HK Electric's General Manager (Projects) Dr. Tso Che-wah (third from left) and Chief Executive Officer of Green power, Dr. Man Chi-sum (second from left), picture with teachers and students from SHK Wing Chun Primary School, Aberdeen St. Peter's Catholic Primary School and Queen's College Old Boys’ Association Secondary School. Dr. Tso hopes more schools will join in the concerted efforts to promote RE in Hong Kong. More than 70 school representatives attend the sharing session. Solar-powered green gallery – SKH Wing Chun Primary School. Application for the Fund will close on 15 August.

HK Electric's General Manager (Projects) Dr. Tso Che-wah (third from left) and Chief Executive Officer of Green power, Dr. Man Chi-sum (second from left), picture with teachers and students from SHK Wing Chun Primary School, Aberdeen St. Peter's Catholic Primary School and Queen's College Old Boys’ Association Secondary School. Dr. Tso hopes more schools will join in the concerted efforts to promote RE in Hong Kong. More than 70 school representatives attend the sharing session. Solar-powered green gallery – SKH Wing Chun Primary School. Application for the Fund will close on 15 August.

Application is now open for the 2009/10 HK Electric Clean Energy Fund, which aims at promoting the application of renewable energy (RE) in schools and the community.

Between now and 15 August, local primary, secondary schools and tertiary institutes are welcome to submit proposals for the Fund, which has $1 million.

Established in 2006, the Fund encourages schools to carry out campus projects which raise public awareness and promote better understanding of RE, such as wind and solar energy.

During the past three years, 32 local schools and tertiary institutes have received sponsorships to implement various educational projects, including installation of a meteorological station powered by solar energy, application of RE on a rooftop garden, green gallery with a solar-powered irrigation system, hydroponic farming assisted by RE, as well as wind turbines.

HK Electric's General Manager (Projects), Dr. Tso Che-wah, said the projects have become more sophisticated over the years, demonstrating increased awareness and effectiveness of green education, involving not only teachers and students, but their families and the community.

"I hope more schools will apply for funding this year and join concerted efforts in promoting RE in the education sector," Dr. Tso added.

HK Electric last week held an experience sharing seminar which was attended by more than 70 representatives from schools. Chief Executive Officer of Green Power, Dr. Man Chi-sum, one of the Fund's adjudicators, said a good project should demonstrate creativity and have a strong appeal to people.

Seminar participants shared their experience and results of their projects. Ms. Chan Man-ying from SKH Wing Chun Primary School said the school’s solar powered green gallery "is now an outdoor classroom for arts and religious lessons, and students are giving guided tours of the gallery."

"The wind turbine of Queen’s College Old Boys' Association Secondary School is providing students a wide range of activities related to RE," said teacher Mr. Wong Sau-ming.

A teacher from Aberdeen St. Peter's Catholic Primary School, Mr. Mak King-hing, said despite the challenges in implementing the school's smart greenhouse project, teachers and students are now able to benefit from it and learn more about RE.

Applications for the Fund will close on 15 August and proposals will be evaluated by a panel of adjudicators based on innovation, technical feasibility, educational/environmental benefits, sustainability and cost-effectiveness.

Besides Dr. Man Chi-sum, the adjudicators include the Vice-Chairperson, Islands District Council, Ms. Chau Chuen-heung; Chairman, Advisory Council on the Environment, Professor Lam Kin-che; Chair Professor and Director, Research Institute of Innovative Products and Technologies, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Ir Professor Wallace Leung; Assistant Director of Community Education, Participation and Action, WWF Hong Kong, Ms. Nicole Wong; and Member, Energy Advisory Committee, Mr. Donald Yip.

Details and application forms are available on HK Electric's website: www.heh.com/cleanenergyfund. Application results will be announced in October 2009. Sponsored projects should be based in Hong Kong and be completed by 31 July 2010.