The West Kowloon Depot, the first public hydrogen refueling station in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, broke ground on Nov 20 according to China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec Group).
The station is designed to integrate petrol, natural gas and hydrogen refueling, charging and automobile service, and will be the first of its kind in the region.
The daily hydrogen refueling capacity of the station is expected to reach 1,000 kilograms and will be available 24/7 for various kinds of vehicles like buses, garbage trucks and private cars.
Hydrogen is a secondary energy source and is regarded as the most promising clean energy in the 21st century.
Compared with traditional fuels, hydrogen performs well in delivering zero pollution, energy density, storability and renewability.
As an international metropolis, Hong Kong has a high demand for energy, especially for logistics transportation such as double-decker buses and heavy trucks that are difficult to power only by pure electricity. With fast refilling and stronger power, hydrogen is an appropriate fuel for such vehicles.
In the first stage, the station's hydrogen will be supplied by Sinopec Group's subsidiary in South China's Guangdong Province. Later, the energy will be completed produced within the region. In the last stage, the station plans to explore photovoltaic green hydrogen production.
(Executive editor: Xie Yunxiao)
