Article 3: Lighting up “stormy archipelago” with clean energy

Wind turbines “proudly” operate on Sinh Ton Dong island (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Hanoi (VNA) - With the support from mainland, Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago has been given a facelift, becoming an “archipelago of light” with clean energy generated from wind turbines and solar panels.

It is unknown to many that the youths’ veggie gardens, each cubic metre of drinking water or lush bang vuong (square-fruit Malabar Almond) trees across the “stormy island” were created thanks to a power network which helps run a system that turns sea water into fresh water for soldiers and civilians in their daily lives and production, giving vitality to the beloved Truong Sa archipelago.

To date, solar and wind power has lightened up 33 locations and platforms on the archipelago, meeting up to 90 percent of electricity demand for security-defence and daily life activities in the country’s sea and island regions.

Clean electricity covers all Truong Sa

The sky in Truong Sa is deep blue in the time of calm sea. The sea is very friendly, dotted with a long and soft bank of white sand. The weather in this area is unpredictable, yet it is the pristine condition of wind power and sunlight here that makes it ideal to invest in a large-scale and synchronous clean energy system.

Sen. Lt. Col. Dinh Trong Tham, vice commander of Truong Sa Lon, said electricity is a hard problem in the archipelago.

After the country’s liberalisation, electricity in Truong Sa was enough for only two hours of use. Electricity was brought from the mainland in batteries, or generated from diesel engines which were both very costly and harmful for the environment.

With a broad smile, the vice commander continued that the island now has electricity almost around the clock, thanks to wind and solar power. The island is lightened up every day, he said, adding that the soldiers could watch the news on television and listen to the radio regularly.

Electricity is used for daily activities on the island, while medical examination and teaching activities have been significantly improved, he added.

A resident on the Truong Sa Lon island, Lam Ngoc Huynh, said since he has settled down here, his family always has electricity for lighting purpose and daily activities, including for his children’s studies and entertainment.

Electricity is no longer a concern for large islands but also for submerged and especially small islands with severe weather conditions such as Thuyen Chai B, Toc Tan C, and Da Lon B, among others. The clean energy system is effectively launched on those small islands.

On An Bang island, every tiled roof is cover with the shiny blue solar panels (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Commander of B Section of Da Lon island, Sen. Lt. Hoang Van Canh said thanks to electricity generated from wind turbines and solar panels, the soldiers stationed on the island could watch TV and enjoy music.

Not to let “archipelago of light” without electricity

Truong Sa has been given a facelift, becoming an “archipelago of light” with clean energy generated from wind turbines and solar panels, attributable to ceaseless efforts of those in charge of device maintenance.

Even in the stormy season, they have to troubleshoot problems and make sure that light will always be on the islands.

Staffer of the Ninh Thuan Power Company under the Southern Power Corporation (EVNSPC) Dinh Trinh Hoai Trung said his tasks include managing the system, conducting regular checks and maintenance to ensure the smooth operation of the solar and wind power systems on the islands and platforms.

To promptly fix any problem in the systems, members of the power company need to take turn travelling about three times a year to the islands and platforms, and each trip would last several months, Trung said.

The sea is calm at the start of the year, so they can travel without problems. Yet, it is very challenging to go in the stormy season.

Soldiers on Phan Vinh B island have accessed electricity thanks to clean energy (Photo: VietnamPlus)

And problems often occur in the season. In addition, at that time of the year, travelling by vessels is difficult due to strong waves and winds.

However, “soldiers of lights” like Trung will not be prevented by such a challenge. No matter what the situation or how severe the weather is, they will fulfil their tasks. And if they have yet to arrive, soldiers on the islands and platforms would become electricians themselves too./.

To date, the electricity power system generated by clean energy has lightened up 33 locations on the islands and platforms on Truong Sa archipelago (Photo: VietnamPlus)