Energy in Hong Kong

Energy in Hong Kong refers to the type of energy and its related infrastructure used in Hong Kong. Energy is very important for the development of trade and industries in Hong Kong, especially because the city has limited usable land. Most of the energy used in Hong Kong comes from outside sources or is produced through special processes.

Solar PV power generation in Hong Kong

In 2021, the main sources of energy in Hong Kong were oil, making up about 63% of the total, and coal, which provided around 29%. Another 8.5% came from electricity imported from other places.

Looking at how energy is used, most of it—about 43%—went to commercial buildings and services. Transport, like cars and buses, used about 31%, while homes used around 21%. Industrial uses made up the smallest part, about 4.3%. The city also has many projects and rules aimed at using more renewable energy and improving efficiency.

Energy sources

Coal

Hong Kong gets all its coal from other countries. In 2021, it imported 6.5 million tonnes of coal. Indonesia supplied most of it, followed by Russia, Australia, and Canada.

Most of this coal is used to make electricity generation. Hong Kong has about 5 GW of power from coal-fired power stations.

Natural gas

Natural gas started being used for electricity in Hong Kong in 1996. The Black Point Power Station began operating that year and grew to 3.2 GW by 2020. The Lamma Power Station, which used to burn coal, now also uses gas.

Nuclear

Main article: Nuclear energy in Hong Kong

Hong Kong does not produce its own nuclear energy and has no nuclear power plants. But since 1994, it has gotten electricity from the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant in Shenzhen, Guangdong.

Photovoltaic panels at The Peak Galleria

Hydro

Hong Kong has one small hydropower plant in Tuen Mun connected to a water treatment plant. It does not have many rivers to make more hydro power.

Oil

Most of the oil products Hong Kong uses come from Singapore. Singapore sends about three-quarters of the fuel oil and unleaded motor gasoline imports. Hong Kong also sends oil products to Mainland China and Macau.

Solar

Solar and wind-powered lamp in Ma On Shan

Hong Kong has used solar energy for over 20 years. By 2013, Lamma Power Station had 1 MW of solar power, which was twice as much as when it started in 2010.

Wind

Hong Kong has a very small amount of wind power since 2006, from the Lamma Winds on Lamma Island. In 2013, HK Electric finished measuring wind for a possible wind farm near Lamma Island.

Renewable energy projects in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a small city, which makes it tricky to create renewable energy. But the city gets lots of sunlight, which is great for making solar energy. The government is working on projects to use this sunlight, aiming for clean energy by the year 2050.

There are also projects to turn waste into energy. For example, a trial program uses food waste and sewage to make about 950,000 kWh of energy each year. Another place called T-PARK handles over 2000 tonnes of waste every day and makes its own power, sharing extra energy with the city's grid. Other projects, like O-PARK1 and O-PARK2, change organic waste into clean gas that can be used for energy and farming. More facilities are being built to grow this clean energy even further.

Current Solar Energy Projects as of February 2025
Location	Project	Department	Annual Production (kW)
Shek Pik Reservoir	Floating Solar Energy Generation	Water Supplies	120,000
Plover Clove Reservoir	Floating Solar Energy Generation	Water Supplies	120,000
Tai Lam Chung Reservoir	Floating Solar Energy Generation	Water Supplies	120,000
Stonecutters Island Sewage Treatment Works	Thin-Film Solar Energy Generation	Drainage Services	Data Unavailable
Jordan Valley Landfill	Solar Landfill Restoration	Environmental Protection	180,000

Energy efficiency

The Hong Kong government helps save energy by creating special groups and offices. One group is called the Energy Advisory Committee. It gives advice on energy plans. Another office is the Energy Efficiency Office (EEO). It makes rules for buildings to use less energy. These rules cover things like air conditioning, lighting, and elevators.

These rules have helped buildings use less energy—about 20.5% less each year. For example, in very warm weather, buildings can be a little warmer inside and still feel comfortable. This saves energy. The rules also suggest better ways to light rooms and manage electricity to save even more. These efforts save a lot of electricity each year.

Regulatory body

Energy matters in Hong Kong are managed by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, also known as EMSD. This department works under the Development Bureau of the Government of Hong Kong. It makes sure that energy services are safe and reliable for all people in the city.

Companies

Some important companies in Hong Kong help provide energy. These include China Resources Petroleum Company Limited, CLP Group, The Hong Kong and China Gas Company, Hongkong Electric Company, Kunlun Energy, SS United Group Oil & Gas Company, and Towngas China. These companies work to make sure people in Hong Kong have the power they need.

Education

Hong Kong has special places where people can learn about energy. These include the Nuclear Resources Centre at the Kowloonbay International Trade & Exhibition Centre, the EMSD Education Path in Kowloon, and the Zero Carbon Building in Kowloon Bay. These centers help people understand how energy is used and managed in the city.