Da Nang, EU begin solar power project

A solar power system on the roof of a building in Da Nang. (Source: VNA)

The Da Nang Energy Conservation and Technology Consultant Centre (DECC), under the municipal Department of Science and Technology, will design and install solar energy systems at the Da Nang General Hospital, the Oncology Hospital, two schools and six households on a pilot basis and build a database of solar power capacity in the city as well as a policy framework for clean energy development.

The project, funded by the EU to the tune of 447,000 USD, aims to increase accessibility to clean energy and raise awareness among businesses and households of solar power, energy saving and environmental protection.

It aims to be a good example for localities in Vietnam to promote mass use of renewable energy technology at household and public buildings.

The city also plans to build a 4.4MW solar farm on 6.7ha of the closed Khanh Son Landfill in Lien Chieu district at a cost of 5 million USD to supply 7.7 million kWh (kilowatt per hour) per year to the city’s power grid, while reducing 5,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year.

Da Nang has great renewable energy potential, with a 90km coastline, 2,000 hours of sunlight per year and average wind speed of 3m per second.

According to the municipal Industry and Trade Department, about 30 percent of the city’s population use solar power for water heaters, while about 20 five-star hotels and resorts are using a solar power water heating system.

Da Nang has applied nano-lighting technology and saving solutions to reduce 30 percent of power consumption at public sites since 2009.

Solar power systems and energy-saving Light-emitting Diodes (LED) were installed in deep-sea fishing vessels as a pilot project in 2013.-VNS/VNA

Source: VNA