The Government today announced new Feed-in Tariff (FiT) rates and introduced measures to facilitate the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in open car parks by the private sector.

The FiT was introduced in 2018 for the private sector to sell renewable energy generated to the power companies at a rate higher than the normal electricity tariff rate to provide incentives for them to invest in renewable energy.

In view of the significant reduction in the costs of developing distributed renewable energy systems, it is decided that the prevailing FiT rates at $3 to $5 per kilowatt hour will be adjusted from tomorrow.

A tariff of $4 per kWh will be charged with a generating capacity of 10 kilowatts or less while $3 per kWh will be levied with a generating capacity of more than 10 kW but not exceeding 200 kW. A tariff of $2.5 per kWh will be charged with a generating capacity of more than 200 kW but not exceeding 1 megawatt.

As regards the price of renewable energy certificates, it will be maintained at the current level of $0.5 per kWh.

In comparison with only some 200 private renewable energy systems that were connected to the power grids in the decade prior to the introduction of the FiT scheme, the two power companies received over 20,000 applications from 2018 to the first quarter of 2022 of which over 18,000 applications have been approved.

Upon completion of installation, about 300 million kWh of electricity can be generated each year, which is sufficient to meet the electricity demand of about 90,000 households.

Meanwhile, the Environment Bureau and the Development Bureau have introduced a set of measures to facilitate the installation of solar PV systems in open car parks by the private sector.

Upon meeting specified requirements and obtaining policy support of the Environment Bureau, the private sector may install solar PV systems not exceeding three metres in height in car parking spaces of larger-scale open car parks at on-grade or on the main roof of non-domestic premises.

Additionally, the Buildings Department will provide a fast-track mechanism to process building plans submitted for the proposed erection of the supporting structure for a solar PV system in the above-mentioned open car parks.

The processing time for approval of such plans will be reduced by half to within 30 days, and an application for consent to the commencement of the works may be submitted together with the building plan for concurrent processing.

The department will also grant 100% gross floor area concessions to the aforesaid car parking spaces that are covered by solar PV systems, and will accept the mean height of the roof over the highest usable floor space of the existing building for the purposes of calculating building height restrictions in determining the approved site coverage and the plot ratio of the building.

Click here for the facilitation measures. Call 3509 8652 for enquiries.