LCQ5: Measures to ensure stable energy supply
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Question:
It has been reported that the recent ongoing tensions in the Middle East and uncertain outlook for international crude oil supply have caused oil prices to surge sharply, thus further pushing up natural gas prices, and as Qatar is one of the major sources of natural gas imports for Hong Kong, the rise in energy costs will inevitably have a chain effect on local transport, logistics and people's livelihood. The National 15th Five-Year Plan proposes to "intensify the construction of new energy infrastructure", which includes building offshore wind power bases, promoting the development of deep-sea and far-sea wind power, building external transmission corridors for clean energy bases, and advancing mutual support projects for the power system, etc. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether it will consider revisiting and reallocating Hong Kong's energy mix, as well as drawing up a specific timetable to gradually increase the proportion of electricity generated from renewable energy to 50 per cent;
(2) as it is learnt that given the limited land resources in Hong Kong and yet energy transition requires diversified supply modes, whether the Government will proactively identify and plan suitable sites for setting up new offshore wind farms or onshore green energy facilities; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(3) as there are views that energy storage systems play an important role in coping with energy supply fluctuations and enhancing power stability, whether the Government will comprehensively examine the potential for developing energy storage technologies in Hong Kong and formulate specific policy directions and implementation timetable; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(4) as there are views pointing out that Hong Kong is now facing an urgent need for energy transition, whether the Government can undertake to expedite the planning and construction of the power facilities in Tseung Kwan O Area 132, so as to ensure that such facilities can be put into operation as early as possible, instead of being commissioned in 2035?
Reply:
President,
In response to the question raised by the Hon Stanley Ng, our reply is as follows:
(1) and (4) Based on the four energy policy objectives of safety, reliability, affordability and environmental performance, the Government will, through enhancing regional co-operation, progressively increase the use of zero-carbon energy in electricity generation, reduce the reliance on fossil fuels, and achieve the long-term goal of "net-zero electricity generation" as set out in the Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2050, i.e. to increase the share of zero-carbon energy in the fuel mix of electricity generation to about 60 per cent to 70 per cent by 2035 (including 7.5 per cent to 10 per cent of local renewable energy), and achieve the target of "net-zero electricity generation" and carbon neutrality by 2050.
The share of zero-carbon energy (including nuclear energy and renewable energy) accounted for about one-fourth of the overall fuel mix of electricity generation in 2025. As regards the other fuels for electricity generation, the shares of natural gas and coal were more than 50 per cent and less than 20 per cent respectively.
With the enhancement of the Clean Energy Transmission System by end-2026, Hong Kong will be able to gradually import more zero-carbon energy from the Chinese Mainland. The Government also keeps planning ahead for the construction of electricity facilities to receive and process electricity transmitted to Hong Kong from other regions, thereby further enhancing the capacity of supplying zero-carbon energy to Hong Kong. Since the price of zero-carbon energy is more stable than that of fossil fuels, increasing the use of zero-carbon energy will not only help stabilise electricity prices, but also spearhead Hong Kong's high-quality development.
(2) The Government has endeavoured to develop local renewable energy over the years, and will continue to grapple with various objective constraints. First, we are striving to develop more waste-to-energy (WtE) facilities, including the Integrated Waste Management Facilities Phase I (I·PARK1) that has commenced trial operation since December 2025. Upon full commissioning, it is expected to generate about 480 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year. Together with about 58 million kWh of electricity generated per year by other facilities already in operation, these WtE facilities will be sufficient to meet the electricity demands of over 110 000 households each year. In addition, the Integrated Waste Management Facilities Phase 2 (I·PARK2), currently under planning, is expected to generate 960 million kWh of surplus electricity per year for export to the grid, apart from supporting the facility's daily operation. The Government has also approved about $2.4 billion for over 280 small-scale renewable energy projects, including the installation of solar energy generation systems at various Government premises and facilities, as well as the installation of WtE and hydropower systems at sewage treatment plants.
As for offshore wind energy, the Government previously explored its feasibility with the two power companies. Although the relevant projects were not included in the 2024-2028 Development Plan of the two power companies due to the prohibitive construction costs at that time, the Government will continue to keep in view the latest technological advancement of offshore wind energy. The Government will also examine whether the relevant projects would become more cost-effective during the 2028 Interim Review, with a view to considering whether to include them in the 2029-2033 Development Plan of the two power companies.
(3) The objective of the Government's energy policy is to meet the energy needs of the community in a safe, reliable and efficient manner at reasonable price. We welcome the power companies to consider adopting any technologies that help to cope with fluctuations in energy supply and enhance the stability of electricity supply. As far as pump storage technology is concerned, CLP Power Hong Kong Limited (CLP) has already been using Phase One of the Guangzhou Pumped Storage Power Station at Conghua in Guangzhou. Surplus electricity generated by the power systems is stored during off-peak hours, with the stored energy released to meet peak electricity demand during daytime, or when other generating units unexpectedly go offline. CLP has also planned to construct a 100-megawatt utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) at the Castle Peak Power Station, which is scheduled for commissioning in 2028. This project will help CLP reduce peak electricity demand and compensate for potential fluctuation in the electricity generation system arising from the adoption of renewable energy. This is conducive to stabilising the power grid and strengthening the resilience of electricity supply. We will continue to monitor market development in related areas such as the technology of BESS, actively consider application of innovative technologies, and continuously enhance the resilience and stability of Hong Kong's power system.
Ends/Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Issued at HKT 12:10
Issued at HKT 12:10
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