Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl) has signed an agreement to purchase Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) as part of its efforts to pursue its green initiative.

Hong Kong’s largest independent handler said in a statement that it will be purchasing the RECs from CLP Power Hong Kong Limited (CLP Power) equating to 45.9-gigawatt hours of power generated from renewable energy sources.

 Hactl's Amy Lam (L) and CLP Power's Lena Low. (R) Photo: Hactl

Each unit of electricity in a REC represents the environmental attributes of electricity that are either generated or purchased by CLP Power from local renewable energy sources, including solar power, wind power and landfill gas projects.

"The move is the latest step in Hactl’s Green Terminal sustainability programme," Hactl said, adding that with its purchase of RECs, Hactl reduces its carbon footprint, and demonstrates its continued commitment to renewable energy.

The agreement covers six years commencing in August 2022 and will be equivalent to a total reduction of around 18,000 tonnes of carbon emissions associated with electricity.

Hactl noted that with this, the company has become the largest purchaser of CLP RECs in the airport community.

"We are delighted that our Renewable Energy Certificate programme helps Hactl achieve its decarbonisation goals, and this partnership has set an example for the aviation sector on how to contribute to local renewable energy development in a cost-effective way," said Lena Low, CLP Power senior director of Customer Success and Experience.

"We will continue to assist our business customers to accelerate their transition to a low-carbon and sustainable future."

Amy Lam, Hactl's executive director and chief financial officer, for her part, noted Hactl's commitment to reducing its carbon footprint as part of the Green Terminal programme and shares the Hong Kong government's goal of zero-carbon emissions under its Climate Action Plan 2050.

"We have already installed a giant solar farm on our terminal roof, and taken many other measures to reduce our overall power consumption," Lam said.

"We continue to invest in new ways to support our aims but, while we wait for further new technology to become available to us, the purchase of CLP Renewable Energy Certificates provides us with an immediate and highly-effective method of supporting the generation and use of clean energy," the Hactl executive said.