EU supports Da Nang solar energy development

Photo for illustration  Co-funded by the European Union (EU) and Da Nang Energy Conservation Centre (DECC), the EUR444,000-project titled "Development of solar energy in Da Nang" (DSED) will promote the development of solar energy through data collection, information sharing, awareness raising and training, targeting policy makers, SMEs and households. Pilot projects for a limited number of households and five public facilities will also be installed, in addition with the upgrading of the DECC showroom. Speaking at opening ceremony, Mr Alejandro Montalban, Head of Cooperation of the Delegation of the EU said that Vietnam has huge potential in renewable resources. Yet, limitation of knowledge and awareness of the benefits and importance of renewable energy and energy efficiency is a barrier to the sector development. Therefore, the cooperation with DECC will fasten the dissemination of solar technology knowledge in Da Nang, he stressed

The EU contribution is representing more than 85% of the overall budget.

Between July 2017 and October 2020, it will allow DECC to acquire more recent equipment, and install it to concretely demonstrate how solar photo-voltaic panels and produce electricity from capturing free-of-charge energy from the sun, and net metering connects the production to the national distribution grid.

Within the project, DECC will also cooperate with the Electricity Regulatory Authority of Vietnam (ERAV), the Vietnam Standards and Quality Institute (VSQI), the World Bank and the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), who are also working on improving the overall framework to drive more investment in the solar energy sector.

According to the Da Nang Department of Science and Technology, the city has great potential for developing solar power, ranking fifth among 16 localities nationwide with potential for environmentally-friendly energy, with average hours of sunshine at 177 and the average radiation intensity at 4.89 kWh/m2/day.

Next year, the very first solar power plant on an area of 6.7ha at the former Khanh Son landfill in Lien Chieu district will be completed. Invested in by the Bach Khoa Investment & Development of Solar Energy Corporation at VND112 billion, it will have a capacity of 4.4MWp (megawatts photo voltaic)./.

Solar photo voltaic (a triple-win option) is good for economic development by creating jobs for production, installation and maintenance; as well as for electricity consumers as it reduces the monthly electricity costs. Besides, it is also good for climate, as it does not emit Green House Gases.