More enterprises and households in Cần Thơ City are installing solar panels to save energy costs. — VNA/VNS Photo

CẦN THƠ — More businesses and households in the Mekong Delta city of Cần Thơ are installing solar panels to reduce monthly electricity costs.

According to Cần Thơ Power Company, more than 100 customers have installed solar panels with total capacity of nearly 1,100kWh, an increase of 40 customers compared to last year.

The total output of electricity produced by customers and sold back to the Cần Thơ Power Company amounts to more than 289,500kWh.

Nguyễn Văn Quảng, director of the Cần Thơ Power Company, said the city has ten contractors installing solar panels for customers.

Information about the technologies used by these contractors is published openly so customers can choose the right contractors.

Lê Văn Tín, 37, from Ninh Kiều District in Cần Thơ City, said that he has recently installed 14 solar panels on a total area of 28sq.m with total cost for panels and installation being VNĐ80 million (US$3,400).

Fourteen panels produce 25kWh per day, but Tín's household’s use is only 10kWh per day. The excess of 15kWh is sold to the power company, he said.

With sales to the power company, Tín believes he will recover his investment in four years.

Many enterprises in Cần Thơ have also installed solar panels.

The Ninh Kiều Riverside Hotel has installed solar panels with total capacity of 78kWh per day.

Lê Trọng Nhân, deputy director of the hotel, said the installation of solar panels has helped the hotel reduce electricity costs.  

Nguyễn Minh Toại, director of the city’s Industry and Trade Department, said the department has directed the centre of industrial promotion and energy savings to work with Cần Thơ Power Company to help businesses and households install solar panels.

The department has also directed these units to be responsible for control of equipment quality and installation of two-way electricity metres for customers.

The solar panels occupy a small area and the investment is not too high, so it is suited for families and enterprises, Toại said

According to the Green Innovation and Development Centre, Cần Thơ has the potential to produce solar power to meet 46 to 70 per cent of local electricity demand.

The centre's research found that Cần Thơ can produce up to 1.5TWh of electricity per year.

If the city uses agricultural land to install solar panels when no crops are being grown, the actual capacity will increase to 10.5-16TWh per year, it said.

This electricity output goes far beyond the city's electricity demands, so the city can provide electricity for neighbouring provinces to use.

In addition, the installation of solar panels on farmland could help farmers reduce energy costs and have more income. — VNS