Net-zero carbon emissions by 2050?

Hong Kong's harnessing of solar and wind lags far behind the IEA suggestions. Wong Kam-sing, secretary for the environment, told a local newspaper that the Environment Bureau plans to raise the renewable energy targets, including expanding the installation of PV panels on reservoirs. A new Climate Action Plan will be released in the third quarter of 2021.

The Water Supplies Department of Hong Kong installed two small systems of 100 kilowatts each on Shek Pik Reservoir and Plover Cove Reservoir in 2017. The government says it is "not easy to estimate" solar energy by 2030 till pilot projects and public reaction are factored in. Of the clean energy target of 25 percent by 2030, almost all will be nuclear energy electricity purchased from the Chinese mainland since 1994. Solar is nominally expected at 1 to 1.5 percent by 2030.

Singapore bets on solar

Singapore is betting big on clean energy, especially solar energy. Though solar power contributes only 2 percent of its electricity power currently, Singapore's goal is to quadruple solar energy deployment by 2025, including the rooftops of public housing blocks. By 2030, it aims to deploy at least 2 GW-peak of solar which can power around 350,000 households — five times that of today.

The Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore expects, in an accelerated deployment scenario, to fast-track solar power to contribute 28 percent of its peak power demand by 2030 and 43 percent by 2050.

Under its SolarNova project in 2014, private companies can bid to finance, install and operate solar PV systems on participating buildings. In return, they can set up long-term power sales agreement with users at a rate lower than the retail electricity tariff. By March, solar capacity of 330 megawatt-peak was generated for 6,901 Housing and Development Board blocks, sufficient for 82,500 4-room flats. Carbon dioxide emissions were cut by 198k tons per annum.