Macau, 22 September, 2014

Further to the tremendous success of organizing for the first time in Macau the ‘Solar Model Car Race’ at Coloane Power Station, Companhia de Electricidade de Macau – CEM, S.A. (CEM) in collaboration with Macao Youth Federation, the General Association of Chinese Students of Macao and the Youth Center of Macao Federation of Trade Unions, and the technical support of Hong Kong Technology & Renewable Energy Events (HK TREE) is organizing the 2nd edition of the ‘Solar Model Car Race’, plus introducing the 1st edition of the ‘Capacitance Model Car Race’ to be held at Coloane Power Station on 26 October (Sunday) 2014. A half-day workshop at Escola Secundária Técnico-Profissional of Federation of Trade Unions was organized on 20 September with all the participating students joined with the objective to prepare them for the two competitions.

With the aim to enhance Macau students’ consciousness and recognition of the usage of renewable energy, and improving their scientific and technical knowledge and interest in the field, the ‘Solar Model Car Race’ targets F3 to F6 secondary students, the ‘Capacitance Model Car Race’ targets F1 and F2 secondary students.

Last year 200 students participated in 40 teams representing 23 different local schools. This year the response from the schools was even higher. 59 teams were formed to join the ‘Solar Model Car Race’, while 25 teams were formed to participate in the ‘Capacitance Model Car Race’. In total, over 350 students are joining the two competitions in a record of 26 different local schools participating.

The 26 secondary schools participating include Escola Luso-Chinesa Técnico-Profissional, Colégio Mateus Ricci (Secondary), Escola para Filhos e Irmãos dos Operários (Secondary), Escola Nossa Senhora de Fátima, Escola Tong Sin Tong, Colégio do Sagrado Coração de Jesus, Colégio do Sagrado Coração de Jesus - English Section, Escola Secundária Pui Ching, Escola Secundária Pui Va, Escola Secundaria Técnico-Profissional da Associação Geral dos Operários de Macau, Escola Kwong Tai, Escola Kao Yip, Escola Xin Hua, Escola Fong Chong da Taipa, Escola de Aplicação Anexa à Universidade de Macau, Escola Hou Kong, Colégio Yuet Wah - Chinese Section, Colégio Yuet Wah - English Section, Sheng Kung Hui Escola Choi Kou (Macau), Colégio de Santa Rosa de Lima - Chinese Section, Colégio de Santa Rosa de Lima - English Section, Colégio Diocesano de São José (2 e 3), Colégio Diocesano de São José 5 - Chinese Section, Colégio Diocesano de São José 5 - English Section, Escola Keang Peng and Escola Pui Tou.

Teams are required to design and make their own model cars, and compete among themselves for the “Top Three Teams” in both races, plus “The Overall Fastest Lap Award”, and “The Best Model Car Design Award” in the ‘Solar Model Car Race’.

Top three teams of ‘Solar Model Car Race’ will be awarded with MOP3,000, MOP2,000 and MOP1,000 respectively, and a trophy, and the winning teams of “The Overall Fastest Lap Award” and “The Best Model Car Design Award” will receive MOP1,000 each and a trophy, while the top three teams of the ‘Capacitance Model Car Race’ will be awarded with MOP2,000, MOP1,500 and MOP1,000 respectively and a trophy. Besides great cash prizes and trophies, all participating students will receive a certificate. CEM will also sponsor the top three winning teams of the ‘Solar Model Car Race’ to represent Macau to compete in the “HK TREE 2014” to be held in November.

During the workshop the top two teams of last year’s competition, namely Colégio Diocesano de São José (2 & 3) and Escola Tong Sin Tong, brought along their model cars and shared with the students how they built their cars, the experience they had during the race and also their participation in the Hong Kong event. They expressed, ‘There are not many chances for us to learn about renewable energy in our daily lives. It was great and fun to be able to build a solar car by ourselves. We felt very proud to represent Macau to compete with other teams in Hong Kong. ”