Towngas and Veolia Launch Hong Kong’s First Green Hydrogen Project
The Hong Kong and China Gas Company (Towngas) has teamed up with the French water, waste and energy group Veolia to launch the city’s first green hydrogen project. The project will convert biogas from a landfill site into a sustainable fuel, South China Morning Post reported.
On Tuesday, Towngas and Green Valley Landfill, a Veolia subsidiary, signed an agreement to develop the facility at the South East New Territories Landfill Extension (Sentx) in Tseung Kwan O. The launch coincides with the government’s newly released hydrogen development strategy.
According to a joint statement from the companies, the initiative aims to convert rubbish into energy by using biogas to produce green hydrogen, and to promote a range of hydrogen energy applications.
The first batch of locally produced green hydrogen is expected next year. The projected daily production capacity is around 330 kg, sufficient to power seven or eight hydrogen buses for a full day.
“The pilot cooperation between Veolia Hong Kong and Towngas is the first local green hydrogen production demonstration project, playing a pioneering role in advancing Hong Kong’s low-carbon hydrogen energy development,” said Tse Chin-wan, the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, at the launch ceremony.
“Looking ahead, the government will continue to support and encourage the industry to explore more diverse hydrogen energy trials and collaborative projects, jointly supporting the promotion of hydrogen energy applications and industrial development, with the aim of accelerating Hong Kong’s low-carbon transformation and the development of new quality productive forces.”
The city’s hydrogen strategy includes four objectives: improving regulations, setting standards, facilitating the market, and “advancing prudently.”
The Sentx landfill project includes a new hydrogen production unit, transmission facilities, and a hydrogen refuelling station. Towngas and Veolia will collect waste biogas and convert it into green hydrogen using steam methane reforming (SMR) technology.
The project, approved by the interdepartmental working group on hydrogen fuel led by the Environment and Ecology Bureau in March, is expected to start production in 2025.
“Towngas has the infrastructure advantage for hydrogen transmission and supply, and therefore can provide green hydrogen to millions of households in Hong Kong,” said Peter Wong Wai-yee, Managing Director of Towngas, in a statement.
Laurent Pelletier, CEO of Veolia Hong Kong and Macau, emphasized the importance of partnerships in accelerating decarbonization efforts.
“This green hydrogen project is an example of replicating Veolia’s experience abroad to promote more waste-to-energy projects in Hong Kong and participate in the carbon neutrality objectives set by the government,” said Pelletier.
