The VTC, in collaboration with CLP Power Hong Kong Limited, unveiled the CLP Power Engineering Laboratory (The Lab) on 1 April 2021. The official opening was witnessed by Secretary for Innovation and Technology Mr Alfred SIT Wing-hang; Chairman of CLP Power Mr William MOCATTA; Chief Executive Officer of CLP Holdings Mr Richard LANCASTER; Vice Chairman of CLP Power Mrs Betty YUEN; and Chairman Mr Tony TAI, Deputy Chairman Dr Daniel YIP and Executive Director Mrs Carrie YAU of the VTC. The opening ceremony was also live-streamed on IVE Engineering’s YouTube channel. Around 500 participants joined the event via the online platform.

Chief Secretary for Administration Mr Matthew CHEUNG Kin-chung says, in his pre-recorded speech, that while reducing carbon emissions remains the primary goal, the HKSAR government will strive to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050.

At the opening ceremony, Secretary for Innovation and Technology Mr Alfred SIT Wing-hang highlights the opening of the CLP Power Engineering Laboratory as a great example of collaboration between academia and industry, providing an environment in which to nurture power engineering talent to help Hong Kong transform into a world-class smart city.

The new Lab represents the joint efforts of the two parties in leveraging innovative technologies and advanced training facilities to nurture a new generation of power engineering talent by equipping them with the smart grid and high voltage know-how to propel the transformation of Hong Kong into a low-carbon smart city.

The Lab forms part of the purpose-built facilities of the Haking Wong Campus of the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE). CLP Power’s contributions and steadfast support ensured that the Lab was set up with valuable industry input. It is equipped with professional training facilities and serves as a versatile platform for catalysing talent development through academia–industry collaborations.

The CLP Power Engineering Laboratory consists of two main sections, a Smart Grid Operation Centre and a High Voltage Training Centre. It aims to provide an interactive and stimulating training experience to cultivate individuals with power engineering expertise.

Embracing the future means embracing new technology. By founding the CLP Power Engineering Laboratory, IVE Engineering is committed to helping Hong Kong transform into a world-class smart city and move swiftly towards a low-carbon future.

The High Voltage Training Centre is furnished with remote control and monitoring systems for switchgears that simulate real-life high voltage engineering works. This equipment will enable students to understand the real operation, fault diagnosis and safety procedures of high voltage fields. In-service personnel studying professional diploma and professional certificate programmes can receive practical training at the Centre. Those who have completed the programmes and fulfilled the related requirements will be eligible to apply for the Grade H Registered Electrical Worker qualification so that they can take on roles that involve high voltage engineering and work as members of the industry.

The Smart Grid Operation Centre is equipped with a real-time smart grid simulation and testing system that mirrors real-life community power supply and analyses the data. Students will learn how smart grids operate and explore solutions for enhancing energy efficiency. The centre also houses equipment such as smart meters and photovoltaic panels that can be looped into the simulator. This will enrich students’ knowledge of smart grids and new technologies, thereby raising their employability while promoting smart and clean energy development to the young.