Central province taps renewable energy sources

Central Thua Thien-Hue province is utilising renewable energy sources like hydro, solar and biomass power to serve daily use, addressing environmental pollution and saving expenses.

Thua Thien-Hue has put four hydropower plants into operation with a combined capacity of 314.5 megawatts (MW) and contributing over 1 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) to the national grid every year.

Another two hydropower factories with respective capacities of 7.2 MW and 6 MW are expected to be operational by the end of this year.

Solar powered equipment has also been installed at local hotels, including the Saigon Morin Hotel which has used solar water heating for several years. As the hotel consumes around 14,000 litres of water a day, it could save 50 million VND (over 2,260 USD) in its monthly electricity bill or over 600 million VND (27,340 USD) a year.

Several road light systems in Thua Thien-Hue have also benefited from this source of energy. Solar powered lamp posts have the capacity to continuously illuminate roads over the course of four or five rainy evenings. Each of these facilities will save 438 kWh of electricity a year compared to a high pressure sodium lamp.

Meanwhile, biogas tanks have become popular as a way to utilise gas produced during the decay of garbage as a burning fuel. Notably, Thuy Xuan ward of Hue city has used biogas to power light devices in uptown areas.

Director of the provincial Department of Industry and Trade said Thua Thien-Hue holds a vast biogas potential. Biogas energy is a useful fuel source that is key to protecting the rural environment, as 80 percent of Thua Thien-Hue lives in rural areas with concentrated livestock farming.

The province is devising support policies to facilitate the use of renewable energy sources, he noted, adding that concrete aid will be provided for local households to build thousands of biogas tanks in the near future.-VNA