with a solar share of 23%, offers useful island-system experience. Nuclear should also play a central role in planning additional low-carbon supply, including through expanded regional cooperation and consideration of new capacity serving Hong Kong. South Korea generates a quarter of its electricity from nuclear, while France generates about two-thirds, demonstrating nuclear’s potential to supply clean electricity at scale. For wind, the United Kingdom’s 30% share provides a useful coastal reference, although local projects should reflect Hong Kong’s particular conditions.

History

The reported history shows modest, intermittent increases in local low-carbon electricity generation. From the mid-2000s through most of the 2010s, the listed changes in wind, biofuels and solar were zero at the data’s reported precision; this does not necessarily mean there was no activity. Biofuels generation increased by 0.1 TWh in 2019, while solar increased by 0.1 TWh in each of 2021 and 2022. In 2023, both solar and biofuels again recorded changes rounded to zero. The recent solar gains are welcome, but the latest pause highlights the importance of sustained expansion rather than isolated increases.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade