ĐÀ NẴNG — Đà Nẵng, in co-operation with the European Union (EU), has launched a pilot project to develop solar energy in the city.

The Đà Nẵng Energy Conservation and Technology Consultant Centre (DECC), under the city’s Department of Science and Technology, will design and install solar energy systems at Đà Nẵng 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 US$447,000, aims to increase accessibility to clean energy and raise awareness among businesses and households on solar power, energy saving and environmental protection.

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

A water-heating system that uses energy from solar panels. — VNS Photo Công Thành

The city also plans to build a 4.4MW solar farm on 6.7ha of the closed Khánh Sơn Landfill in Liên Chiểu District at a cost of $5 million 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.

Đà Nẵng 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 city’s Industry and Trade Department, about 30 per cent 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.

Đà Nẵng has applied nano-lighting technology and saving solutions to reduce 30 per cent 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