HCMC aims to have 100MW of renewable energy by 2020

HCMC expects to generate 100MW of electricity from renewable resources by 2020 as many investors have expressed their keen interest in this field in the city, according to the HCMC Department of Industry and Trade.

At a meeting with HCMC Party Secretary Nguyen Thien Nhan at Go Cat waste-to-energy plant on July 19, an official of the department said that the city holds high potential to produce energy from sunlight, waste and wind. The World Bank, after conducting a survey of one million households in the city, has concluded that about 50% of roofs of houses can be fitted with solar panels.

Many enterprises also want to invest in solar power projects in HCMC after new policies on the the price of solar power were issued.

A financial investor in HCMC told the Daily that it will inject US$40 million into Hydraulic-Machine Co Ltd to develop the 20-MW Go Cat waste-to-energy plant in Binh Tan District.

The plant is expected to bring about great economic benefits as the investor can recoup investment within five years from both industrial waste treatment fees and electricity generation.

The amount of garbage discharged in the city increases 5% a year and many landfills have been full and closed.

In addition, the city can also develop a wind power plant in Can Gio District.

According to data of the Department of Industry and Trade, capacity of renewable energy in the city remains modest with 2.4MW from Go Cat plant, 1.5MW of solar power from buildings, households and enterprises and 2MW from a trial waste-to-energy plant in the Da Phuoc Waste Treatment Complex.

Source The Saigon Time