The Solar Harvest – Solar Energy Support Scheme for Schools and Welfare Non-Governmental Organisations (Solar Harvest) opened for a new round of applications today (January 14).
Solar Harvest aims to promote the development of local renewable energy (RE). It provides non-government and non-profit-making schools, as well as welfare non-governmental organisations (NGOs) receiving recurrent subvention from the Social Welfare Department, with a one-stop service to install solar energy generation systems at their premises free of charge. Solar Harvest also assists participating schools and organisations in joining the Feed-in Tariff Scheme of the two power companies. The schools may also integrate knowledge on the solar energy generation system into teaching, with a view to enhancing students' environmental awareness and their interest in exploring science, thereby helping to nurture talent and promote the participation of the whole community, including youth, to practise low-carbon living.
A Government spokesman said that Solar Harvest has received an enthusiastic response since its launch in 2019. As at December 2021, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) had received more than 600 applications. Among the applications received, more than 90 per cent were from schools, accounting for about 45 per cent of primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong, involving about 300 000 students. The EMSD has installed solar energy generation systems at more than 260 schools and welfare NGOs, with an estimation of generating more than 2.4 million kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, equivalent to the monthly electricity consumption of about 9 000 families.
Solar Harvest supports one of the Government's deep decarbonisation strategies and targets for achieving net-zero electricity generation as announced in Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2050 in October 2021, contributing to the active development of RE and other zero-carbon energy, and Hong Kong’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality before 2050.
The deadline for the new round of applications for Solar Harvest is June 30. Applications submitted on or before April 22, Earth Day, will be given priority, such that works may commence in July at the earliest. Applicants can download the application form from the EMSD's website (re.emsd.gov.hk) and call the EMSD at 3155 3977 for enquiries.
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