A pilot project using low carbon emission light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs will light up 19 main downtown streets in Da Nang as the city is preparing for the 2017 high-profile APEC Economic Leaders’ Week (AELW) in November. 

The sparkling Thuan Phuoc Bridge at night

Nearly 3,000 high-voltage bulbs – 5% of the city’s total public lights– will be replaced by the LED public lights, beginning this September, and go operational in October.

The city has appealed for public investment via the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) model to install LED lighting system.

With the LED lighting system, Da Nang expects to save 1 million KWh per year – 12% of its power consumption, by 2020.

Da Nang was selected as an APEC city for a Low-Carbon Model Town Project at the 44^th APEC energy meeting in Washington DC in 2012.

The city has also proposed battery-powered bikes, use of renewable energy; a metro system; and rapid bus transit as low carbon measures towards making Da Nang a ‘green city’ by 2025.

It has already cut 12,000 tonnes of carbon emissions through a pilot project and saved 12 billion VND(US$570,000) in a power-saving pilot project between 2008 and 2011.

According to a report from the city’s Industry and Trade department, Da Nang has 51,000 high voltage bulbs along 1,200km of roads with total consumption of 6,800KWh –3.1% of the city’s total power consumption.

The city is also using battery-powered cars to serve tourists in the coastal districts of Son Tra, Ngu Hanh Son, Lien Chieu as well as at several beach resorts.

(Source: VNS/ DA NANG Today)