Use energy efficiently and economically

(Baonghean) - Using energy economically and efficiently is one of the major orientations of the Party and State that has been built and institutionalized into law. In Nghe An, the implementation of this policy has initially achieved certain results, not only bringing economic efficiency to businesses, reducing spending for people but also actively contributing to environmental protection...

Build biogas pits to use biogas.

Survival Solution

Hoang Thi Loan Textile Joint Stock Company is one of the largest enterprises and also the biggest electricity consumer in Nghe An, consuming about 40 - 50 million kWh of electricity each year, equivalent to tens of billions of VND. The reason is that the previously invested spinning line is old and has to run continuously in 3 shifts, the lighting system is made of incandescent bulbs, so it is very energy-consuming. Since 2011, implementing the Law on Energy Saving and with the support and encouragement of the Electricity industry, the Company has had many investment solutions, innovating replacement equipment, so electricity use is increasingly more economical and efficient. Thanks to that, each year, electricity output is reduced by about 5%. To continue saving electricity in production, the Company prioritizes capital to install and replace equipment to save electricity, reduce costs...

Another typical example in the field of energy saving in our province is Trung Do Joint Stock Company. Director of Trung Do Granite Factory, Mr. Le Xuan Dat said: Because it was built later, the first criterion when building the Factory was to install a modern production line, saving electricity and fuel. The unit has agreed to invest hundreds of billions of VND to have a modern brick production line from Europe. However, brick and tile production consumes a large amount of electricity, about 10 million kWh of electricity per year, accounting for 5.2% of the product cost structure, so the Company always prioritizes finding solutions to save energy. Thanks to many initiatives in operation, the Company has saved nearly 10 billion VND/year, contributing to reducing costs and improving product competitiveness.

In addition to the above two enterprises, other large enterprises in Nghe An such as TH Group, Saigon Song Lam Alcohol and Beer Corporation, Sabeco Song Lam Packaging Company or Nghe Tinh Non-ferrous Metals Joint Stock Company... based on their own interests have had and are having many energy saving solutions, contributing to Nghe An saving tens of millions of kWh each year (2013 was 27.563 million kWh of electricity)...

Another energy saving content that contributes to cleaning and protecting the environment in Nghe An is the use of natural energy. According to a survey by the professional sector, Nghe An is one of the localities with the highest solar radiation index in the country. Therefore, in the area, there have appeared a number of models of applying natural energy to life that are worthy of being commended and replicated. That is the application of the Transport sector when installing solar panels for a number of traffic safety warning signs at some intersections on national and provincial highways; a number of military units on the border or islands without national grid electricity have installed solar panels for lighting, electric fans, and watching TV. And most recently, the largest project using solar energy is at the Vietnam - Laos International Cemetery in Anh Son district. Mr. Tran Van Hien, Head of the Management Board of the Vietnam - Laos International Cemetery, said: The project was deployed and installed in 2011 but has only been operating for nearly 3 weeks. With 120 large light bulbs already installed and 11 thousand small bulbs planned to be installed in the graves, all using solar energy, the entire cemetery will be lit up. Using solar energy, this lighting system is very suitable for the sunny climate in Anh Son while ensuring aesthetics, savings and safety. Also using solar energy, through the support mechanism, many buildings and households in Nghe An have initially invested in and installed solar water heaters with 550 households installing in 2012 - 2013.

Another solution that is being widely implemented and has shown quite clear results in the province is the use of biogas energy through regeneration. This is the solution that most clearly demonstrates the purpose of environmental protection when using waste to become energy for life, the most typical of which is biogas technology in the agricultural sector. Projects in this field have been implemented since 2003, when there was no Law on Energy Saving, but have really become a major movement in rural areas. In 11 years, the Livestock Support Project has supported Nghe An farmers to build nearly 8,400 biogas works, contributing to environmental protection and promoting sustainable livestock development. Some districts are at the forefront of biogas application such as Dien Chau, Yen Thanh, Quynh Luu, etc.

Officials from the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center inspect the biogas project in Do Luong.

Practical and effective solutions are needed.

Using clean and economical energy is not only economically efficient but also sustainable because it solves the problem of development while protecting the environment for the community. However, according to general assessment, the application of natural energy in production and life is still limited.

First of all, about saving electricity, due to limited financial conditions, up to this point, the policy has only stopped at propaganda for the people, there is no major material support. Even the installation of solar water heaters is a very good solution but there are still many limitations and technical barriers that not every family can meet. Even an official of Nghe An Electricity said that their family really wanted to install a solar water heater but had to give up because the design and installation were quite complicated; the house was already in place, so they did not want to dismantle or repair it....

Besides, although Nghe An has a lot of sunshine, not all places can install solar panels. In mountainous areas, which are in great need, only a few places such as Tuong Duong, Con Cuong or Anh Son can install them. In highland districts such as Ky Son and Que Phong, due to the few hours of sunshine and high humidity, installation is less effective. Regarding the solution to build biogas tanks, recently, due to frequent epidemics, ineffective livestock farming, and investor support, only 10-15% of the project estimate is guaranteed, so the investment speed in applying biogas in rural areas is also slowing down.

It must be affirmed that saving and using energy effectively is an inevitable requirement for a business unit to survive in the current mechanism. Using energy economically and effectively, especially using natural energy or biogas by regenerating energy from waste, also contributes to reducing emissions and waste treatment. This is a mandatory requirement, so whether we like it or not, we have to do it. In the near future, according to the roadmap, the province will have a number of policies and invest in a number of innovation and energy saving projects in two main groups: key energy-using facilities and budget-using agencies and units. Nghe An is a poor province, the situation of environmental pollution in some places is increasingly widespread and difficult to control. Energy sources such as hydropower and thermal power are increasingly depleted and more expensive, when investing, we must also consider environmental issues, population, etc.

On the part of the functional sector, in the condition that the province does not have much funding to directly support, what needs to be done now is to propagate in more depth and specifically so that businesses and people can see their benefits in using energy economically and protecting the environment. On the other hand, along with timely honoring projects and units applying clean, environmentally friendly and energy-saving technology in production and life, we must also criticize and have sanctions for units that waste energy and cause environmental pollution. In the long term, along with the direction of exploiting energy sources that Nghe An has strengths in such as sunlight, wind, water, etc., the province needs to encourage the use of unburnt materials, limit outdated production lines and technologies that consume a lot of energy and fuel because that not only damages businesses but also affects the lives and surrounding environment.

Nguyen Hai