Solar-powered cafe brewing at spot near you

Hong Kong’s first completely solar- powered mobile cafe was launched yesterday.

Commuters who stopped by Three Pacific Place in Admiralty could take a coffee for free at the cafe operated by WWF Hong Kong, which is using it to demonstrate daily life applications of solar energy. Those who missed out yesterday can get a coffee at the Education University of Hong Kong on Thursday.

The cafe is powered by three photovoltaic panels providing 330 watts – capable of converting 22 percent of sunlight into electricity – and a 240Ah lithium storage battery and inverter.

They power a kettle, fan, speaker, water pump, LED lights and digital display for up to six hours of cafe operation.

“Promoting community investment in clean, sustainable energy will kick start the market in Hong Kong. The government can further this cause by setting an ambitious 10 percent renewable energy target for 2030,” said Olivia To Pui-wai, WWF-Hong Kong’s assistant project manager for sustainability.

The solar mobile cafe will tour various districts from now to next March, demonstrating the potential domestic uses of solar energy and promoting policies to increase the use of renewable power.

After the Education University it will be at the Discovery Bay Sunday Market. It then moves on to the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology on November 29 and Russell Street, Causeway Bay on December 18.

To also called on the government to provide technical support for small-scale solar energy systems and consider offering financial incentives. The government entered a new Scheme of Control Agreement with the two power companies in April this year to take effect after 2018.

It has also introduced a feed-in tariff scheme, which allows private firms to install renewable energy power generators and connect them to public power grids.

The power companies will then purchase the green electricity generated by such installations at a rate higher than the normal electricity tariff rate to encourage the development of renewable energy.

WWF urged the government to learn from jurisdictions like Japan, Taiwan and South Korea by setting the initial rate at HK$4 per unit of solar energy to be purchased by the power companies, and to provide a payback period of eight to 10 years.

The average price for a unit of electricity in Hong Kong is about HK$1, and the green energy feed-in price should be significantly higher to encourage their generation, the group said.

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