Solar batteries will be cheap thanks to domestic production

On March 20, the first solar cell battery factory in Vietnam officially started construction. The project promises to produce products that cost 15 to 20% less than imported batteries.

Construction project at Hoa Duc Plastic Industrial Complex, Long An Province, is a joint investment project between HCMC Energy Saving Center and Red Solar Energy Joint Stock Company. Total investment of 10 million USD.

As planned, phase 1, solar panel assembly plant from imported components with the capacity to supply is 3 megawatts of electricity a year. 40% of products are used for the domestic market, 60% are processed for export. Types of solar cells produced during this period can give 75-125 watts of electricity.

Phase 2 is expected to start in 2010. The plant will produce battery assembly components from domestic materials. Director of Ho Chi Minh City Energy Saving Center Huynh Kim Tuoc said the price of solar batteries will more reduction, when the factory produces components to assemble the entire panel.

Mr. Tuoc emphasized that the solar plant project has a great significance for the domestic energy industry because it contributes to protecting the environment and serving lighting needs for localities where the grid is not yet accessible. However, Tuoc also acknowledged that it is difficult to popularize the use of solar cells to all Vietnamese people. If both charging and maintenance are included, the cost of solar generators will be much more expensive than using electricity from hydropower.

"In some typical countries, Germany, to protect the environment and save electricity, they support people in charging the maintenance of solar energy equipment every year," said Tuoc.

Perspective battery factory using solar energy.(Photo: KC)

Thien Chuong