Ha Giang is a mountainous province in the northernmost border of the country, in specially difficult socio-economic conditions, with its scattered population distribution. During the past years, Ha Giang has been concerned, attended and supported by the Ministries, the Central leadership, sectors as well as domestic and foreign enterprises, in all fields of socio-economic development. Out of the assistance, the support form the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Electricity of Vietnam through the project "Implementation of pilot model of battery-based power supply for households in remote and outreaching areas" under the National Target Program on economical and efficient use of energy Phase 2012-2015.

From 2012 to now, the General Department of Energy - Ministry of Industry and Trade has been controlling the assignment conducted by the Poli-techniques Solar Energy Investment and Development Company Ltd. in coordination with Ha Giang Power Company to implement 3 projects with a total number of 149 benefited households.

Each household was provided with one 40 VAh dry battery, 2 LED lamps, 10 meters of electrical wire, and 1 power control board integrated with a power data  storage device to evaluate the results, with a total value of VND10 million/household. At the charging stations within the national grid coverage, there are standby batteries, convenient for people to exchange, or to recharge the battery, these are villager's common halls, and school campuses. The employees of Ha Giang Power Company could manage the battery swapping or battery charging at the station for households, the average cost is VND 5,000 for one charge.

Through the evaluation of local people, primarily the project supports the power supply for domestic lighting, immediately to overcome problems faced by the households in remote areas where the national grid has not yet reached.

It is a compact battery set, convenient for transportation whenever it needs swapping or recharging at battery charging station. On average, each battery can be used for two lightings, and a radio continuously for 6-10 hours. The interval time for each battery swapping ranges between 5 - 15 days depending on the demands of the family use, the lifespan of the battery is about 2-3 years.

In recognition of the benefits brought about by the deployed model, Ha Giang Provincial People's Committee requested that the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and Electricity of Vietnam proceed with their supports and replicate this project model in the province and steer the project implementing units to comply with the designed phases of technical specifications. And the project implementers are encouraged to actively coordinate with the governing agencies of Ha Giang in the construction, management and operation of the equipment in accordance with the provisions of the state to ensure that the project is soonest put into its full swing.

Trong Tan