Physician Mai Thi Du at Hoa Nhon Medical Center said since solar heating water system was installed in June, care and treatment has been carried out more easily. 

With about 1,500 people visiting for treatment under health insurance and social insurance, first aid and infant care, hot water is in great demand here. Thanks to solar power, the cost of electricity and gas has dramatically decreased.

Deputy Director of Victims of Agent Orange's Care Center, Base 3 (Phuoc Hung village, Hoa Nhon), Nguyen Thi Cam Vang, said 3 solar water heaters with capacity of 900 liters, which had been put into use this year has met daily needs of the center's children.

“Care for more than 60 participants, including 5 with cerebral palsy is now easier and more hygienic with hot water available round the clock. Moreover, in hot summer days, water can be up to 70-80 degree, making cooking a lot quicker. In the past, cooking for such a large number of people consumed a lot of gas and time”,  she said.

The center has just installed a solar PV system in June.

Hot water provided for Hoa Nhon Medical Center

Significant economic benefits 

Deputy Director of Danang Energy Conservation and Technology Consultant Center, Duong Hoang Van Ban stated that according to statistics, Danang has 2,000 sunshine hours per year and ranks among 16 provinces with highest potential of solar energy.

As a result, the center has started to install solar water heating systems at 24 places in 11 rural communes of Hoa Vang. Currently, 53 water heaters have provided 16,000 liters per day for the whole district. Phase 1 of the project will be completed by the end of December. 

According to calculations basing on specific capacity and actual cost, it could save over VND370 million of electrical cost and VND564 million of gas expense per year if 24 places all use solar systems.

In the opinion of Mr. Duong Hoang Van Ban, the initial positive results of the solar model have contributed significantly to the modernization and urbanization of rural areas. It also plays an important role in reducing cost and energy consumption.

Basing on the result of phase 1 which will be completed this year and Danang's huge potential of solar power, the center is undertaking research that aims at exploring other applications of the solar model to enhance manufacturing activities and improve people’s livinng standards. 

Hanh Nguyen