Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce
Click here to login e-Club  Click here to visit our Chinese frontpage

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS
We welcome Hong Kong business-related contributed news and features from HKGCC member companies. If you would like to submit an article, please email the Bulletin >>

From the Chairman

Inside Legco

From the CEO

Cover Story

Evolution, Enhancement
& Expansion


O'Rear's View 
Labour and Productivity

China Economic Update

Renminbi Appreciation:
The Pros and Cons for China

Business
Businesses Upbeat

Lighting Up Hong Kong

Select Service Partner


Chamber Programmes

Challenges in Meeting
Future Global Energy Demand


Mission to South America


Going Solar

Chamber Happy Hour

Chamber Programmes

Chamber in Action


ARCHIVES

2010 Issues
2009 Issues
2008 Issues
2007 Issues
2006 Issues
2005 Issues
2004 Issues
2003 Issues
2002 Issues
2001 Issues
2000 Issues
1999 Issues

Search for

 
Advanced Search

SUBSCRIBE TO THE BULLETIN TODAY!

Bulletin Online                 
Study Tour: Solar Electricity Generation System at
               Wanchai Tower

             Photos >>Photos >>
CHAMBER PROGRAMMES                               December 2004 Issue


theBulletin.gif (2057 bytes)



Going Solar

solar1.jpg (54500 bytes)

HKGCC visited Hong Kong's largest solar electricity generation system to see if the technology is mature, and cheap enough to go mainstream

Solar electricity generation facilities at Wanchai Tower reduce the building's contribution to greenhouse gas emissions by 23 tonnes annually. The project, the largest solar electricity generation system in Hong Kong, is a pilot scheme run by the government's Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) to determine if photovoltaic (PV) solar panels installed on buildings can be practical and economically viable.

solar5.jpg (21678 bytes)To find out more about the project, the Chamber organised a site visit to the tower on November 18. Dr Kwok Yu-fat, building services engineer for the EMSD, said the entire system, consisting of 500 sq. meters of PV panels installed on the building's roof and windows as shades, cost HK$8.15 million. The total peak capacity of the system is 55 kW.

Electricity generated by the panels is fed into Hong Kong's power grid, which was made possible after discussing the project with Hongkong Electric, he said.

Impressive as the system is, it still only accounts for just 1 percent of Wanchai Tower's total energy consumption. However, Dr Kwok said he hasn't done any studies to determine if the solar panels mounted on windows, which shade rooms and thus keep them cooler, has helped to bring down the building's air conditioning usage.

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:

  1. solar2.jpg (11009 bytes)A rack sub-system comprising poly-crystalline PV panels on the upper roof of the building;

  2. 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

  3. 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.

solar4.gif (17337 bytes)Although installation costs for panels are high, Dr Kwok said costs could be substantially reduced if architects designed buildings to incorporate solar panels at the conception stage. They then would also be able to maximise their effectiveness by positioning panels at their ultimate power generation angle.

"The panels are quite expensive, but their cost is coming down all the time. As the life span of the panels is about 20 years, it could be commercially viable over the long term," he said.


Photos >>Photos >>


Click here to contact the Editor...
Send Your Feedback


  China Breakfast Roundtable: 2010 NPC & CPPCC Annual Sessions Review

  "Corporate Architects" Series... Proudly presented by the HKGCC Women Executives Club, RBS Coutts and the Financial Times: Luncheon with Ms Christine Loh, CEO and Co-Founder, Civic Exchange

  Cultural Extravaganza cum Cocktail Reception Featuring Consulates General of the Americas Region in Hong Kong: Canada, Colombia, Mexico and the United States of America

  HKGCC China Committee Working Mission to Beijing and Tianjin

  Enhancing Cost Effectiveness Through Energy and Carbon Reduction

More >>

past events
Winning the Talent War -- The 8 Essentials

Kerry Larkan, a leading Australian author, keynote speaker, commentato... details>>

EU Trade Policy after the Lisbon Treaty

Helena Konig, Trade Directorate-General, European Commission, spoke at... details>>

Luncheon with the Financial Secretary John Tsang

HKSAR Financial Secretary John Tsang elaborated on his latest Budget a... details>>

Can Asia-Pacific Economies Save the Doha Round?

Five years after WTO members convened in Hong Kong, the Doha Round is ... details>>

Chocolate to Melt Your Heart

Ten lucky members had the opportunity on February 11 to make their own... details>>

more >>

About HKGCC | Member Services | Join Us | Contact Us | Advertising | Jobs
The Chamber's Privacy Policy Statement
Copyright © 1998-2010 The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce. All Rights Reserved.