VietNamNet Bridge – High import prices of equipment and the lack of a quality control mechanism has prevented HCM City from properly exploiting its considerable solar energy potential, experts say.


HTML clipboard Solar pannels are produced by HCM City's Rosano Joint Stock Co. Experts have urged the city to promote production and use of solar panels as it has yet to take advantage of its solar energy potential. (Photo: VNS)
They say the city would do well to take necessary steps now to promote the production and use of solar energy given the energy shortages that the country is experiencing as well as the climate challenges it is facing.


With the sun shining almost throughout the year, every day, the city receives solar radiation equal to the power generated by the country as a whole in a quarter, according to a report carried by the Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Sai Gon) newspaper . This energy can satisfy the city's power demand for a month, it adds.


The municipal administration and scientists working in the city have already begun several projects to exploit solar power, but these are of small scale and limited application.


The HCM City Hi-Tech Area and September 23 Park has installed lampposts using solar and wind power. Recently many families in Thieng Lieng Islet Commune in the outskirts district of Can Gio have had their houses lit up with solar energy by putting into use the country's largest solar power plant since early this year.


The VND15 billion plant invested in by the city government has a capacity of 525 wp (peaking power). It is able to supply electricity to 172 out of the 204 households in the rural island commune. The city is expected to fund more similar projects to boost its drive to supply electricity to remote areas.


In early 2009, the HCM City Energy Conservation Centre, Red Sun Company and Tan Ky Nguyen Company inaugurated the first solar panel factory in the country in the neighbouring province of Long An.

Recently, the US-based First Solar Technology Group broke ground for a factory producing thin-film solar power panels in HCM City's Cu Chi District. The US$300 million factory with an annual capacity of 250 MW is expected to begin operations in the second half next year.


In the 90s, several areas in Binh Chanh, Can Gio and Cu Chi districts had used products using solar energy, especially in hospitals and schools.


The city government has said it intends to encourage allied organisations to invest in similar electricity projects to power medical facilities in other distant, low-population areas. Solar energy remains the most feasible energy provider in such areas, because it's cost-effective and more environmentally friendly, officials said.

High costs

Meanwhile, the First Solar Technology Group said it is trying to reduce the cost of its products to popularise the application of solar power in Viet Nam and contribute to reducing carbon emissions.


Dao Anh Kiet, director of the city's Department of Natural Resources and Environment said the city had a lot of solar energy potential and the lack of exploitation of this resource is due to a hesitancy on the part of investors.


He said that the city has 100,000 street lamps currently consuming a huge amount of electricity, but only 32 running on clean energy.


"Clean energy devices all have to be imported at very high prices, yet their qualities are not strictly controlled. Therefore, to promote the application of clean energy, we have to succeed in localising these products," he said.


Kiet said the city's Steering Committee for Adapting to Climate Change is planning to implement many environmentally friendly projects. These include: limiting use of personal vehicles, converting the lighting system on Nguyen Hue Street in District 1 to a solar energy system and establishing a monitoring center to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.


VietNamNet/Viet Nam News