Hong Kong International Airport launches pilot project to use renewable diesel in ground-services equipment

Photo: Hong Kong International Airport

Airport Authority Hong Kong announced April 12 the launch of a renewable diesel pilot project at Hong Kong International Airport as part of its commitment to develop HKIA into the world’s greenest airport.

According to Airport Authority Hong Kong, HKIA is the first airport in Asia to use renewable diesel in ground-services equipment, which can reduce greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions by 87 percent compared to petroleum diesel.

The pilot project is launched in collaboration with Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Ltd. and Shell Hong Kong Ltd.

HACTL is also the first cargo terminal in Asia to use renewable diesel in ground-services equipment.

The renewable diesel to be piloted, known as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), is a drop-in fuel fully compatible with diesel engines of equipment such as tractors, rubber-removal machines, apron sweeper and mobile generators.

“The pilot project marks a significant milestone on our pathway to developing into the world’s greenest airport, achieving our net-zero carbon commitment by 2050 and our midpoint target of 50 percent reduction in 2035,” said Vivian Cheung, AAHK’s chief operating officer. “Thanks to the collaborative efforts of our aviation business partners, we are Asia’s first airport to break new ground on the use of renewable diesel, and we look forward to broadening the usage at the airport in the future.”

Amy Lam, chief sustainability officer of HACTL, said, “HACTL is proud to be one of the businesses supporting this important initiative from AAHK. Not all diesel-powered ground-service equipment can currently be replaced with electric versions, so the use of renewable diesel could provide an acceptable interim measure that will reduce emissions, until such time as better alternatives are developed. We are solidly behind this trial, and will do everything possible to ensure its success.”

Anne Yu, managing director of Shell Hong Kong, added, “Shell integrates sustainability into its business and aims to become a net-zero energy business by 2050. Shell Hong Kong is committed to introducing low-carbon energy solutions to Hong Kong to support Hong Kong’s green transition. We hope that through this HVO pilot project, we can accelerate the supply and use of renewable energy in Hong Kong.”

HACTL runs the pilot project with sponsorship by the HKIA Greenovation Fund.

Established by AAHK in 2022, the fund aims to provide financial support to business partners that have joined AAHK’s net-zero carbon pledge in 2021, to explore and pilot new carbon-reduction technologies to accelerate the decarbonization process at the airport.