Advancing Smart Energy Communities through Research and Policy Collaboration

Joint Policy Paper Submission by CarbonCare InnoLab and HKBU Geography Department

The Asian Energy Studies Centre (AESC) and the Department of Geography at Hong Kong Baptist University are delighted to announce our continued collaboration with CarbonCare InnoLab (CCIL) in advancing the development of smart and inclusive energy communities in Hong Kong.

Building on a long-standing partnership between AESC research team and CCIL, this joint initiative bridges academic research, civil society action and policy-making, demonstrating the power of knowledge co-creation for a low-carbon transition. Together, the teams have co-authored an academic paper on the development of a Smart Energy Community Index, a framework inspired by AESC research team’s model that emphasises social equity, inclusiveness, and community participation in energy transitions.

The study highlights how data-sharing tools, such as the Online Energy Map, can serve as transparent and effective platforms for benchmarking community performance and tracking progress toward smarter, more sustainable energy use.

Building on these findings, a joint Policy Paper was submitted on 8 October 2025 to key government departments and stakeholders, including:

• Environment and Ecology Bureau

• Electrical and Mechanical Services Department

• Panel on Environmental Affairs, Legislative Council

• Geospatial Lab, Development Bureau

• CLP Group and Hongkong Electric Company

  
  

This submission underscores the importance of measuring, benchmarking, and empowering community-driven energy transitions through an evidence-based indexing approach.

By connecting research insights with policy pathways, AESC and CCIL aim to foster data-informed, community-centred, and socially just energy transitions — contributing to Hong Kong’s long-term goal of carbon neutrality.