The Solar Harvest - Solar Energy Support Scheme for Schools and Welfare Non-Governmental Organisations is open for a new round of applications today (October 19).

     The Government has set the decarbonisation strategy of "net-zero electricity generation" in Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2050 promulgated in 2021. To drive the development of renewable energy (RE), the Government strives to grapple with Hong Kong's geographical and environmental constraints by taking the lead in installing RE systems at various buildings and facilities and, coupled with the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) Scheme, taking forward measures that assist the private sector to develop RE.

     Launched by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) in 2019, Solar Harvest aims to promote the development of local RE. It installs solar energy generation systems for non-government and non-profit-making schools, as well as welfare non-governmental organisations (NGOs) receiving recurrent subvention from the Social Welfare Department at their premises free of charge. Solar Harvest also assists participating schools and welfare NGOs in joining the FiT Scheme of the two power companies. All relevant expenses will be fully covered by Solar Harvest.
 
     The EMSD has so far installed about 370 solar energy generation systems at participating schools and welfare NGOs. It is estimated that the installed systems can generate about 3.3 million kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of about 1 000 families.
 
     To further promote the development of renewable energy and contribute to the goal of achieving carbon neutrality before 2050, the EMSD plans to install 150 solar energy generation systems for schools and welfare NGOs in 2023-24, which is 30 per cent more than it originally planned. The electricity generated by such systems will be roughly equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of about 400 families.
 
     The deadline for the new round of applications for Solar Harvest is March 31, 2023. Applications submitted on or before December 30, 2022, will be given priority, so that works may commence in April 2023 at the earliest. Schools and welfare NGOs that have installed solar energy generation systems can also apply for installing additional systems. Applicants can download the application form from the EMSD's website (re.emsd.gov.hk/english/gen/4S/4S_application.html) and call the EMSD at 3155 3977 for enquiries.

     In addition, the EMSD, in collaboration with the Environment and Ecology Bureau and the Education Bureau, has developed a set of educational kits for primary schools to support STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) education in schools, to enhance students' interest in science learning and their awareness of renewable energy and climate change. The educational kits can be downloaded from the EMSD's website (re.emsd.gov.hk/english/gen/4S/4S_Education_Kits.html).

Ends/Wednesday, October 19, 2022
Issued at HKT 17:20

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