Photovoltaics in Vietnam

A joint project by dena and Tilia

Since 2015, Tilia GmbH has been supporting Vietnamese municipal waste water companies when it comes to optimising their operations, particularly with regards to improving performance and energy efficiency. As part of a develoPPP project (“Good practices and the development of a management partnership for optimised operational waste water management in Vietnam”) supported by GIZ [German Federal Enterprise for International Cooperation], a close cooperation has been developed with the waste water company for the provincial Vietnamese town of Sóc Trăng.

PV system with 30kWp powers sewage treatment plant

One idea, which was developed together with our Vietnamese partner, was the concept of covering the energy needs of Sóc Trăng’s sewage treatment plant through renewable sources. Upon considering various approaches, the use of PV electricity presented itself as a solution which made sense both economically and ecologically. The concept idea was transferred to the implementation stage with the acceptance of the project into the German Energy Agency (dena)’s “Renewable Energy Solutions Programme”.

For this reason, Tilia GmbH and the operator of the municipal waste water infrastructure facilities, the Sóc Trăng Public Works Company (SPWC), decided to pursue this idea after the develoPPP project had been concluded. They were able to find support in the form of dena, the German Energy Agency, which enabled them to turn the joint project from an idea into reality.

After evaluating various possibilities with regards to dimensions and system configurations, an optimal solution regarding size and demand profile was able to be determined: the generation of renewable electricity takes place via a photovoltaic system with an output of 30kWp, installed on the roof surfaces of the sewage treatment plant’s drying beds. What’s more, an innovative storage solution also forms part of the system. This enables energy, which is not needed, directly to be stored in the meantime and used at a later point in time.

Sóc Trăng, Vietnam

What we achieved

Optimisation of operations

Energetic optimisation of the Sóc Trăng sewage treatment plant, together with the implementation of the PV storage solution

Reduction of energy costs

50% of the energy needs and 70% of the current costs for power from the grid can be saved

IoT-Ready / 24-7-365

Live monitoring of current yield data on any given day and at any time

Climate protection

Protecting the climate through achieving an annual saving of 23 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions

Intelligent Management

The innovative storage solution reduces the volume of electricity purchased from the grid and increases the use of the PV system’s own electricity

Innovative concept

On a sewage treatment plant, PV combined with a storage solution is a novelty in Vietnam

Electricity from the public grid or the photovoltaic plant

The storage system’s special feature: charging can take place via the photovoltaic system’s electricity output as well as with electricity directly from the public grid. The withdrawal of energy from the public grid takes place at times with lower electricity purchase costs, usually at night.

In total, 20kWh storage capacity available.

Key Technical Data

Q.PEAK-G5 300 SOLAR MODULE WITH A TOTAL OUTPUT OF 30 KWPEAK

AC/DC

INVERTER USED: TYPE SMA STP 25000 TL

BMZ ESS 9.0 LI-NCA STORAGE SYSTEM WITH A CAPACITY OF 3 X 8.5 KWH

Flexibility enables efficiency

The high level of flexibility of the volume of electricity purchased by the sewage treatment plant enables the plant to be operated with the maximum amount of stored electricity during those times with the highest electricity purchase costs (daily peak periods during the morning and evening). This is an aspect which has a positive effect when it comes to cost savings and efficiency. In total, a storage capacity of 20 kWh is available.

The project is accompanied by efficiency measures to reduce the sewage treatment plant’s energy needs. The generation and use of renewable electricity on a water management facility in Vietnam constitutes a novelty. With this, Tilia and SPWC are creating a flagship project in the area.

Co-funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy

This project was realised in the course of the dena Renewable Energy Solutions Programme, which was brought into being by the German Energy Agency (dena) and supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) as part of their “Energy Export Initiative”.