PolyU hosts Hong Kong New Energy Development Symposium, uniting academia, industry and researchers to chart a future development blueprint
Amid global efforts to combat climate change, Hong Kong is positioning itself within the Nation’s “Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality” strategy and the green development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). To support Hong Kong’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality before 2050, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)’s Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology (PReCIT), together with its Research Centre for Electric Vehicles (RCEV), today hosted the Hong Kong New Energy Development Symposium. The event brought together leading experts, academics and industry representatives to discuss a systematic development blueprint for key areas including electric vehicle (EV) adoption, smart charging, hydrogen infrastructure, and the low-altitude economy. Experts emphasised that Hong Kong must progress from the pilot phase to scaled delivery as it aims to become a key hub for green transformation in the GBA through grid upgrades, collaborative standard-setting, and industry chain cooperation.
In his opening address, Prof. Christopher CHAO, Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU and Director of PReCIT, stated that Hong Kong’s new energy transition must be centred on the carrying capacity of the power system to enable a comprehensive rollout. Prof. Chao highlighted that the widespread adoption of EVs is the most visible aspect of the energy transition, yet it faces bottlenecks such as uneven charging experiences and grid load pressure. He proposed three key strategies: first, adopting a demand-driven approach to “address regional gaps”, setting clear targets and timelines for areas with charging shortages or rapid growth, and ensuring fairness between fast and residential charging; second, promoting “smart charging and demand-side management” to alleviate peak loads through off-peak charging and grid coordination; and third, accelerating the “coordinated deployment of green power and energy storage” to increase the proportion of local zero-carbon electricity and ensure verifiable emission reduction benefits.
During the keynote session, Prof. CHAU Kwok-tong, Co-Director of RCEV of PolyU and Chair Professor of Electrical Energy Engineering, analysed the competition among global charging standards and the trend towards wireless charging. He emphasised that infrastructure and interoperability would be key to EV adoption. Prof. Chau noted that global EV penetration was accelerating rapidly, yet charging infrastructure lags and remained uneven. Competition among standards reflects fragmented global approaches. Meanwhile, wireless charging, though less mature, promises convenience and autonomy compared with wired systems.
Dr Oscar CHAN Ka-chung, Research Assistant Professor of the PolyU Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering and PReCIT, further pointed out that transitioning to new energy vehicles was not only about vehicle replacement—it is a transformation of infrastructure and systems engineering. Battery EVs are well-suited for light‑duty use, but for heavy‑duty, high‑intensity operations, Hong Kong should balance battery and hydrogen options based on real-world duty cycles. Smarter planning of charging locations and capacity is needed—leveraging GIS, demand data and dynamic load management—while accelerating the provision of cleaner electricity and grid upgrades. Through coordinated policy and engineering efforts, emissions can be cut and transport efficiency improved together.
Prof. LIU Chunhua, Chair Professor in Electrical Energy Engineering of School of Energy and Environment at City University of Hong Kong, showcased Hong Kong’s Research and Development strengths in electric motor systems for low-altitude aircraft. He believes that with innovation, technology, and policy support, the low-altitude economy and robotics industry can be advanced within the GBA. Prof. Liu conducted in-depth analysis of the topologies and application characteristics of various novel motor systems, and further explored their application prospects in propulsion systems for low-altitude aircraft, as well as the opportunities and development trends in robotic joint actuation.
Mr David SO, Executive Director of CCIAM E&E Engineering Limited, expressed his view that EVs are a key pathway for Hong Kong’s transition towards low-carbon mobility. Their development depends not only on wider vehicle adoption, but also on the maturity of charging infrastructure, energy management, policy support and user behaviour. In the face of both opportunities and challenges, a more practical and innovative approach should be taken to build a more efficient, convenient, and sustainable EV ecosystem.
A panel discussion, moderated by Prof. Alfred SIT Wing-hang, Professor of Practice (Electrical Engineering) of the PolyU Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Advisory Committee Member of PReCIT, focused on “Technology Commercialisation and Industrialisation”. Participants agreed on the need to refine its policies and infrastructure, and build a new energy supply chain encompassing upstream production and downstream application to enhance energy security and industrial competitiveness.
In his closing remarks, the Hon. Duncan CHIU, Member of the Legislative Council (Technology and Innovation Constituency) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, referred to the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, which highlight the pressing challenges facing Hong Kong's energy security and green transition. He argued that, whilst the Government must refine its policies and infrastructure, industry had to establish an extensive supply chain, spanning from upstream production, midstream distribution and storage, to downstream applications; only through coordinated efforts could the widespread adoption of new energy be achieved.
The Symposium underscored that Hong Kong’s energy transition is not merely a matter of technological upgrade, but a systematic evolution in development philosophy and urban governance. From grid-coordinated charging layouts and green power-storage integration to regional supply chain collaboration, participants outlined a scalable pathway for Hong Kong that is rooted locally and synergistic with the GBA. PolyU remains committed to fostering cross-sector collaboration to support Hong Kong’s development into a green, smart and resilient international exemplar city.
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