Solar power and application paradox

In Vietnam, since 1989 solar power has been applied and developed extensively. However, the fact that the development is only limited in rural and remote areas, while in the centers of provinces and cities, the objects using electricity by the sun only count on the fingers. hand.

Solar power is widely used in rural areas .

Mr. Trinh Quang Dung, Vietnam Institute of Physics, said that the family's solar power has been widely used in Vietnam since 1989. Up to now, there have been more than 3,000 households in remote areas being electrified. gasification with the family solar power system, 8,500 households use solar power through battery charging stations and hundreds of villages, cultural houses, satellite stations, solar power telecommunication .

Using solar cells, a method of saving electricity.(Photo: Nhandan)

Since 1995, the Cham village of Eahsol in Eahleo district of Dak Lak province is the first commune to be electrified 100%, including 180 houses and local public works using solar electricity. Model of solar electric battery charging station is quite popular because of its high economy, low cost of installation. Currently Solarlap has built more than 50 battery charging stations providing solar power to about 8,000 households and Tay Ninh Border Cultural House (1996), Cham village (Dak Lak in 2002) and Minh Hung (Binh Phuoc in 2004). . It is worth mentioning that there are many places for solar power stations to provide places for crowded activities such as cultural houses, halls, community meeting places, wedding ceremonies, festivals .

In Ho Chi Minh City alone, in suburban areas such as Binh Chanh, Can Gio, Cu Chi, solar power is also used as much as solar power station Tam Thon Hiep Cultural House in Can Gio is built from in 1990 with a capacity of 30Wp of solar battery, solar power cultural house in Binh My commune, Cu Chi district with a total capacity of 1,000Wp, Hoc Mon Hospital solar power station with a capacity of 300Wp, solar power station of Thanh An island with 500Wp capacity . Especially solar power project on Thieng Lieng island, Can Gao commune and solar power development project for Can Gio district protection forest. In particular, the solar power project at Thieng Lieng island with a capacity of 3,000Wp has supplied electricity to 50% of households living on the island. Particularly the solar power project in Can Gio protection forest with a capacity of 150Wp - 300Wp provided solar power to households between the forest and the forest protection and management sub-zones, helping these units ensure communication 24 / 24 hours.

In addition, there are many large solar power projects for mountainous areas being prepared for construction in the next 10 years, such as the project 'grid-connected solar power' with a total capacity of 1,100kWp by Vietnam and Spain. implemented for rural electrification; The project "Solar Power for the Ethnic Minority Region" by the Committee for Ethnic Minorities and Finland. Accordingly, installing 300 centers for solar electricity community activities in mountainous areas including cultural houses, health stations, schools and communal houses . to improve the quality of life of ethnic minorities minority.

. but less in the center of the city

Mr. Truong Quang Vu, Head of Information Department of Ho Chi Minh City Energy Conservation Center said that although the forms of energy produced from wind, water, Biomass plant biomass and sunlight, in fact, ' raw ' Raw materials ' are usually available and free with infinite volumes, but the investment cost to exploit and use these materials is very high due to the technology and production equipment must be imported from abroad. Estimated cost of investment for about 11USD / W electricity from new energy sources (sun, wind) is 10 times higher than the investment cost of more than 1USD / W electricity in the traditional way (hydropower or thermal power ).

(Photo: Nhandan)

However, the fact that the region has many applications for solar power is in rural and mountainous areas - where living standards are very low, while areas such as inner cities, provincial centers, cities and living standards The solar power system is very rarely used.

This seems paradoxical, because the majority of solar power projects have been deployed mainly using funding from abroad or ODA. Specifically, the project on grid-connected solar power source or the only house using solar electricity in Ho Chi Minh City is also made possible thanks to the support of the Swedish Government .

It can be seen that the development of solar power is completely done, especially when Vietnam is considered as the country with the largest potential for sunshine and wind in Southeast Asia. However, it is also necessary to see that organizations, units and individuals are now looking forward to, relying on foreign support policies or from the state.

Still know, investment costs for the new energy industry may be higher than traditional energy sectors but according to Dr. Duong Hoai Nghia, the state should only have policies to support businesses to invest and develop. The new energy industry is on an industrial scale.

Specifically, subsidies or tax exemptions for energy-saving products, works that collect new energy sources and renewable energy. In the long term, the authorities need to promote research and application of new energy sources and renewable energy; step by step lowering investment costs and building works by replacing imported equipment with home-made equipment.

An experience in the world leading countries in new energy use such as Brazil, China, Japan, Germany . is a high tax on the use of traditional energy and use the tax money collected to support for new research and energy use activities. Thinking, this is the most effective solution to limit the risk of energy shortages in the coming years.