SOLAR ENERGY and SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS IN VIETNAM

1. SOLAR ENERGY and SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS IN VIETNAM Prof. Le Chi Hiep Director, Program on Renewable Energy & Energy Conservation (VNU-HCM) Berlin, October 9, 2009

2. OUTLINE 1. GENERAL INFORMATION 2. SOLAR ENERGY and ITS APPLICATIONS IN VIETNAM 3. SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS IN VIETNAM 4. DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION

3. 1. GENERAL INFORMATION

4. VIETNAMPopulation – 85.8 millions (2009) Area – 332,000km2Capital – Hanoi

5. Latitudes and Longitudes of several main provinces/cities in Vietnam

6. Installed electric generating capacity (9GW, 2004). In 2004, Vietnam generated 40.1 billion kilowatthours (Bkwh) of total electricity, of which 52 percent was supplied by conventional thermal sources and 48 percent came from hydroelectric sources. Electricity demand has increased steadily in Vietnam during the last decade, but the country’s per capita energy consumption remains one of the lowest in Asia.

10. 2. SOLAR ENERGY and ITS APPLICATIONS IN VIETNAM

11. Mean Annual Sunshine Hours • North: 1800 – 2100 hours of sunshine a year, on average. • South: 2000 – 2600 hours of sunshine a year, on average.

12. MONTHLY MEAN SUNSHINE HOURS(Hours/day)Location: HANOI (21o03’N, 105o54’E)

13. MONTHLY MEAN SUNSHINE HOURS(Hours/day)Location: DANANG (16o03’N, 108o12’E)

14. MONTHLY MEAN SUNSHINE HOURS(Hours/day)Location: HOCHIMINH City (10o45’N, 106o41’E)

15. MONTHLY MEAN SOLAR RADIATION(kWh/m2/day)Location: HANOI (21o03’N, 105o54’E) Annual Mean Solar Radiation: 3.93kWh/m2/day

16. MONTHLY MEAN SOLAR RADIATION(kWh/m2/day)Location: DANANG (16o03’N, 108o12’E) Annual Mean Solar Radiation: 4.85kWh/m2/day

17. MONTHLY MEAN SOLAR RADIATION(kWh/m2/day)Location: NHA TRANG (12o15’N, 109o11’E) Annual Mean Solar Radiation: 5.15kWh/m2/day

18. MONTHLY MEAN SOLAR RADIATION(kWh/m2/day)Location: HOCHIMINH City (10o45’N, 106o41’E) Annual Mean Solar Radiation: 5.2kWh/m2/day

19. Location: Ho Chi Minh City, April 28th, 2005

20. Location: Ho Chi Minh City, June 28th, 2005

21. Location: Ho Chi Minh City, March 5th, 2009(Total solar radiation, W/m2)

22. Location: Ho Chi Minh City, March 5th, 2009(Total solar radiation, W/m2)

23. Solar Applications • Two main applications: - Solar hot water - Solar photovoltaics

24. Solar hot water has been developed since 1990. At the early period, it was very difficult to get the attention of the community. • But, since around 1998, the number of installed solar hot water systems has gradually increased, especially in Ho Chi Minh city.

25. Currently, solar hot water has become one of products at high competition. That leads to the increase of the number of companies doing business in this field. • But, there is so far no full industry referring to solar hot water. The main components of the system (solar collector,…) are imported, mainly from China.

26. 3. SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS IN VIETNAM

27. 3.1. RESEARCH • Researches referring to solar photovoltaics have been done from 1975.

28. Early research interests • Monocrystalline silicon • Polycrystalline silicon • Amorphous silicon

29. Current research interests • Determination of the light- induced degradation rate of the solar cell sensitized N719 on nanocrystalline TiO2 particles • Thermal degradation kinetics of solar cell dye N719 bound to nanocrystalline TiO2 particles • Fabrication of solar cells based on N719, D520-dyed nano-crystalline titanium dioxide and investigation of their performances • Improvement of the Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Open-circuit Voltage by Electrolyte Additives and Cell Treatment with 4-tert-butylpyridine

30. The Relationship between Electrochemical Impedance Spectra and Photovoltaic Performance Characteristics during the Light and Thermal Ageing of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells • Effects of Electrolyte Additives on the Open-circuit Voltage of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells • Decomposition and degradation of dyes in solar cells under prolonged thermal and light ageing • Dye-sensitized solar cell based on nano-crystalline titanium dioxide

31. Fabrication of solar cells based on titanium dioxide and organometallic dyes • Grid connected systems

32. But, due to many difficulties, the research on solar photovoltaics is nearly activities of scientists in laboratory only. • It has not exercised its influence on the society.

33. 3.2. APPLICATION • In 1990, the first 300Wp-unit was installed at Can Gio district, Ho Chi Minh city. • From 1994, solar photovoltaics has been expanded in the whole country. • Currently, total installed photovoltaics is around 2MWp.

34. Installed locations: - Rural areas (PV units were installed at more than 3000 houses, there have been around 8500 families who can reach PV indirectly by using batteries charged from stations). - Cultural centers. - Medical centers. - Telecommunication units. - Traveling boats.

35. - Post offices - Ambulances. - Public lighting systems. - Traffic lighting systems. - Battery charging stations. - Schools. - Islands.

36. 2000Wp Reference: http://www.soltechvn.com/vn/

37. 810Wp Reference: http://www.soltechvn.com/vn/

38. Reference: http://www.selco-vietnam.com.vn/index.php?lang=vn

39. Main features of photovoltaic development in Vietnam: - Most budgets funded by international organizations and several funded by national agencies (there is so far nearlyno personal budget invested to set up the system). - It leads to unstable and unsustainable development. - All solar panels are so far imported.

40. Currently, there are only several companies doing business on photovoltaics in Vietnam. SELCO-VIETNAM could be considered as the biggest company in this field (Installed photovoltaics – 262kWp)

41. Several related websites for your reference: 1.http://www.selco-vietnam.com.vn/index.php?lang=en 2. http://www.soltechvn.com/vn/

42. Recently, a factory producing solar panels has been installed in Long An – near Ho Chi Minh City. By planning, its expected capacity is 3MWp/year (first step) and 5MWp/year (next step).

43. 4. DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION

44. 4.1. DISCUSSION

45. There is high potential to exploit solar energy in Vietnam. • There is also high demand on solar technologies such as solar photovoltaics and solar hot water. (Survey: 50,000 families in southern and central parts of the country need PV systems)

46. Current situation on solar photovoltaics: 1. Solar hot water has been developed well, especially in the southern parts of the country. Currently, it is easy to see solar hot water systems on roofs of many houses in Ho Chi Minh city. 2. In the meantime, solar photovoltaics has been almost done by projects and has been installed dispersedly. There have been only a few people who want to invest the systems by their own budget.

47. Referring to energy policy, currently there are good enough macroscopic policies and roadmap to promote renewable energy activities in Vietnam. • In June 2009, the draft of the law on energy conservation was submitted to the consideration of the national assembly. Hopefully, the similar draft of the law on renewable energycould be submitted next year.

48. According to the current energy policy, renewable energy including solar energy is expected to be one of main energy resources of the country.

49. But, unfortunately, the current applications of renewable energy, especially of installed solar photovoltaics, are still far from our expected targets. • Although there have been activities referring to photovoltaics in Vietnam leading to around 2MWp installed, but Vietnam is still nearly a blank area in terms of photovoltaics.

50. Referring to the current situation, there are two main questions:- WHY? - Do we really need photovoltaics?