SDG 07: Affordable and Clean Energy

"Renewable Energy Technology," a service-learning course taught by Dr Chan Mau-hing, focused on promoting clean energy and energy efficiency in buildings through STEAM education and green initiatives in secondary schools. As part of the service-learning project, HKBU students delivered a workshop on energy-saving concepts for Carmel Bunnan Tong Memorial Secondary School students, explaining light transmission and the use of sunshade films to reduce consumption. They also provided feedback and practical advice on enhancing the efficiency of kinetic energy-powered devices created by Islamic Kasim Tuet Memorial College students. This experience deepened the knowledge of university students and provided first-hand exposure to secondary school students on green energy, highlighting the importance of collaborative efforts in creating a sustainable future.

The National Geography Camp for Primary Schools – hosted by the Education Bureau and the Hong Kong Geographical Association, in collaboration with the Department of Geography at HKBU, the Asian Energy Studies Centre of HKBU, the Hong Kong Meteorological Society, and the Geospatial Lab of the Development Bureau – engaged 40 primary school students from eight schools to explore renewable energy under the theme of sustainable energy developments in China. The presentation of Dr Daphne Mah, Director of the Asian Energy Studies Centre, covered the energy landscape, major development characteristics and trends, and advancements in energy technologies. The half-day activities included visiting a rooftop solar system at HKBU to learn about the benefits of solar energy. The students also used infrared cameras to document heat sources, enhancing their understanding of energy consumption. A virtual reality journey introduced them to major renewable energy projects, including the Three Gorges Dam, while the Geospatial Lab session taught them about the applications of spatial data. Finally, the students collaborated to create an online energy map, reinforcing their learning experience. 

Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Department of Accountancy,  Economics and Finance
Authors: Han Steffan QI*, Kang Hua CAO, Chi Keung WOO, Raymond LI, Jay ZARNIKAU
_{*Corresponding author}

Large-scale solar generation development in Texas is projected to continue albeit below figure’s declining levelised price trend of solar power purchase agreements (PPAs). Collaborating with Dr C.K. Woo of the Centre and a team of international researchers, Dr Cao uses Texas’s electricity market data to quantify a solar generation developer’s revenue forecasts and risks of solar PPAs. These forecast results reveal the developer’s optimal trade-off between spot and forward solar energy sales, akin to the risk-return relationship rooted in Markowitz’s portfolio theory. Real-world relevant and policy important for Texas’s electric grid and those around the world with wholesale market competition, this empirical finding informs the market economics and risks of solar capacity expansion, a critical element of the deep decarbonisation pathway for attaining the net zero target of the United Nations. 

Department of Chemistry
Authors: Yujiao ZHU, Fengjia XIE, Tommy Ching Kit WUN, Kecheng LI, Huan LIN,  Chi Chung TSOI, Huaping JIA, Yao CHAI, Qian ZHAO, Benedict Tsz-woon LO, Shao-Yuan LEU, Yanwei JIA, Kangning REN*, Xuming ZHANG*
_{*Corresponding author}

This work aims to tackle excessive CO₂ and food shortages by addressing challenges in scaling up artificial photosynthesis in microreactors. Previous microreactors showed advantages of enzyme immobilisation but lacked efficiency due to low enzyme density. This work used a layer-by-layer strategy to trap enzymes in a 3D layered structure, providing an ideal environment for efficient conversion. These tiny reactors continuously convert CO₂ into a glucose precursor, demonstrating significant improvements in activity, stability, and reusability compared to free enzymes. This suggests a high potential for mass production, offering a sustainable solution for both food supply and carbon neutralisation in the near future.

In 2023, the campus installed solar photovoltaic (PV) panels across the rooftops of six buildings, covering a total area of 1,800m². These solar PV systems have generated approximately 400,000 kilowatt-hours of renewable energy over the last academic year, resulting in the avoidance of around 150 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. This project has been recognised under the Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff Scheme by CLP Power Hong Kong Limited to support the development of clean energy in the region.

To foster engagement within the University community, real-time updates on the energy generation performance and data are now publicly available through the HKBU website. This information is also easily accessible to students and staff via the HKBU mobile app.