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Commercial and industrial facilities with large roof space offer huge potential for rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) application in Vietnam. Solar generation can be effectively integrated into the company’s energy management and thus contribute to achieve energy saving targets and environmental responsibility commitments. The Project Development Programme (PDP) supported the realization of a 308 kWp rooftop PV system at Emergent Cold in Bac Ninh province, the first of its kind for Vietnam’s cold chain sector.

Energy intensive industries perceive the economic viability of PV systems

Cold storage facilities operate 24/7 throughout the year. In Vietnam, this kind of operation is categorized as ‘commercial operation’ and is bound to pay the highest electricity tariff. Rooftop PV systems offer an attractive solution in this regard: saving energy costs, reducing CO2 footprint and enhancing the company’s competitiveness. However, high energy-consumers (commercial and industrial) usually lack PV knowledge and local service providers are inexperienced with this type of installation, due to few existing large rooftop PV systems. The new regulatory framework introduced in April 2017 for solar power development in Vietnam, which includes utility scale project feed-in-tariff and rooftop PV net-metering mechanisms, has created a conducive environment for international players to participate in and for the local solar sector to benefit from their experiences and expertise.

Bringing project partners together

Through a pre-feasibility assessment, GIZ’s PDP as a part of the German Energy Solutions Initiative of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) provided technical expert input and advice, which led to Emergent Cold’s decision to invest in its own rooftop PV project. The facilitated contact establishment and communication between Emergent Cold and potential German partners during the open tendering process was conducted by PDP. The programme as well was supporting Emergent Cold with a PV power quality assessment to evaluate energy saving potential and develop a comprehensive energy management system that optimizes solar integration into load management.

About the German project partner

The Aschoff Solar GmbH, based in the south of Germany, offers solar-thermal and photovoltaic systems for industrial customers, at the international market. The company is actively involved in the Vietnamese market since 2009 and can show a wide variety of solar project experience in the country.

System Data

Installed capacity:	308 kWp
Investment volume:	350,000 USD
Location:	Vietnam (north), Bac Ninh industrial zone, about 1 hour by car from Hanoi
Client:	Emergent Cold LLC
Completion:	July 2017
German business partner:	Aschoff Solar GmbH