Smart Solar Energy Harvesting, Storage and Utilization

Background Information

The fast-growing demand for energy and the recognition of man-made global climate change underscore the urgency of developing clean and renewable energy resources to replace fossil fuels. Harvesting energy directly from sunlight by photovoltaics (PV), photocatalysis, artificial photosynthesis, and other enabling technologies is a promising way to meet such requirements.

This 5-year study is led by Prof. Ching-ping Wong, Dean of Engineering, CUHK. The project has been funded by the Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS) of the Research Grants Council (RGC) of the Hong Kong Government (HK$ 60.33 million) since 2014,.With additional funding from the participating universities, the total budget is as high as HK$ 76 million. More than 20 scholars from CUHK, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and The University of Hong Kong have been working together to enhance the efficiency of solar power and the penetration of the technology. 

The project aims to strengthen the competitive edge of Hong Kong in solar energy technologies and their market penetration by combining the newly developed PV modules with the intelligent system integration. The holistic approach covers:

·        Harvesting: The development of thin film PV devices and modules to enhance the performance of solar harvesting;

·        Storage: The design of highly performed electricity storage;

·        Utilization: To enhance the performance and security of solar smart grid systems to better meet the electricity demand under various operating modes.

About the Research Project

In 2011, the Hong Kong government established the Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS) to support research at the eight UGC-funded institutions which is more long-term  and strategically beneficial to the development of Hong Kong. The Research Project “Smart Solar Energy Harvesting, Storage and Utilization” is the most highly funded  under the grand challenge topic “Developing a Sustainable Environment”. The project adopted a holistic approach, ranging from efficient harvesting of solar energy and storage to utilization.  Its aim was to substantially boost the efficiency of solar energy generation, effectively elevate the utilization of electricity, and tackle various obstacles in renewable energy technology, thereby fostering the widespread commercialization of relevant technology. This collaborative research is in line with Hong Kong government policy as well as the “Paris Agreement”. Various results from the project achieved remarkable world records and were published in various renowned international scientific journals papers , putting Hong Kong on the map.

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