Ho Chi Minh city develops rooftop solar power. (Photo: congthuong.vn)
According to Mr. Nguyen Le Tan, Vice Head of the Energy Development Board under the city Department of Industry and Trade, as the city is a developing urban area with dense population and high economic growth rate, its demand for power in trade, industry and households is higher than that in other cities. “The development of renewable energy projects, including rooftop solar power, is one of the solutions to reduce pressure on the electricity industry,” he said.
While Nguyen Van Be, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh city Export Processing Zone and Industrial Park Authority Business Association (HBA), confirmed that business participants will receive technology consultancy, finance links and every favorable condition for increasing their products’ competitiveness at market and export development, as well as in trade of solar power. “This goal, once completed, will help reduce electricity consumption by 10-15%, contribute to reducing 23 million tons of CO2, save national natural resources, ensure urban energy security, and reduce the pressure of environmental pollution,” he added.
He calculated that the city, with 4,141 hectares of 17 export processing and industrial zones, including 2,700 hectares of industrial land on which 1,500 factories were built, in addition to 80 factories on 900 hectares in high-tech zones, will provide some 500 - 1,000 hectares of the roof area for installing solar power.
As Ho Chi Minh city has invested the Linh Trung 3 export processing zone in Tay Ninh, and the Long Hau industrial park in Long An, the Southern Power Corporation is also very interested in the program of developing rooftop solar power in provinces such as Tay Ninh, Long An, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc and Dong Nai, for increasing the supply of power for the enterprises in these zones and parks.
During a launching program for solar energy held on June 19th, Mr. Bui Trung Kien, Deputy General Director of the Electricity of Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh city, affirmed that the electricity industry will introduce successful models, financial, technological and technical solutions, world leading equipment suppliers, as well as groups, banks and investment funds who have accompanied the city’s solar power program./.