Seminar “solar energy: maximum safety – efficient investment”

Investing in solar energy systems requires safety standards and direction.

Vietnam currently does not have specific safety standards for rooftop solar energy systems. However, instead of passively waiting for regulations, businesses can proactively prevent and minimize risks in solar energy systems while increasing electricity production through the application of advanced technologies. This ensures the quality of the project, and fire safety, and optimizes financial, performance, and electricity output aspects when investing in solar energy systems.

Rooftop solar energy systems in Vietnam need quality control and fire safety guidelines.

Renewable energy is not a new trend worldwide. In the context of global efforts to reduce emissions and transition to clean energy to achieve carbon neutrality, investment in renewable energy has never been more important. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), renewable energy is projected to account for 35% of the total global electricity production by 2025.

Solar energy is a particularly suitable solution to cope with the scorching summer weather when solar radiation is most intense during the hottest times of the day, and the demand for electricity for cooling systems is at its peak.

In Vietnam, renewable energy, especially solar energy, has great potential for development given the country’s energy security situation and the global energy security landscape. Hydropower has exploited nearly 80% of its capacity, leaving little room for further development. Meanwhile, during the peak hot and sunny months of May and June, northern Vietnam experienced an estimated electricity shortage of 1,600 – 1,900MW. Consequently, rooftop solar energy has garnered significant attention and widespread adoption among businesses due to its flexibility, ease of installation, and suitability for various needs.

However, with the proliferation of various technologies, brands, construction, and installation units, significant challenges arise in terms of quality control and fire safety in rooftop solar energy systems. Furthermore, Vietnam lacks specific standards and regulations for rooftop solar energy systems.

Applying advanced technology for efficient solar energy development and safety assurance

In response to these challenges, on August 25, 2023, Sao Nam, in collaboration with SolarEdge and Risen Energy, organized the specialized seminar “Solar Energy: Maximum Safety – Efficient Investment” in Ho Chi Minh City. The event aimed to introduce the most advanced and optimized solutions and technologies in the field of solar energy to the Vietnamese market.

SolarEdge, an Israel brand renowned for its inverter solutions, is used by more than 50% of Fortune 100 companies. Introducing the Optimizer inverter technology, which uses power optimizers on individual solar panels, a representative from SolarEdge emphasized, “Safety is our top priority. By integrating multiple layers of safety features along with the Optimizer technology, SolarEdge’s PV solution exceeds the industry’s current safety standards. It not only increases efficiency and electricity production but also minimizes common risks in today’s solar power systems.“

Meanwhile, Risen Energy, one of the top 10 global PV module manufacturers and a renowned name in new energy, presented its revolutionary Heterojunction (HJT) solar panel technology. As one of the world’s leading PV module manufacturers, Risen Energy is the first and only company to invest in and produce HJT module lines called Hyper-ion. The company’s dedicated production capacity for HJT is projected to reach 15GW by the end of 2023.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai Thao, Sales Representative of Risen Energy, stated, “With changes in design, materials, and manufacturing technology, HJT has the highest output, up to 705Wp+, and can maintain over 90% of its power for the first 30 years. This is one of the most advanced technologies in the world, significantly reducing CO2 emissions, lowering overall costs, improving returns for investors, and contributing to a reliable long-term electricity supply.“

During the seminar, renewable energy experts shared valuable insights on the current lack of safety and efficiency in solar power systems and optimal financial solutions when investing in solar energy.

According to Mr. Nguyen Thuong Quan, CEO of Sao Nam (the co-organizer and official distributor of SolarEdge inverters and Risen Energy solar panels), a safe and efficient solar power system should meet the following criteria: When investing in a solar power system, consider its long-term operating life, ideally 20 years or more. Apply technology that can safely disconnect DC voltage from the solar panel array to the inverter. Solar panels should be more intelligent, not passive as they are now. The inverter system should have maximum power point tracking (MPPT) capabilities at the individual panel level, rather than following the string as is common today. This optimizes electricity production and minimizes the impact of shading or multi-directional roofs while preventing power degradation over decades.

Mr. Nguyen Thuong Quan also showed, “Early on, in 2017, Sao Nam introduced the concept of Optimizer technology to the Vietnamese market. Currently, Sao Nam is taking another step forward by becoming an authorized technical support partner for SolarEdge throughout the Vietnamese market.” In the absence of safety guidelines for solar power, businesses and distributors can proactively prevent unnecessary incidents using specialized, state-of-the-art products from reputable global brands.