Nghe An invests 67 billion VND to provide electricity to rural areas from renewable energy sources

(Baonghean.vn)- Implementing the Project 'Rural electricity supply from renewable energy sources', Nghe An has invested more than 67 billion VND to supply electricity to villages and hamlets without electricity.

The project was invested in construction in 20 villages in 11 communes of the districts: Ky Son, Que Phong, Con Cuong, Quy Hop. In the localities, the project has built 5 solar power stations with a capacity of 5KVA; 700 solar power generators with a capacity of 3-500VA; 265 small family hydropower plants with a capacity of 3-600VA. In addition, it invested in electrical equipment including wires and accessories, and indoor electrical networks for 970 households.

Mr. Pham Manh Thang - Director of the Provincial Energy Conservation Center said: Nghe An has abundant and quite diverse potential for renewable energy, but so far the investment has not been commensurate with the available potential and strengths.

The main reasons are that the economics of renewable energy sources are not really attractive, along with barriers related to policies and organizations supporting renewable energy development; lack of information and databases for planning and policy making; underdeveloped technology and ancillary services for renewable energy; difficulty in accessing capital sources... have limited the implementation of renewable energy projects.

The project prioritizes providing electricity to communes without electricity, localities where the percentage of rural households using the national grid is lower than the provincial average, and areas important to security and national defense.

Installing solar power for irrigation pumping station in Quy Hop. Photo: Thanh Lien

Previously, on December 28, 2012, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued Decision No. 8217/QD-BCT approving the "Plan for Renewable Energy Development in the Northern Delta and Midlands to 2020, with a vision to 2030"; Decision No. 2081/QD-TTg dated November 8, 2013 of the Prime Minister approving the Program for rural, mountainous and island electricity supply for the period 2013 - 2020.

To implement this program, the Department of Industry and Trade was assigned by the People's Committee of Nghe An province to prepare a report proposing the investment policy for the Project "Rural electricity supply from renewable energy sources" to supply electricity to villages and hamlets without electricity. From there, attract all investment resources to develop the power grid to provide electricity with guaranteed quality in rural, mountainous and island areas to create conditions for people in rural areas, remote areas, ethnic minority areas, and areas with particularly difficult socio-economic conditions to use electricity for production and daily life.

Viet Phuong - Thanh Lien