The hybrid power system of solar and diesel for Bai Huong village in “Cu Lao Cham ” Biosphere Reserve.
© Dang Dinh Thong
The village BaiHuong is located in a narrow stretch of the south-west coast side of Cu Lao Cham island, that belongs Tan Hiep commune in Cu Lao Cham island, Quang Nam province. BaiHuong village has 95 households, their main occupation is fishing with an average income about 300,000 VND/month.
Current power supply is through diesel generators:
- Total capacity: 29KW (12KW-15KVA and 17KW-20KVA generators) were too old
- The operation cost: 8,000 VND/kWh
- The electricity price: 4,000 VND/kWh
Many households invested in their own personal generators (2-3 kW). Partly also because the existing (out of date) diesel generator was not able to supply electricity for the whole village causing a shortage of electricity and extremely high electricity prices. To solve the problem, a hybrid solar-diesel has been designed based on the total electricity demand in 2008 and the expectations of the average electricity demand for the period of 2008-2028 for Bai Huong village. The annual consumption in 2008 was about 27,804 kWh distributed of which 19,152 kWh for domestic use (69%); 2,892 kWh for public and service use (10%) and 5,760 kWh for productive use (21%). The expectation on annual demand for 2028 is 36,500 kWh/yr.
The hybrid solar-diesel power system that was installed since 2009:
- Solar PV system capacity: 28kW
- Back up diesel generator capacity: 20 kW (5 + 15)
- Number of household : 100
- Total investment cost: 412,098 USD
- Investors: SIDA – Sweden (80%) &Quang Nam province budget (20%)
- Cost per installed capacity: 8,585 USD/kW
- Cost per connected household: 3,924 USD/hh
- Annual operation cost: 5,067.3 USD/yr
- Capacity output: 27,804 kWh/year
The hybrid of PV and diesel power system has been put in operation since 2011 but currently it is working under installed capacity and therefore inefficiently.Source: OFF-GRID OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES IN VIETNAM – USAID Report – 2014
More information: Renewable energy transforms remote areas
Related cases: Seawater RE desalination project - in Cu Lao Cham island biosphere reserve
