Along with exploiting new energy sources to meet energy needs, Da Nang’s agencies and units are actively implementing measures to use energy economically and efficiently towards a green, circular economy and environmental protection.

People exercise at night, using solar-powered light at the community house in Giang Nam 1 Village, Hoa Phuoc Commune, Hoa Vang District, Da Nang. Photo: TRAN TRUC

Based on the actual needs of the locality, in 2023, the Da Nang Centre for Energy Saving and Technology Transfer Consulting under the Da Nang Department of Science and Technology deployed the task of ‘Applying solar energy in public lighting’ with the installation of solar lighting systems at cultural and sports centers, community centres in some communes in Hoa Vang District.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi My Linh, the Director of the Center for Energy Saving and Technology Transfer Consulting in Da Nang, this is an automatic system that automatically turns on and off using electricity from solar panels or can operate according to user settings. The newly installed system uses entirely solar energy, saves energy and is safe, and people do not have to spend any additional electricity costs to light up at night.

Compared with high-pressure lighting systems, the initial investment cost of installing a solar lighting system is relatively high. However, solar lighting has very low operating costs (only replacing storage batteries, maintenance), and an average lifespan of over 10 years; thus, the cost of a solar lighting system is much lower than that of a high-pressure lighting system.

Meanwhile, the Da Nang Department of Transport has piloted the use of four-wheeled passenger vehicles with electric motors to transport tourists on a number of routes connecting tourist attractions, tourist areas, and entertainment areas with a total of 85 vehicles. The municipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development supports 8 fishing boats with 16 solar panels to serve the fishing process.

According to statistics to date, the proportion of renewable energy sources and new energy in the total primary energy supply in the city is about 3.69%. The total installed capacity of solar power in the city is 81.6MW, reaching 33% of the plan by 2025; solar power output (self-consumption and grid generation) contributes about 3.69% of the total electricity demand in the city.

In an active response to the ‘National Programme on Economical and Efficient Energy Use in Da Nang’, the municipal Department of Industry and Trade has presided over and coordinated with units to disseminate and raise awareness among cadres, civil servants, public employees, organisations and individuals to take practical actions to use energy economically and efficiently.

Specifically, 2,113 heads of residential groups in the area have been provided with effective measures to save electricity in daily life, production and business activities.

As reported by Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Industry and Trade Nguyen Van Tru, Da Nang is one of the pioneering localities in developing towards an ecological, modern and smart urban area. In the journey of socio-economic development, the city always considers the economical and efficient use of energy, along with sustainable production and consumption as key factors.

Accordingly, the city has issued and implemented the national programme plan on energy saving and efficiency for the 2020 - 2030 period, along with the plan to implement the national action programme on sustainable production and consumption for the 2021 - 2030 period.

These tasks have been integrated into the city’s planning and development projects, aiming to facilitate sustainable development in the future, thereby helping the city effectively carry out publicity work, raise awareness of the community and businesses about the benefits of energy saving solutions, develop renewable energy and green production, towards the goal of green growth and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Reporting by TRAN TRUC – Translating by A.THU