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

2. 1. GENERAL INFORMATION AND DATA

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

4. 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

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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

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

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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 2. APPLICATIONS OF SOLAR ENERGY IN VIETNAM

18. Two main applications:
- Solar hot water
- Solar photovoltaics

19. 2.1. SOLAR HOT WATER

20. Solar hot water has been developed since 1990
Solar hot water has been developed since 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.

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 2.2. SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS

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

25. Early research interests
Monocrystalline silicon
Polycrystalline silicon
Amorphous silicon

26. 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

27. 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

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

29. 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.

30. 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.

31. 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.

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

33. 2000Wp

34. 810Wp

36. 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.

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

38. 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).

39. 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.

40. 2.3. OTHER APPLICATIONS
Solar Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
Solar Drying
Solar Cooking
Solar Distillation

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

42. 3. DETAILS OF THE SUBMITTED PROPOSAL

43. 3.1. TARGET
To set up a graduate school on solar energy and on applications of solar energy

44. 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.

45. 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.

46. 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

47. 4. COMMENT & CONCLUSION

48. 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.

49. 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.

50. 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.

51. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION