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Smart Energy Transitions Workshop 2021:
The Prospects and Challenges of Human-centered Smart Energy Transitions in Hong Kong and Asia
Smart Energy Transitions Workshop 2021:
The Prospects and Challenges of Human-centered Smart Energy Transitions in Hong Kong and Asia
The workshop “Smart Energy Transitions” was held on 01 February 2021, at the Faculty of Social Science, HKBU, co-organized by the Department of Government and International Studies, Asian Energy Studies Centre, and Department of Geography. It was the second workshop of the project “Trust and the Smart City”, funded by the Faculty of Social Science, HKBU, as part of its Faculty Niche Research Area Programme (RC-FNRA-19/20-SOSC1). An outstanding workshop was eventually organized with participation from a wide range of practitioners.
Prof. Daniel Lai, the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, and Prof. Alistair Cole, the Head of the Department of Government and International Studies and the principal investigator of this project, delivered a welcome speech and opening remarks respectively, addressing the importance of trust in the smart city development and the current progress of the project.
Dr. Daphne Mah, the director of Asian Energy Studies Centre, presented ongoing research into “Trust and the Smart City” as an old problem, but with new challenges. The actions of the HKSAR Government in the field of energy were identified over a 10-year period, going back even to the Octopus Card (1997), and to the current smart lamp posts, which clearly illustrate trust is still a present problem. CLP and HK Electric were heavily involved in these processes of energy planning. Dr. Mah also presented the Smart energy transition grid. Before presenting the result of Sai Kung survey, trust was defined (Mar et al 2014) in terms of Information – Motives and Competence.
Observing the Sai Kung data, it showed there was a willing to share data with the utility companies, but suspicion of governments (HK, mainland, Guangdong). There was trust in the management of data by utilities. The NGOs and district councilors were also trusted. Dr. Mah also presented the comparison with Tokyo, and realized that the mistrust in government was in stark contrast with the situation in Japan. In the new project, Dr. Mah and her team will interrogate 600 households.
In a second presentation, Ms. Winnie Shiu, the head of the Spatial Data Office of the Development Bureau, HKSAR Government, presented the current development of common spatial data infrastructure. She brought us the information about the upcoming CSDI Portal.
We had the next presentation from Mr. Chris Lo, from the Energy Efficiency Office of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, HKSAR Government. He presented the details of policy instruments on energy efficiency development and Retro-Commissioning (RCx).
As the next guest speaker, Mr. Wai-ho Cheng from the Energizing Kowloon East Office of the Development Bureau, HKSAR Government, introduced the current development of Kowloon East as the Smart City Pilot Area, aiming to be the second central business district of Hong Kong.
The final presentation was given by Mr. Pubudu Abayasiri from CLP Innovation Enterprises. He brought us the information of smart building solutions with certain examples.
The workshop was well-received by the audience both online and offline with inspiring discussions and feedbacks. Approximately 10 faculty members were present with participants from other organizations such as Civic Exchange and HKUST.
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