How much does rooftop solar save?

A reader asked: We are a manufacturing and trading company. How can we save electricity and reduce production costs?

- Mr. Bui Trung Kien, Deputy General Director of Ho Chi Minh City Electricity Corporation (EVNHCMC) : If manufacturing and trading enterprises are interested in saving electricity, they need to have their production lines audited for energy. In addition, they need to have a consulting unit on equipment because there are many technologies supporting energy saving. In fact, Vietnam's electricity usage is still low. Statistics from the past year show that to generate 1,000 USD in Vietnam, it takes more than 1,000 kWh of electricity, higher than Singapore and China. Enterprises and business households need to review their production lines and pay attention to saving electricity in the office. In particular, if there is a cooling system, it is even more necessary to audit carefully to improve energy efficiency.

- Mr. Nguyen Quoc Dung, Head of Business Department of Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) : Energy saving is a vital factor for businesses, directly related to input costs. Businesses and production facilities need to pay attention to changing technological processes and technological lines to reduce costs and must have long-term energy audits.

- Mr. Vo Quang Lam - Deputy General Director of Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) : Every year, the Prime Minister issues a list of key energy-using enterprises. These are enterprises that use more than 3 million kWh/year. In 2022, Vietnam has 3,068 enterprises on the above list, using up to 34% of the total electricity nationwide, with an output of 74 billion/250 billion kWh/year. This group needs the most savings roadmap because if we save only 2%, we will have 1.5 billion kWh/year, equivalent to 3,000 billion VND/year. Regarding energy saving skills, the electricity industry has also conducted many studies and consulted domestic and foreign experts. Enterprises and establishments can refer to the official websites of EVN as well as the corporations.

Quick view 8pm: Panorama news on May 16

- Mr. Ha Dang Son, Director of the Center for Energy and Green Development : Vietnam has a national program on efficient energy use with many training activities, many sources of information, providing energy saving services from design to installation. In particular, the model of energy service company (ESCO) is being promoted. In the coming period, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will build a strong legal corridor for the ESCO model. Accordingly, businesses or households can sign contracts with these companies to receive energy saving advice, without having to invest in rooftop solar power installation systems or technologies, but will be compensated by electricity sales or savings.

Lắp điện mặt trời trên mái nhà tiết kiệm được bao nhiêu tiền điện? - Ảnh 1. — Online discussion on electricity on May 16 organized by *Thanh Nien* Newspaper

Question: On TV people are often advised to change to energy-saving light bulbs. Are the advertised light bulbs effective? Which light bulbs are the best?

- Mr. Nguyen Quoc Dung, Head of Business Department of Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN ): Since 2014, Vietnam has almost "eliminated" incandescent light bulbs, not allowing the production or import of incandescent light bulbs under 60W. Currently, in the market there are still incandescent light bulbs under 60W, which are not effective in saving energy. Households should replace them with LED lights, high-efficiency slim tubes, advanced technology, and energy saving.

- Mr. Ha Dang Son, Director of the Center for Green Energy and Development : Currently, there are many lighting products on the market that are much more energy-saving than incandescent bulbs. Customers with special needs such as production of painting products, cinema rooms... needing color accuracy should pay more attention to the CLI color rendering index (from 80 - 90 or higher) which will allow for realistic colors, almost like under sunlight.

Question: What is the investment and savings rate for a townhouse that invests in a rooftop solar power system? What scale of investment is needed to be effective and save money?

- Mr. Bui Trung Kien, Deputy General Director of Ho Chi Minh City Electricity Corporation (EVNHCMC) : Recently, the electricity industry and people across the country have installed many solar energy systems on rooftops. Depending on the installation area, capacity and needs of each household, the scale of installation can be calculated to ensure the needs of use.

An Dong market traders complain about having to pay high electricity prices for many years, what does Ho Chi Minh City Electricity say?

- Mr. Nguyen Quoc Dung, Head of Business Department of Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN ): For households who want to install rooftop solar power systems, the free price is at the highest level. For example, households that regularly use electricity at level 6 or higher will save 3,100 VND per kWh (excluding tax). With such a large savings rate, installing a solar power system for households is highly effective. The capacity must be calculated in accordance with the demand and electricity load.

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