Recently, Hanoi has always been rated as one of the effective regions to operate power savings and energy savings. 2015 is the final year of the National Target Programme on energy saving and efficiency from 2013 to 2015; Hanoi aims to save 6-9% of the total projected energy consumption. Reporter from Website tietkiemnangluong.com.vn had discussions with Dr. Dao Hong Thai - Director of the Hanoi Energy Conservation Center about this issue.

Could you tell us something about the results achieved from the National Target Program on energy savings and efficiency in the city of Hanoi in 2014?

In 2014, when deployed in Ha Noi, the National Target Program on energy savings and efficiency focused on different solutions, including: propagation, information dissemination, improving knowledge and practical skills to save energy; Development and dissemination of high-performance and energy-saving equipment; Use energy economically, efficiently in buildings and urban lighting; energy saving in transportation; development of renewable energy, etc.                    

Hanoi has organized many propaganda programs such as 50 reports, news articles about saving electricity, saving energy on mass media of VTV1, VTV3 channels, Hanoi Moi, Industry and Trade newspapers; Openning of energy savings forum on Hanoi Radio and Television. Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade has provided promotional materials, banners and posters to promote Earth Hour campaign to 29 counties, districts and towns. In one hour turn-off-the-lights, the whole city saved 234,000 kWh, equivalent to VND352.9 million, an increase of 6.85% compared to 2013.

Dr. Dao Hong Thai - Director of the Hanoi Energy Conservation Center 

Hanoi has also deployed programs such as: guiding 160 manufacturing establishments and 80 buildings to make assessment of the use of energy. Organizing Hanoi Entech Expo 2014 to help businesses invest, transfer to advanced technology and equipment with high efficiency or renewable energy. At the same time, the movement of power saving, energy saving households  has continued and mobilized 400,000 households to take part in, helped saving 32 million kWh in 2014. In 2014, with  development program of renewable energy, the city spurred the installation of 4,000 solar power water heaters for people with supporting money up to one million VND each, while building 700 biogas in suburban districts.

On the construction of buildings, the city has supported and improved energy efficiency for over 60 buildings in the city, supported energy audits and proposed 59 measures to save energy in 11 buildings with a total savings of 535.3 TOEs, reduced 2118.7 tonnes of CO2 emissions, while 19/59 solutions for the buildings have been realized.

With these activities in 2014, although the budget for implementation of the program is limited, with the help from City,  expert guidance from the General Department of Energy - Ministry of Industry and Trade,  Hanoi  city’s  program in 2014 reached 329 kTOE savings, an important contribution to the success of the National Target Program.

Hanoi is a city with many local manufacturing enterprises of large energy consumption, so which solution has been implemented to use energy economically and efficiently?

For industrial enterprises, Hanoi has focused on supporting business energy consumption. Specifically, for industrial and export processing zones: the city supported enterprises in industrial zones such as Thang Long, Noi Bai, Quang Minh and promoted the use of equipment which save energy, focused on industrial assistance in the fields of electric - electronics, telecommunications, engineering, materials, including support for 05 business and consult 28 energy saving solutions, therefore saved 326 TOE / year, equivalent of 3.55 billion VND / year; 10/28 solutions have already been implemented.

For industrial clusters  in Gia Lam district, the city guided 20 companies to construct energy using reports and energy consumption self-assessment of these units. Counseled and supported 06 units with 19 measures to improve energy efficiency, saved 80.2 TOE / year, equivalent to saving nearly 720 million VND/year; Supported, counseled 08 industrial production facilities to build profile contests for  competition on Energy efficiency management in industrial organizations held by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

With such great results, in 2015, what are the next power saving targets for the National Target Program in Hanoi

2015 is the last year of implementing of “National Target Program on efficiency and energy saving” in the city from 2013 to 2015. Therefore, Hanoi will deploy synchronous activities to strengthen communication and dissemination of information, build awareness of performing regularly energy-saving and efficiency,  protect environment in the community; promote technological innovations and application of advanced management methods implemented on facilities which use much energy in manufacturing zones, industrial clusters, educational institutions, multi-purpose buildings, means of transportation, etc.

The whole city will strive to save 6-9% of total energy consumption to achieve the objectives set for period from 2013 to 2015, contributing to the industrialization and modernization towards green growth of the capital.

Quang Minh