In brief
Towngas says it is expanding renewable energy activities and improving the efficiency of its residential gas appliances as part of its response to the energy transition. Together with subsidiary Towngas Smart Energy, it has developed projects and established 91 zero-carbon smart industrial parks across 22 mainland Chinese provincial-level areas. The company aims for all residential gas appliances to reach Grade 2 or better by mid-2024, and says it targets a further 2% improvement in appliance efficiency by 2030 compared with 2022. Towngas also says town gas production accounts for about 1% of Hong Kong’s total greenhouse gas emissions, and that roughly half of its gas is hydrogen. It is pursuing hydrogen supply development and nature-related disclosure work.
Key takeaways
- Towngas and subsidiary Towngas Smart Energy report 91 zero-carbon smart industrial parks across 22 mainland Chinese provincial-level areas.
- The company targets Grade 2 or better efficiency for all residential gas appliances by mid-2024.
- Towngas aims to improve appliance energy efficiency by a further 2% by 2030, compared with 2022.
- The company says it is developing ways to extract hydrogen from its gas network.
December 12, 2023 -- The 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) has concluded, with over 100 countries pledging to accelerate energy transition, increase renewable energy capacity, and improve energy efficiency. Towngas recognises the vital role of the energy industry in the journey toward carbon neutrality. As a committed player, the Company is evolving into a low-carbon and green energy supplier. This includes a strong focus on developing its renewable energy business on the Chinese mainland and improving the energy efficiency of its appliances to enhance environmental performance.
Towngas Smart Energy Company Limited (Towngas Smart Energy), a subsidiary of Towngas, actively supports the country’s “30-60” dual carbon goals by vigorously expanding its renewable energy business. Through three strategic directions of integration, decarbonisation, and digitalisation, Towngas Smart Energy is driving initiatives such as zero-carbon smart industrial parks, photovoltaics, energy storage, and battery charging and swapping. As at mid-year, Towngas and Towngas Smart Energy have successfully developed renewable energy projects and established 91 zero-carbon smart industrial parks in 22 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities across the Chinese mainland.
In Hong Kong, starting from 1 December 2024, the Mandatory Energy Efficiency Labelling Scheme will be fully applicable to gas cookers and gas water heaters. Towngas actively supports this initiative and aims to ensure that all residential gas appliances achieve a Grade 2 or higher in energy efficiency by mid of next year. The Company’s long-term objective is to improve the energy efficiency of its residential gas appliances by an additional 2% by 2030 compared to 2022. Towngas will continue to enhance the energy efficiency of its appliances through innovative ideas and technological developments.
In addition, Towngas ceased using coal as a feedstock for town gas production as early as the 1960s. Presently, the greenhouse gas emissions from town gas production constitute only about 1% of the total emissions in Hong Kong. Furthermore, approximately half of the gas produced by Towngas is composed of hydrogen gas. The Company is actively driving the development of hydrogen energy in Hong Kong and is prepared to extract hydrogen from its gas network, providing users with secure, efficient, and reliable hydrogen supply solutions.
At COP28’s Nature, Land Use and Ocean Day, a range of measures were announced to protect forests, mangroves, the ocean, etc. It reaffirmed the global imperative to effectively preserve nature in order to limit the increase in global temperatures to 1.5°C.
Towngas places significant importance on its businesses’ impact on the environment, ecosystems, and biodiversity. As early as November of last year, in partnership with Towngas Smart Energy, the Company published the Climate-related and Nature-related Directive Guide, making it the first company in Hong Kong to respond to the beta framework of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD). As a proactive participant in the TNFD framework, Towngas has also been invited to join the TNFD Forum, where it contributes to consultations and discussions aimed at enhancing the framework.
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Press photos:
Photo 1:
Towngas Smart Energy, a subsidiary of Towngas, is actively expanding its presence in the Chinese mainland’s renewable energy sector, with a strong emphasis on photovoltaic and energy storage projects, promoting the “zero-carbon city” smart energy scheme.
Photo 2:
Towngas’ hydrogen extraction facility in the Tai Po Gas Production Plant can extract hydrogen from town gas, which can then be used to generate electricity through hydrogen fuel cells.
For media enquiries, please contact:
The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited
Mr Bien Wong
Senior Manager – Corporate Affairs, ESG and Mainland Business Strategy
Tel.: 2963 3135 / 6155 2480
Fax: 2516 7368
Email: [email protected]
Mr Tommy Wong
Corporate Communications and ESG Officer
Tel: 2963 3407 / 6695 8372
Fax: 2516 7368
Email: [email protected]
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At a glance
- Company
- The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited
- Announcement
- Expansion
Key figures
- Zero-carbon smart industrial parks
- 91
- Mainland provincial-level areas with parks
- 22
- Target additional appliance efficiency improvement
- 2%
- Appliance efficiency target year
- 2030
- Comparison baseline year
- 2022
- Town gas production share of Hong Kong emissions
- about 1%
