Solar-powered cafe brewing

HONG Kong’s fi rst completely solar-powered mobile cafe was launched. It first visited an Admiralty (金鐘) shopping mall and offered passers-by free coffee.
The cafe is operated by WWF Hong Kong (世界自然基金會香港分會), which is using it to demonstrate daily life applications of solar energy.
It 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.
Electricity generated by solar energy can power a kettle, fan, speaker, water pump, LED lights and digital display for up to six hours.
“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 a WWF spokesperson.
The cafe will tour various districts from now to March 2018. It will be at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (香港科技大學) on 29 November and on Russell Street, Causeway Bay (銅鑼灣羅素街), on 18 December. WWF also called on the government to provide technical support for small-scale solar energy systems and to offer financial incentives.
The government is introducing a scheme with the two power companies which allows private firms to install renewable energy power generators and connect them to public power grids.

(This article is published on Junior Standard on 28 November 2017)

WWF’s “Solarizing Communities” project
https://goo.gl/vSwxaZ

Renewable energy development in Hong Kong
https://goo.gl/QfM5ie