Solar power system for government office tower

Hong Kong's largest solar electricity generation system has been installed on the Wan Chai Tower government building to test the effectiveness of solar power under Hong Kong conditions.

The pilot project involves the installation and monitoring of a Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) system. In addition to assessing the system's effectiveness, it will also demonstrate to the public the potential applications of photovoltaic (PV) technologies in buildings.

Five hundred square metres of photovoltaic panels with a total peak capacity of 55 kilowatts were installed on the south face of the building to receive maximum solar irradiation. Electrical power generated from the BIPV system will provide electricity to some of the services in Wan Chai Tower.

As a result of this clean source of energy from the sun, about 23 tonnes of carbon dioxide emission from the power station can be avoided each year. The system will also contribute to a reduction in the global warming effect.

In order to demonstrate the applicability of photovoltaic technologies locally, the BIPV system has been divided into three different sub-systems:

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

* 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 the 1st to 12th floors; and

* 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 design and installation works have taken eight months to complete.

The performance of the Building Integrated Photovoltaic system will be closely monitored by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department over the next 12 months to assess its effectiveness under Hong Kong conditions.

Ends/Thursday, January 23, 2003