Hong Kong energy mix & electricity
Power plants in Hong Kong produced 37.4 TWh of electricity in 2024. More than half of it, 64.1%, came from natural gas; coal was a distant second with 33.7%.
Electricity generation by source in 2024
Share of electricity generation by source, with the change in percentage points over the last ten years.
| Source | TWh | Share | 10-yr Δ pp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas | 24 | 64.1% | +41.2 |
| Coal | 12.6 | 33.7% | −42.8 |
| Oil | 0.45 | 1.2% | +0.7 |
| Solar | 0.23 | 0.6% | +0.6 |
| Bioenergy | 0.16 | 0.4% | +0.3 |
| Total | 37.44 | 100% |
Hong Kong: electricity in context
Power plants in Hong Kong produced 37.4 TWh of electricity in 2024. That is similar to Bahrain. More than half of it, 64.1%, came from natural gas; coal was a distant second with 33.7%.
The renewable share stood at 1%, placing Hong Kong 151st of 158 ranked countries (in the bottom quarter). This puts it 33 points below the world average of 33.8%. It is also below the average for Asia (27.3%). Generating one kWh emits about 675 g CO₂e here (world average: 458 g). That makes it one of the more carbon-intensive grids in the world. On carbon intensity, Hong Kong ranks 141st of 158 from the cleanest.
The decade’s big winner is natural gas, up 14.9 TWh between 2014 and 2024 (plus 41.2 percentage points of the mix). The biggest decline came from coal (−17.8 TWh). Overall, the renewable share has barely moved over ten years (a change of under one percentage point). Carbon intensity dropped from 861 to 675 g/kWh, a 22% cut.
Coal is in clear retreat: its share fell from 76.5% in 2014 to 33.7% in 2024, after peaking at 77.8% back in 2003. In absolute terms, coal generation peaked in 2014 at 30.4 TWh and has since fallen 59%.
Wind and solar remain marginal in Hong Kong, together supplying under 1% of electricity.
Hong Kong generates 5,049 kWh of electricity per resident each year, 1.3 times the global average. Imports cover around 23% of demand: Hong Kong bought 11.4 TWh more electricity than it exported.
How the power mix has changed
Electricity generation by source since 2000. Switch to shares to see the structural shift independent of demand growth.
Renewables and carbon intensity
Hong Kong against the world and Asia averages.
Total energy: beyond electricity
Primary energy covers transport, heating and industry too. Renewables supply 1% of primary energy and fossil fuels 99% (2024). Per person, that is 36,809 kWh a year (world: 21,654).
Substitution method: non-fossil electricity is converted to the primary energy a fossil plant would have needed.
Solar & wind farms: Hong Kong
8 utility-scale facilities tracked by Global Energy Monitor (2026): 1 MW of solar and 0 MW of wind operating, plus 400 MW under construction or planned.
How does Hong Kong compare?
Hong Kong next to 6 neighbouring countries, plus regional and world averages. Click a column to sort; use “Compare” for full side-by-side charts.
| Country | Renewable % | Low-carbon % | Fossil % | gCO₂/kWh | kWh / person | Generation TWh | Mix | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong | 1% | 1% | 99% | 675 | 5,049 | 37.4 | — | |
| China | 37% | 41.7% | 58.3% | 525 | 7,474 | 10,583 | Compare | |
| Macau | 30.8% | 30.8% | 69.2% | 474 | 1,083 | 0.8 | Compare | |
| Taiwan | 12.2% | 13.4% | 86.6% | 633 | 12,478 | 288 | Compare | |
| Vietnam | 45.4% | 45.4% | 54.6% | 461 | 3,051 | 310 | Compare | |
| Laos | 76.7% | 76.7% | 23.3% | 232 | 6,733 | 52.3 | Compare | |
| Philippines | 23.3% | 23.3% | 76.7% | 588 | 1,054 | 123 | Compare | |
| Asia average | 27.3% | 32.1% | 67.9% | 573 | 3,749 | 18,015 | Compare | |
| World average | 33.8% | 42.6% | 57.4% | 458 | 3,860 | 31,772 | Compare |
Calculators for Hong Kong
Hong Kong energy: frequently asked questions
What percentage of electricity in Hong Kong is renewable?
What is the main source of electricity in Hong Kong?
How clean is the electricity in Hong Kong?
Does Hong Kong have nuclear power?
How much electricity does Hong Kong use per person?
How much solar power does Hong Kong produce?
Does Hong Kong import electricity?
More countries in Asia
Sources & references
- Our World in Data: Energy dataset (CC BY 4.0) — compiled from the sources below
- Ember: Yearly Electricity Data — generation, shares, carbon intensity
- Energy Institute: Statistical Review of World Energy — primary energy, fossil production
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: International Energy Data — gap-filling for smaller countries
- World Resources Institute: Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0) — power plant locations and capacity
Electricity data: Ember and Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0); latest year 2024. Power plants: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). Rankings exclude systems under 1 TWh and values older than 2020. Figures may be revised by the original publishers.