A group of students with special educational needs will embark on an exciting project in the next 12 months to learn and experience the power of solar energy, thanks to HK Electric's Clean Energy Fund which has extended sponsorship of renewable energy (RE) projects to special schools for the first time since the Fund started five years ago.
The proposal by Hong Chi Pinehill No. 2 School to set up a solar power mobile tuck shop on campus has won support from a panel of adjudicators which included university professors, representatives from green groups and community leaders. It is among 12 schools to be awarded a total of $1.1 million to carry out projects promoting understanding and application of RE in schools.
It is Hong Chi's first attempt applying for the Fund and it will use the RE installation for cooking classes during which students will not only learn more about RE, but also the trendy low-carbon lifestyle.
Speaking at today's award presentation ceremony, Managing Director of HK Electric, Mr. Tso Kai-sum, said it was encouraging to see students of special educational needs benefitting from the Fund, which offers a unique opportunity for "other learning experience" as advocated in school curriculums nowadays.
"I believe RE installations sponsored by the Fund will be an effective teaching aid for teachers with students learning from a wide range of activities related to the projects," Mr. Tso said, adding that the number of applications reached a record 60 this year.
The Fund has sponsored 60 projects totalling more than HK$5 million since its inception in 2006, while the total installed capacity of solar panels and micro wind turbines installed on school campuses has reached 11,600W and 4,800W respectively.
This year's projects from seven primary schools, four secondary schools and a special school mainly harness solar and wind energy. Other than Hong Chi's mobile tuck shop, an RE resources centre for the elderly will be open in the Ho Dao College, while a green wall will be built on a roof-top garden of S.K.H Chi Fu Chi Nam Primary School.
A member of the adjudication panel, Dr. Man Chi-sum, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Green Power, said this year's submissions contained a wide range of interesting and innovative ideas promoting RE in schools. Another adjudicator, Mr. Ken So of the Conservancy Association, said he was delighted to note that many of the projects awarded would incorporate RE into daily lives, enhancing public understanding of RE application and benefits.
Besides promoting RE in schools, HK Electric has increased the use of RE in power generation in the past year. Mr. Tso said the largest solar power system in Hong Kong was commissioned in Lamma Power Station in July this year generating more than 310,000 units of electricity so far. The Company has also made progress in its offshore wind farm project with wind monitoring work expected to start in mid-2011.