Towngas, along with Maxim’s Group, has clinched a prestigious accolade at the HKB National Business Awards 2023 – Energy. The presentation ceremony was held on 21 September 2023, reaffirming their commitment to sustainability and innovation in the energy sector. The companies were recognised for their waste-to-energy system and desiccant dehumidification in Hong Kong.

In July this year, Hong Kong’s first inter-plant carbon reduction project has gone into operation at Tai Po InnoPark. The waste-to-energy facility built by Towngas transfers residual heat generated from the gas production process to the nearby Maxim’s food factory, which serves as the heating source for regenerating the desiccant wheel. This innovation yields a remarkable reduction of approximately 800 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually compared to conventional desiccant dehumidifiers, equivalent to planting around 34,000 trees. To learn more about this project, please visit: https://hongkongbusiness.hk/co-written-partner/event-news/towngas-and-maxims-honoured-hkb-national-business-awards-pioneering-circular-economy.

The Integrated PAU with Desiccant Wheel (Integrated D-PAU) has won the “2021-22 Hong Kong Awards for Industries: Equipment and Machinery Design Award”. By integrating pioneering technologies of refrigerating, dehumidifying, and UV sterilisation into one machine, as well as its energy-saving features powered by renewable energy, the Integrated D-PAU has been hailed for its role in encouraging creative energy-saving.

This is the third award for the project, which has already won several accolades previously, both local and international. The project has won the International Innovative Energy Project of the Year from the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) in the United States, as well as the Best Project Award 2020-2021 from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (Hong Kong Branch).

The Towngas D-PAU is being used in buildings such as H Zentre, Hong Kong Baptist Hospital, Cordis Hong Kong, and others. The Integrated D-PAU not only effectively controls indoor air quality, but also helps protect public health and improve customer satisfaction. Customers benefit from energy savings since the active humidity management lowers the burden on the air conditioning system. The Commercial & Industrial Marketing & Sales Department of Towngas strives to promote the Integrated D-PAU, allowing customers to live a healthier and more enjoyable green lifestyle.

Towngas was honored with the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) Innovative Energy Project of the Year Award 2021 in New Orleans, LA, USA to recognize the innovative design together with the energy saving bought by Towngas’ Integrated Primary Air-handling Unit with desiccant wheel (Integrated D-PAU) with Solar Collectors.

Towngas first applied the Integrated D-PAU in H Zentre, by integrating a desiccant wheel into the primary air-handling unit. Combining the Integrated D-PAU with solar thermal collectors, the environmentally friendly design not only improves the IAQ but also includes the use of renewable energy. In an effort to combat the pandemic, UV light is also installed into the Integrated D-PAU to sanitise the air. Together, the measures resulted in excellent IAQ for medical centres in the building.

The innovative elements of the Integrated D-PAU together with the application of solar renewable energy brings a total of 12% energy saving in HVAC system to H Zentre. It is the first of its kind to raise the standard of fresh air treatment in medical-oriented commercial buildings.

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (Hong Kong Branch) presented the Best Project Award 2020-2021 (2^nd Runner Up) to Towngas for the Integrated D-PAU with Solar Collectors. The aim of this Award is to recognize project works with significant contributions to the advancement of the mechanical practice in Hong Kong. This year, a new award category "New Design in Covid-19 Age" was added, and Towngas is the first entry to win under this category.

Being the pioneer energy saving solution in gas dehumidification system, the integrated D-PAU was first applied in H Zentre, by integrating the desiccant wheel into the PAU, and utilizing renewable energy with gas water heaters for regeneration process of desiccant dehumidifier. In response to the pandemic, germicidal UV light is also installed in integrated D-PAU for fresh air sanitization. It is the first of its kind to raise the standard of fresh air treatment in medical-oriented commercial buildings.

Since 2019, Towngas has entered into a research collaboration with the School of Energy and Environment (SEE) at the City University of Hong Kong. The research paper "The effect of humidity on Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) – Comparisons of HVAC systems using condensation dehumidification and desiccant dehumidification in Hong Kong" was published in early 2021, and brought about a fruitful exchange in the applications of desiccant dehumidifier in office and hotels. 

In 2021, the paper was honored with the Environmental Paper Award – Certificate of Merit by the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (Environmental Division). The Award aims to encourage widespread emergence of environmentally sound projects, and recognize engineers’ efforts in environmental research. The environmental benefits of desiccant dehumidifier in improving indoor humidity control with less carbon footprint comparing with traditional HVAC system are fully considered and addressed.

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (Hong Kong Branch) presented the 5th Year Best Project Award to Towngas for the first CHP Generating system in hospital of Hong Kong. The aim of this Award is to recognize project works with significant contributions to the advancement of the mechanical practice in Hong Kong.

As the first project of its kind in Hong Kong, the CHP system utilizes landfill gas from the Northeast New Territories (NENT) landfill site as its main fuel, generating electricity, steam and hot water for disinfection, laundry, space heating and other purposes at the hospital, and so it can embrace the green concept of “turning waste into energy”. In future, Towngas will continue to explore more environmental projects.

Towngas was honored with the Hong Kong Green Innovations Awards 2018 – Bronze Award, led by the Environmental Campaign Committee (ECC) alongside the Environmental Protection Department. The aim of this award is to encourage organizations solving problems with innovative, green and practicable ideas that have been turned into tangible systems, resulting in benefits to the environment, organization and the community.

The assessment criteria of the award included level of innovation, environmental achievements & cost-effectiveness, practicability & contribution to society, through 2 stages to select winners from all entries. The CHP system being the first combined heat and power system in hospital of Hong Kong, was honored the award in recognition of its innovative, green ideas of reducing emissions with actual saving in energy costs.

Towngas was honored with the Association of Energy Engineer (AEE) Pacific Rim Regional Energy Project of the Year Award 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. The aim of this Award is to recognize innovative energy projects in Pacific Rim Region that has been in operation for at least 6 months and can be substantiated with actual installation costs and operating savings.

Towngas’ engineering team actively explored the feasibility of using landfill gas from North East New Territories Landfill as the energy source for generator. After our continuous attempts and enhancements, the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Generating System was successfully established in Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital (Nethersole Hospital) two years ago.

The CHP Generating System not only helps Nethersole Hospital in saving energy cost but also being recognized by different professional associations in the past couple years. Towngas will keep on exploring new opportunities, driving profits for the Company while simultaneously advancing the social values in the communities in which it operates.

Towngas participated in the Business for Social Good Outstanding Award and was honoured with the Business for Social Good Award, the first alike award in Hong Kong, launched by Our Hong Kong Foundation. The aim of this Award is to identify local examples of creating social and environmental benefits through profitmaking businesses.

Towngas’ engineering team actively explored the feasibility of using landfill gas from North East New Territories Landfill as the energy source for generator. After our continuous attempts and enhancements, the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Generating System was successfully established last year which can supply landfill gas to Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital  (Nethersole Hospital) as energy for generator to jointly achieve the environmental protection concept of “turning waste into energy”. With the CHP Generating System, the flue gas and residual heat from cooling water produced by the landfill gas generator installed in Nethersole Hospital will be recovered to produce steam and hot water for disinfection, laundry and other purposes in the hospital. It is estimated that Nethersole Hospital will save about HK$ 2.7 million in energy costs each year.

By implementing this project, Towngas can increase its gas sales and profit, landfill gas can be properly treated and Nethersole Hospital can also save its energy cost. It is definitely a win-win-win Business for Social Good project.

The Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC) presented the award of Green Product Accreditation and Stardards (HK G-PASS) to Towngas for the contribution towards green building. We were awarded Silver rating in Chiller category with Broad Direct-Fired Absorption Chiller/Heater. HK G-PASS provides a practical and recognised standard for industry practionioners as well as end users to compare the greeness of different construction materials and helps them to select safer, more efficient and sustainable building products.

Utilising clean towngas or renewable energy as a fuel, our Direct-Fired Absorption Chiller/Heater can provide chilling, heating and hot water for commercial buildings or contral air conditioning system, as well as raise cooling and heating efficiency substantially with the use of waste heat. The Absorption Chiller/ Heaters have been used in the theme park and many projects in Hong Kong to enhance efficiency, save cost, reduce waste and create green business opportunities.

"Dining Art‧Towngas - Fire Protection and Safety Training Course for Commercial Kitchen 2015" was jointly organised by Institution of Dining Art and Towngas, supported by Hong Kong Fire Services Department. The courses aims at deepening understanding towards importance of fire protection and safety for catering industry practitioners through professional training.

Appreciation Certificate was presented to Towngas after class for the supports on promoting fire protection in the catering industries.

The Salvation Army held the "Employers' Appreciation Ceremony 2014", expressing gratitude to 263 companies which supported The Salvation Army's employment service in the past year to help those less fortunate such as the mantally impaired, ex-mentally ill and the disadvantaged young people to work in the society.

"The Salvation Army Employers' Appreciation on 5-year collaboration" was presented to Towngas for the supports to The Salvation Army in those 5 years. We had offered the teenagers training and placement opportunities via the "Scheme of Nurturing Talents for the Catering Industry", which helped them to be be self-reliant and raise their competitiveness in their work.

Towngas has been cooperating with the catering industries for many years and striving to support and promote different trade activities. The Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants & Related Trades presented the "Award for Catering Industry Development" to Towngas for the contribution on boosting the development of catering industries.

As one of the Hong Kong Public Utilities, Towngas always supported the development of catering industries. In addition to providing clean energy and high efficient appliances, we kept track on the market trends and needs and sponsored the trade competition and activities to attract new catering entries and improve the profession of the industries.

Towngas always support professional education and training with the focus on innovative thinking and practice, which helps students to achieve their potential and lead to success. Vocational Training Centre (VTC) presented "VTC 30th Anniversary Awards" to those contributing to professional training and development. Towngas was awarded the "Strategic Partner Award" and "Outstanding Sponsor Award" for the support on professional training and development.

Towngas has been supporting VTC for many years, including installation of catering appliances, water heating system, gas piping and related supports for the VTC building in Po Fu Lam. It helped give pre-occupational training on flame cooking, which also helped students to develop their passion in working and to be the new star in catering industries.

Towngas always promote the corporate health and safety. This year, we continued to organize the Fire Protection and Safety Training Course for Commerce Kitchen to raise the understanding and awareness of the catering workers and management on occupational health. The course mainly included the knowledge on the cause and prevention of fire in restaurants, the hazard of dangerous products and fire, the solutions when meeting fire and how to use gas safely. Trainees could also learn how to use the fire fighting equipment with hand on experience.

To enrich the course, trainees visited the Green Kitchen to explore the Cool Kitchen series of gas applilances and joined hand to engender environmental-friendly kitchen in the reality.

Towngas self-developed “Cool Kitchen Four Treasures ” series won the “Machinery and Machine Tools Design Award” in the prestigious “Hong Kong Awards for Industries”presented by The Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong. It proved our effort and contribution in designing energy efficient and safe and reliable appliances to reduce operation cost and enhance competitiveness of the industries.

"Cool Kitchen Four Treasures" consisting of a steam cabinet, a food steamer, a wok range as well as a stockpot, which were our self-developed patent products. Towngas aims to protect to environment and keeps supplying clean energy and green products. In a commercial kitchen, the appliances using heat recovery and heat transfer techniques significantly optimized its energy efficiency and comfortable working environment, which showed that "Cool Kitchen Four Treasures" is one of our prominent achievements on innovative technology.