WHERE WE NEED TO GET TO
70% of carbon emissions can be eliminated by switching to Net-Zero emission sources of electricity, so Hong Kong needs to grasp this opportunity to create the “grid of the future”. Renewable energy needs to be heavily promoted and serious consideration given to substantially increasing electricity from nuclear energy, following safety and other research into the specific opportunities. Both these sources of electricity cannot, however, efficiently adjust supply to match demand.
Hong Kong therefore needs to:
- Consider ongoing use of natural gas fired generation (which is flexible) and, in the future, when it is available, can be made low carbon with the addition of carbon capture and storage technology currently under development.
- Increase energy storage
Overall, supply side policies need to also be integrated with policies that:
- Encourage energy savings in individual households for best emissions reduction effect.
- Allow electricity companies to manage the demand for electricity. For example, when there is low supply from RE it may be necessary to cut-back supply for air-conditioning so as to maintain supply for high-priority uses such as lifts, pumping water and transport.
While making these changes, we must meet the critical need for Hong Kong to have reliable electricity supply generated in a safe, secure, available and affordable manner.
