Hong Kong will have no alternative but to use Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to achieve its carbon reduction targets and operate its aviation industry in a carbon-constrained future. The Chief Executive's 2023 Policy Address of Hong Kong clearly states the need to promote the supply and infrastructure of SAF in the city. However, the relevant expertise in SAF characterization and development in Hong Kong is currently limited. To date, there are only a few SAF factories globally, with nearly all of them located in the U.S. and Europe. This places Hong Kong's airlines in a vulnerable position, heavily dependent on overseas SAF supply and regulations.
In the foreseeable future, maintaining resilient SAF production and transport will be crucial for Hong Kong to reduce the aviation operational cost and carbon footprint. Unfortunately, this cannot be achieved with the current SAF assessment protocols, which are arduous, highly risky, and extremely expensive. The Government's policymaking will also face serious challenges if the issues associated with SAF assessment cannot be addressed.
To address this issue, Dr Cheng Song, Department of Mechanical Engineering of PolyU, has proposed a project titled "Implementing Carbon-Free Air Travel in Hong Kong: What Fidelity and Resiliency are Needed in Sustainable Aviation Fuels?" This project aligns seamlessly with the strategic missions of Hong Kong has been awarded the Public Policy Research Grants, which are administered by the Chief Executive's Policy Unit (CEPU). The proposed project aims to circumvent the major challenges associated with SAF development and identify low-cost, high-yield SAF blend stocks in Asia, with a particular focus on the Greater Bay Area, thereby facilitating SAF supply resiliency for Hong Kong.
By leveraging the composite advantages of Hong Kong and mainland China through this project, in-depth regional integration will be facilitated within the Greater Bay Area. The outcomes of this project will not only lead to advances in research in the field but also provide a novel and practical solution to SAF screening that can be reliably and stably implemented to secure Hong Kong's aviation future. With the technology developments generated from this project, Hong Kong will be able to develop specific and oriented policies on SAF development and certification, promoting the city's leadership in the aviation industry and aiding the progression towards Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2050.
You may also like
