***********************************

The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department announced today (January 23) the completion of the installation work for the largest solar electricity generation system in Hong Kong. It is a pilot project to install a Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) system at Wanchai Tower.

The objectives of this pilot project are to assess the effectiveness of BIPV system in generating electricity under the geographical and climatic conditions of Hong Kong, and to demonstrate to the general public the potential applications of photovoltaic (PV) technologies in buildings.

Both local and international companies were invited to tender in implementing the project with a view to introducing worldwide technologies to Hong Kong. The design and installation works have taken eight months to complete.

The project involves installing 500 sq. metres of PV panels with a total peaked capacity of 55 kW. Electrical power generated from the BIPV system will provide electricity to some of the systems in the building. With this energy from the sun, about 23 tonnes of carbon dioxide emission from the power station can be avoided each year and the system contributes to the reduction of the global warming effect.

All PV panels have been installed facing south to receive maximum solar irradiation. To demonstrate the applicability of photovoltaic technologies locally, the BIPV system is divided into three different sub-systems. They are:

a) A rack sub-system comprising poly-crystalline PV panels on the upper roof of the building;

b) A sunshade-screen sub-system comprising mono-crystalline PV panels in the form of double-glazed panels complete with integrated PV cells. The panels are externally mounted on the building facade to provide shading for the upper portion of all south-facing windows from 1st to 12th floors; and

c) A skylight sub-system comprising mono-crystalline PV panels in the form of double-glazed panels complete with integrated PV cells. It is mounted vertically to replace some of the glass-infill of the existing glass atrium at the front entrance hall.

The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department will closely monitor the performance of the BIPV system over a 12-month period. The technical data collected will be used to assess the effectiveness of the BIPV system on power generation under Hong Kong's climatic conditions.

For more details on the Wanchai Tower pilot project, please contact Energy Efficiency Office of the Electrical and Mechanical and Services Department at 2881 0770.

End/Thursday, January 23, 2003

NNNN