Ho Chi Minh City, 16 September, 2019. Today, an inauguration event was jointly organized by GIZ, Cat Tuong and Syntegra to introduce a solar photovoltaic (PV) rooftop system, which was installed in the framework of a public-private-partnership project that aims at promoting private investments in the solar energy sector in Viet Nam. The project could serve as a blueprint model to demonstrate the technology’s benefits for industrial power consumers, public utilities and the Vietnamese energy sector.
The pilot solar PV system is part of the develoPPP.de programme, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by GIZ. In October 2018, Cat Tuong and Syntegra formed a strategic collaboration with technical assistance from GIZ to install the rooftop solar system at Cat Tuong Factory in Long An province.
The solar system has a power capacity of 850 kWp generated by approximately 2,560 PV modules – covering 4,400 m2 of roof space. It is expected to generate 1,230 MWh of solar electricity every year, covering around 50% of the electricity demand of the factory on an annual average. Excess solar power will be exported to the public electricity grid providing green energy for Viet Nam’s power consumers. On an annual basis, the PV system is expected to save about $102 thousand (or VND2.4 billions) for Cat Tuong factory’s energy costs and to reduce 1,092 tons of CO2 emissions.
The inauguration event was held at Rex Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City and attended by representatives from the German General Consulate, local authorities and government officials, representatives from Viet Nam Electricity (EVN), national and international project developers and industry stakeholders.
Speaking at the event, Ms. Josefine Wallat, German Consul General said: “The successful installation of this pilot rooftop solar system is an important milestone of the project with its objective to support the development of solar energy in the Vietnamese commercial and industrial sector. I am delighted to inaugurate the system today on behalf of the German Government that provides support to this project. We believe that the pilot system can serve as a best-practice example that demonstrates both the economic and environmental benefits of solar energy. It shall motivate further private investments in solar energy use in the Vietnamese industry, thereby supporting the Vietnamese Government in its efforts to move towards a cleaner and more sustainable power system. Furthermore, this project is also intended to support the know-how transfer from Germany to Viet Nam in the field of vocational training and technical capacities for this green technology.”
“Syntegra Solar is very pleased to partner with Cat Tuong, a leading company in the Vietnamese roofing and energy efficiency industry. With this project we bring our profound international solar PV technology expertise to Vietnam. Our collaboration shall result in landmark top-quality PV rooftop installations, with an outstanding long-term performance”, Mr. Mathias Kothe, Founder and Managing Director from Syntegra Solar International AG shared.
Mr. Hung Nguyen, Director of Cat Tuong Corporation emphasized: “For us as a leader in energy efficiency products this project is just the beginning as we still have some spare roofs that can be installed with solar panels. We have learnt a lot from this pilot project and we are very confident that we can incorporate solar energy in our future business activities. In addition, we can contribute to the development of solar energy in Viet Nam by introducing our own industry customers to the great opportunity of reducing energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions with solar rooftop technology.”
Following the ceremony, a trip to the Cat Tuong factory in Long An province was organized to visit the PV system. The participants were given a presentation on the project and had time to discuss with Cat Tuong staff and the experts of Syntegra Solar in a Q&A session.
The PV rooftop pilot project is the first step of a number of further project activities that aim at improving technical and administrative framework conditions for the replicability of PV rooftop investments in Viet Nam. Part of the project is the development of Investment Guidelines for solar rooftop systems to help sector stakeholders gain better understanding about the technology and investment opportunities with a step-by-step guidance through all investment procedures and optional business models.
Following the inauguration day, a three-day technical training will provide profound knowledge on state-of-the art solar PV technology and installation for technicians and staff of local solar companies, EVN representatives and further technical experts. Beyond this training, the project will seek to embed the knowledge on solar PV technology in a local educational institution as a way to build technical capacities of installers and technicians for the industry in the long-term.
Today’s inauguration and awareness raising event is organized as part of the recently launched Rooftop Solar PV Promotion Programme for Viet Nam, issued in July by the Viet Nam Ministry of Industry and Trade with Decision 2023/Q?-BCT. The programme aims to install 100,000 new rooftop solar systems nationwide by 2025, equivalent to a power capacity of 1,000 MWp. The event is organized within the framework of the Viet Nam Energy Partnership Group (VEPG), a joint policy forum of the Viet Nam Government and its international Development Partners that aims at strengthening cooperation, dialogue and exchange of experiences and knowledge in the country’s energy sector.
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Tran Ha Anh
PR and Communication Officer
MOIT/Energy Energy Support Programme
Mobile 0377352309
Email: anh.tran3@giz.de
Note to Editors:
About the develoPPP.de programme
develoPPP.de was set up by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to foster the involvement of the private sector in areas where business opportunities and development policy initiatives overlap. To this end, BMZ offers financial and technical support for companies that invest in developing and emerging-market countries.
About the project
PV Rooftop Pilot Project is a development partnership between the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Syntegra Solar International and Cat Tuong Corporation under develoPPP.de programme commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Throughout the project, a viable business model is presented, along with the know-how transfer from international experts to local companies. One remarkable achievement of the project is the successful installation of an 850 kWp PV power plant, consisting of approximately 2,560 solar panels. The system is expected to generate 1,230 MWh of solar electricity and save 1,092 tons of CO2 emissions annually.
As part of the project, Investment Guidelines and training material will be developed and made accessible to various stakeholders. The project is expected to be a blueprint model to upscale solar PV investments in the Vietnamese industrial and commercial sector and create more green jobs for the country.
