The approved projects include trials of hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) vehicles and hydrogen-powered electricity generation. Four applications focus on HFC vehicles: a joint effort by International New Energy Industry Alliance Limited, Wing Tat Cargo & Trading (HK) Limited, H2 Powertrains Limited, and Ontime International Logistics (HK) Co Limited to test 10 HFC goods vehicles for cross-boundary transport; Wilson Logistics Limited to trial two HFC goods vehicles for similar routes; Kam Wai Tourist Bus (HK) Company Limited to test two HFC coaches for local passenger services; and a collaboration involving China Travel Tours Transportation Services HK Ltd, Allenbus Automotive Technology Co Limited, and REFIRE Hong Kong Limited to trial two HFC coaches for cross-boundary passenger services. Affluent Coach Services Company Limited will also test two HFC coaches locally. Other projects, led by the Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited with partners like CIMC Enric Hong Kong Limited, the Hong Kong Housing Society, and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, focus on extracting hydrogen from towngas networks to generate electricity for charging electric vehicles at a commercial building in North Point, a construction site in Shau Kei Wan, and Hong Kong Science Park.
An EEB spokesperson stated: “Following the applicants’ enhancement on the designs and technical details according to feedback from government departments to ensure that the trial projects can be carried out smoothly and safely, the Working Group has given agreement-in-principle to the eight applications at its meeting today.” The Working Group has now approved 26 hydrogen energy trial projects, including three HFC street washing vehicles from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, which received Certificates of Roadworthiness, and a public hydrogen filling station by Sinopec (Hong Kong) Limited in Au Tau, Yuen Long, set to begin operations soon.
These efforts align with the Strategy of Hydrogen Development in Hong Kong, announcedfilms in June last year, which prioritizes regulatory frameworks, infrastructure, and regional collaboration. The EEB and Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) reported progress, including the Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill, safety training for hydrogen professionals, and the International Hydrogen Development Symposium. The spokesperson noted: “The EEB has announced the acceptance of applications in December last year,” referring to a Subsidy Scheme for Trials of HFC Heavy Vehicles announced in the Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address.
Comprising multiple government departments, the Working Group continues to refine safety and technical standards using trial data, promoting sustainable energy through local and regional partnerships.
