The HCM City’s Youth Union, in co-operation with the HCM City-based SolarBK company, has launched an off-grid solar power project on the Thổ Chu Islands, off the coast of Kiên Giang Province.

KIÊN GIANG — The HCM City Youth Union, in co-operation with the HCM City-based SolarBK company, has launched an off-grid solar power project to supply power for a radar station on the Thổ Chu Islands, off the coast of Mekong Delta's Kiên Giang Province.

The company’s brand director, Nguyễn Thùy Ngân told Việt Nam News that the 2.8Kwp (kilowatt peak) renewable power system, which officially started operations on Tuesday, will supply 11.2KWh (kilowatt per hour) for lighting and cold storage for fresh food.

Ngân said the station previously had to rely on a diesel generator running just four hours each day, while food had to be stored at the homes of residents.

She said the roof-top solar power system was part of the annual ‘Green Summer’ campaign by HCM City’s Youth Union to support the sea and islands of Việt Nam.

It’s also the first ‘green’ power project to be built on the island – where the national grid has not yet reached.

The islands, 110km off the coast of Phú Quốc Island District of Kiên Giang Province, are connected by a shipping route every five days.

There are eight islets with a total population of nearly 2,000 people.

A solar power monitor at the project on the Thổ Chu Islands. The system is used at an isolated site off the national grid. —  Photos courtesy of SolarBK

SolarBK said it already operates solar power systems on the Trường Sa (Spratly) Islands, Sơn Chà Islet off central Thừa Thiên-Huế Province and An Bình Islet of central Quảng Ngãi Province, and a system for the centre of children with disabilities in Quảng Ngãi.

The wind-solar renewable energy system on the Trường Sa Islands of Việt Nam also won the Global International Renewable Energy Award in 2012, while the renewable energy-powered desalination system project on Song Tử Tây Island won the award in 2016. — VNS