HCM City towards clean energy solutions in smart city building
Experts and scientists have discussed how to promote the application of technological solutions to produce clean energy, and form communities using smart energy, towards making over Ho Chi Minh City as a smart city.
Solar panels installed on houses in HCM City (Source: ves-vn.com)
HCM City (VNA) – Experts and scientists have discussedhow to promote the application of technological solutions to produce cleanenergy, and form communities using smart energy, towards making over Ho ChiMinh City as a smart city in a seminar on April 20.
The event was jointly held by the Centre for Hands-on Actions and Networkingfor Growth and Environment (CHANGE) and the Centre for Regional and UrbanStudies under the Union of Science and Technology Associations (USTA) .
Nguyen Phuong Duy from the municipal Department of Industryand Trade said the city has implemented important items in the project “DevelopingHCM City into a smart city in 2017-2020, with a vision to 2025”, focusing on promotingthe use of smart and clean energy, saving and effective energy use.
Participants heard that local residents have consciously used solar energy in dailyactivities. Over 12,000 solar energy water heaters have been used in HCM Cityso far. A great number of customers installed solar electrify systems connectedto the national grid. Many waste-to-energy plants were also formed in the city, helping creating safe energy sources.
“Smart city development should includethe ability to deal with environmental challenges and clean energy technologysolutions will play a very important role,” said Tran Ngoc Giao, chairman of USTA.
He added that many policies and activities have been taken to promote thedevelopment of household-scale solar energy model, noting that the city aims toraise the total capacity of solar electricity to 200 MW in 2025.
Hoang Thi Minh Hong, Director of CHANGE, suggested the Government focus onincreasing the generation of renewable energy because in 2016 Vietnam and 47other nations signed a pledge to have renewables accounting for 100 percent ofenergy generation by 2050.
“I expect that HCM City, with its geographic, climatic, economic, technologicaland human resource potential, will lead the nation in renewable energy”, sheadded.
Statistics show that HCM City saved 3.1 billion million kWh and reduced 2.039billion tonnes of CO2 in 2011-2017.
The city plans to have 0.8 percent of electricity from wind by 2020, 1 percentby 2025 and 2.1 percent by 2030.
For solar, the targets are 0.5 percent, 1.6 percent and 3.3 percent. They are 1percent, 1.2 percent and 2.1 percent for biomass.-VNA
Most of the 600 companies that the city's Energy Conservation Centre (ECC) has audited over the last five years were not using energy efficiently, and only three had installed smart energy systems.
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A US-Vietnam clean energy conference was held in Ho Chi Minh City on May 14 to discuss smart energy solutions for the Southeast Asian country, drawing some 150 experts, officials, and entrepreneurs from the two nations.
Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong discussed cooperation in smart city building with Loh Chin Hua, Executive Chairman of the Singapore-based Keppel Land Limited on April 4.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) will help Ho Chi Minh City to build a smart city plan, IFC Vice President for Asia and Pacific Nena Stoiljkovic told Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Thanh Liem on April 12.
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Wutip, the first storm in the East Sea so far this year, has wreaked havoc across central Vietnam, claiming lives, displacing residents, and causing widespread damage to houses, crops, and infrastructure, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control reported as of 6:30 pm on June 13.
The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
Addressing a session on “Accelerating Financing for Resilience: Tailored Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction,” Deputy Minister Hiep emphasised Vietnam's proposal in building sustainable financing in response to natural disasters, which aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's goals.
Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitments by participating in global sustainable development forums, signing multiple free trade agreements, and attracting support from international partners for the implementation of the SDGs.
The fight against plastic pollution could not succeed through isolated efforts, but it must be a collective endeavour involving the entire political system, businesses, citizens, and the international community, said Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy.
Lang Son Global Geopark, with its outstanding geological values, cultural heritage, and unique natural landscapes, represents a valuable addition to UNESCO’s global geoparks system.
In 2019, Quang Ninh became one of the first localities in Vietnam to launch a province-wide campaign against plastic waste, mobilising the participation of the political system, the business sector, and the general public. Other localities—such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City—have also effectively implemented waste-sorting initiatives at source, along with models for plastic-free markets and urban areas.
This year’s World Oceans Day on June 8 is themed 'Wonderful Oceans: Sustaining What Sustains Us', while World Environment Day is on June 5 with the theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Huu Toan, a fire prevention and control plan has been in place since the dry season began, including round-the-clock patrols and rapid-response teams to snuff out fires before they could spread.
Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
Solar panels installed on houses in HCM City (Source: ves-vn.com)
