Technical Seminar on the Hydrogen Economy in Hong Kong - video recording

The Energy Institute Hong Kong Branch (EIHK) and Ability R&D Energy Research Centre of City University of Hong Kong together with Co-organizer, Power Assets Holdings Ltd. jointly organized a Half-day Technical Seminar on the Hydrogen Economy in Hong Kong on 15 June 2019.

There was an overwhelming response from the industry with over 300 participants hearing about how hydrogen is beginning to become an important part of the energy market. EIHK was delighted to welcome five distinguished speakers from both UK and Hong Kong to share their expert views on how hydrogen could contribute to a low/zero carbon energy mix. EIHK Chairman, Ir K F Yee welcomed all participants and briefly introduced each of the speakers:

• Professor Phil Taylor (Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor SAgE Faculty, Head of School of Engineering, Newcastle University) spoke first highlighting that the UK is the first country in the world to commit to a zero carbon economy and how hydrogen can/will be needed to play a significant part if this is to be achieved.
  
• Mr Mark Horsley (CEO, Northern Gas Networks) provided an overview of the Leeds (UK) H21 Project which is designed to convert the gas supply of Northern England centred around Leeds and Teeside from methane to hydrogen.
  
• Ms. Catherine Spriggs (Senior Project Manager, Science Division, Health & Safety Executive) provided a well-balanced overview of the UK Health and Safety Executive’s work to provide management of the risks and mitigation measures required to enable hydrogen to be used safely.
  
• Mr Alfred Wong (Managing Director, Asia Pacific, Ballard Power Systems) provided an insight into how fuel cell technology has developed enabling use both in road vehicles as well as for light metro rail applications.
  
• In the final presentation, Ir Prof Michael KH Leung (Professor of School of Energy and Environment of City University of Hong Kong and Past Chairman of EIHK) took a lookinto the future and was able to present some of the research projects which is being undertaken to look into clean and sustainable methods of producing hydrogen as potential alternatives to steam reforming.
  
• Chairman Yee also welcomed two special VIP Guests, Ir Alfred Sit, JP (Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services Department of The HK SAR Government) and Ir Dr The Hon Lo Wai Kwok (Representative of the Engineering Functional Constituency of the Legislative Council) who both not only participated in the Seminar, but also gave short speeches of support for the work being done to study the potential introduction of hydrogen into the energy industry. 

The seminar ended with a question-and-answer session moderated by Ir Prof Dennis Leung (Honorary Advisor of EIHK) and Ir Paul Lee (Immediate Past Chairman of EIHK). Ir Edmund Leung (Hon. Adviser of EIHK) delivered some incisive closing remarks at the end of the Seminar, and Chairman Yee expressed his sincere thanks on behalf of the Organising Committee and all participants to all Guest Speakers for taking time out of their busy schedules and to travel to Hong Kong to present their knowledge and experience in the hydrogen field to the Hong Kong energy industry.

The Seminar was supported by Northern Gas Networks (UK), The Association of Energy Engineers (Hong Kong Chapter), Building Services Operation and Maintenance Executives Society, Engineers Australia - HK Chapter, The Hong Kong Association of Energy Engineers, The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers - Building Services Division, Gas and Energy Division, Logistics & Transportation Division, Mechanical, Marine, Naval Architecture & Chemical Division, Institution of Gas Engineers & Managers - Far East District Section and The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (Hong Kong Branch).

A link to video recordings of the seminar can be found below.