Proposal GRADUATE SCHOOL OF SOLAR ENERGY Le Chi Hiep Director, Program on Renewable Energy & Energy Conservation (VNU-HCM) lechihiep@gmail.com United States - Vietnam Science and Technology Partnership Workshop Ho Chi Minh City, September 24, 2009

1. GENERAL INFORMATION AND DATA

VIETNAM Population – 85.8 millions (2009) Area – 332,000km2 Capital – Hanoi

Latitudes and Longitudes of several main provinces/cities in Vietnam Location Latitude Longitude Ha Giang 22o54’N 105oE Hanoi 21o03’N 105o54’E Hue 16o29’N 107o36’E Da nang 16o03’N 108o12’E Qui Nhon 13o47’N 109o15’E HoChiMinh City 10o45’N 106o41’E Phu Quoc 10o12’N 103o58’E Ca Mau 9o11’N 105o09’E

Mean Annual Sunshine Hours North: 1800 – 2100 hours of sunshine a year, on average. South: 2000 – 2600 hours of sunshine a year, on average.

MONTHLY MEAN SUNSHINE HOURS (Hours/day) Location: HANOI (21o03’N, 105o54’E) January 2.2 February 1.6 March 1.4 April 2.7 May 5.3 June 5.2 July 5.9 August September 5.4 October November 4.2 December 3.5

MONTHLY MEAN SUNSHINE HOURS (Hours/day) Location: DANANG (16o03’N, 108o12’E) January 4.4 February 5.1 March 3.4 April 6.9 May 8.3 June 7.9 July August 6.7 September 5.8 October 4.7 November 4.0 December 3.6

MONTHLY MEAN SUNSHINE HOURS (Hours/day) Location: HOCHIMINH City (10o45’N, 106o41’E) January 7.9 February 8.8 March April 7.7 May 6.3 June 5.7 July 5.8 August 5.6 September 5.4 October 5.9 November 6.7 December 7.2

MONTHLY MEAN SOLAR RADIATION (kWh/m2/day) Location: HANOI (21o03’N, 105o54’E) January 2.24 February 2.40 March 2.53 April 3.46 May 5.23 June 5.31 July 5.59 August 5.10 September 4.79 October 4.18 November 3.45 December 2.97 Annual Mean Solar Radiation: 3.93kWh/m2/day

MONTHLY MEAN SOLAR RADIATION (kWh/m2/day) Location: DANANG (16o03’N, 108o12’E) January 3.5 February 4.3 March 5.2 April 5.8 May 6.4 June 5.9 July 6.5 August 5.7 September October 4.2 November 3.1 December 2.5 Annual Mean Solar Radiation: 4.85kWh/m2/day

MONTHLY MEAN SOLAR RADIATION (kWh/m2/day) Location: NHA TRANG (12o15’N, 109o11’E) January 4.66 February 5.29 March 5.69 April 5.91 May 5.90 June 5.66 July August 5.51 September 4.92 October 4.42 November 4.04 December 4.15 Annual Mean Solar Radiation: 5.15kWh/m2/day

MONTHLY MEAN SOLAR RADIATION (kWh/m2/day) Location: HOCHIMINH City (10o45’N, 106o41’E) January 5.1 February 6.3 March 6.6 April 5.7 May 5.0 June 4.9 July August September 4.8 October 4.5 November 4.3 December 4.6 Annual Mean Solar Radiation: 5.2kWh/m2/day

Location: Ho Chi Minh City, April 28th, 2005

Location: Ho Chi Minh City, June 28th, 2005

Location: Ho Chi Minh City, March 5th, 2009 (Total solar radiation, W/m2) 09:00 323 10:40 255 12:20 886 09:10 494 10:50 249 12:30 725 09:20 489 11:00 650 12:40 791 09:30 638 11:10 1064 12:50 934 09:40 658 11:20 464 13:00 797 09:50 11:30 871 13:10 785 10:00 508 11:40 1044 13:20 773 10:10 659 11:50 1031 13:30 838 10:20 503 12:00 497 13:40 453 10:30 629 12:10 957 13:50 474

Location: Ho Chi Minh City, March 5th, 2009 (Total solar radiation, W/m2) 14:00 685 15:40 387 17:20 139 14:10 611 15:50 344 17:30 98 14:20 16:00 385 17:40 66 14:30 392 16:10 381 17:50 17 14:40 557 16:20 306 18:00 7 14:50 627 16:30 135 18:10 15:00 649 16:40 18:20 15:10 643 16:50 140 18:30 15:20 583 17:00 182 18:40 15:30 469 17:10 168 18:50

2. APPLICATIONS OF SOLAR ENERGY IN VIETNAM

Two main applications: - Solar hot water - Solar photovoltaics

2.1. SOLAR HOT WATER

Solar hot water has been developed since 1990 Solar hot water has been developed since 1990. At the early period, it was very difficult to get the attention of the community. But, since around 1998, the number of installed solar hot water systems has gradually increased, especially in Ho Chi Minh city.

Currently, solar hot water has become one of products at high competition. That leads to the increase of the number of companies doing business in this field. But, there is so far no full industry referring to solar hot water. The main components of the system (solar collector,…) are imported, mainly from China.

COMMENT Solar hot water has been developed very fast, especially in the southern parts of the country. Currently, it is easy to see solar hot water systems on roofs of many houses in Ho Chi Minh city.

2.2. SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS

2.2.1. RESEARCH Researches referring to solar photovoltaics have been done from around 1975.

Early research interests Monocrystalline silicon Polycrystalline silicon Amorphous silicon

Current research interests Determination of the light- induced degradation rate of the solar cell sensitized N719 on nanocrystalline TiO2 particles Thermal degradation kinetics of solar cell dye N719 bound to nanocrystalline TiO2 particles Fabrication of solar cells based on N719, D520-dyed nano-crystalline titanium dioxide and investigation of their performances Improvement of the Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Open-circuit Voltage by Electrolyte Additives and Cell Treatment with 4-tert-butylpyridine

The Relationship between Electrochemical Impedance Spectra and Photovoltaic Performance Characteristics during the Light and Thermal Ageing of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Effects of Electrolyte Additives on the Open-circuit Voltage of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Decomposition and degradation of dyes in solar cells under prolonged thermal and light ageing Dye-sensitized solar cell based on nano-crystalline titanium dioxide

Fabrication of solar cells based on titanium dioxide and organometallic dyes Grid connected systems

But, due to many difficulties, the research on solar photovoltaics is nearly activities of scientists in laboratory only. It has not exercised its influence on the society.

2.2.2. APPLICATIONS In 1990, the first 300Wp-unit was installed at Can Gio district, Ho Chi Minh city. From 1994, solar photovoltaics has been expanded in the whole country. Currently, total installed photovoltaics is around 2MWp.

Installed locations: - Rural areas (PV units were installed at more than 3000 houses, there have been around 8500 families who can reach PV indirectly by using batteries charged from stations). - Cultural centers. - Medical centers. - Telecommunication units. - Traveling boats.

- Post offices - Ambulances. - Public lighting systems. - Traffic lighting systems. - Battery charging stations. - Schools. - Islands.

2000Wp

810Wp

Main features of photovoltaic development in Vietnam: - Most budgets funded by international organizations and several funded by national agencies (there is so far nearly no personal budget invested to set up the system). - It leads to unstable and unsustainable development. - All solar panels are so far imported.

Currently, there are only several companies doing business on photovoltaics in Vietnam.

Recently, a factory producing solar panels has been installed in Long An – near Ho Chi Minh City. By planning, its expected capacity is 3MWp/year (first step) and 5MWp/year (next step).

COMMENT Solar photovoltaics has been almost done by projects and has been installed dispersedly. There have been only a few people who want to invest the photovoltaic system by their own budget.

2.3. OTHER APPLICATIONS Solar Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Solar Drying Solar Cooking Solar Distillation

Main features of these applications: - Not popular - Research phase - Low attraction of the community

3. DETAILS OF THE SUBMITTED PROPOSAL

3.1. TARGET To set up a graduate school on solar energy and on applications of solar energy

3.2. EXPECTED OUTPUTS Degree of training programs Research activities Master Ph. D. Research activities Mainly in: Solar photovoltaics Solar refrigeration and air conditioning Solar distillation Other applications in connection with solar energy.

3.3. BASIC IDEAS Students: mainly coming from Vietnam, but it is expected that the school can get the attention of students coming from other ASEAN countries. Language: English Teaching staff and supervisors: mainly coming from Vietnam and from the USA, some selected professors from other ASEAN countries can be invited.

Tuition fee: In order to speed up the application of solar energy and to get the attention of students, the school should be one of the objects supported by the governments. Therefore, students pay a part of the fee only, the partners cover all the remains. Training form: Master: full time in Vietnam Ph. D.: sandwich program

4. COMMENT & CONCLUSION

There is high potential to exploit solar energy in Vietnam. There is also high demand in increase the number of graduated students in this area. The government commits to speed up the application of renewable energy in Vietnam.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION The draft of the decree on the means supporting the development of renewable energy has just been submitted to the government by the ministry of industry and commerce (Tuoi Tre daily newspaper, Sept. 8, 2009). Main contents of the draft of the decree: - The government commits to exempt those who invest to develop the electric generation by renewable energy from taxes. - The price of electricity produced by renewable energy would be discussed to guarantee the investor’s rational benefit.

CONCLUSION It is time to start to set up the school of solar energy. Hopefully this proposal can get the attention of the responsible organizations of the both sides.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION