Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club going solar

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RHKYC’s Kellett Island site in Causeway Bay

Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club is set to embark on a renewable energy initiative by installing solar panels in four areas of its Kellett Island site (see bottom illustration). Construction is due to start soon subject to the approval of the Feed-in Tariff application by Hong Kong Electric, with the installation scheduled to be completed this summer.

In total, 92 pieces of solar panels covering about 204sqm (2,196sqft) will be installed at four sites including around the swimming pool. The solar system is expected to produce over 36,800kWh, which is equivalent to reducing about 26 tonnes of carbon emission.

The Kellett Island swimming pool

One of the Club’s sustainability missions is supporting the development of renewable energy to reduce carbon emissions and the idea of having solar panels at the Club was first raised in 2019. Since then, the Club has held many discussions and technical analyses carried out around solar panel technology and the selection of possible locations.

Following discussions on the Projects & Facilities, Kellett Island and Sustainability Sub-Committees, tender processes were conducted in 2021 and the Club appointed a contractor in February this year.

Overview of the Kellett Island site

However, the project is still to be approved by the Feed-in Tariff scheme, which promotes the development of renewable energy under the current Scheme of Control Agreements (SCAs), which were signed between the Government and the two power companies in April 2017.

Under the scheme, parties who install solar photovoltaic (PV) or wind systems at their premises can sell the renewable energy they generate to the power companies at a rate higher than the normal electricity tariff rate.

Proposed sites for solar panels

The idea is to promote renewable energy by helping the private sector to recover the costs of their investment in renewable energy systems. Subject to the volume produced, the private sector can receive HK$3, HK$4 or HK$5 per kW uploaded to the power grid before the scheme ends in 2033.