Illustrative image (Source: VNA)LongAn (VNA) – The Mekong Delta province of Long An will accommodate itsthird solar power plant as construction of the Europlast Long An project beganon September 21.
Coveringnearly 60ha in My Thanh Bac commune, Duc Hue district, the 1.15 trillion VND(49.45 million USD) solar power project has a designed capacity of 50 MWp. Itis scheduled to be put into operation by June 2019.
Addressingthe groundbreaking ceremony, Nguyen Van Duoc, Vice Chairman of the provincialParty Committee, said the project is of special significance as it willcontribute to electricity resources not just in Long An but for the wholecountry, especially given the range of problems with hydropower and fossilfuels.
Theplant is expected to create a premise for the development of other solar powerprojects in Long An, in line with the government’s policy of prioritisingrenewable and clean energy, minimising the adverse impacts of traditional electricityresources exploitation on the environment, and ensuring national energysecurity.
Asidefrom the Europlast project, Long An is home to two plants in Thanh Hoa and DucHue communes.
Vietnameselocalities are taking measures to attract more investment in renewable energy,especially solar power.
According to the Government’s targets, solar power is expected to become themain renewable energy source in the future, with installed capacity to beincreased from 6-7 MW by the end of 2017 to 850 MW by 2020 (1.6 percent of thecountry’s power generation) and 12,000 MW by 2030 (3.3 percent of the country’spower generation).
Vietnamis amongst the most sunny countries in the world, with the Central Highlandsand south central regions recording between 2,000 and 2,600 hours of sunshineevery year, reported the Vietnam Clean Energy Association.
Average solar radiation is 150 kcal/sq.m, or about 2,000 to 5,000 hours peryear. However, despite the nation’s great natural advantages, solar power hasnot yet been harnessed to maximise its full potential. –VNA
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