Integrating the goal of using energy economically and efficiently

Ensuring national energy security

Since 2010, the National Assembly has issued the Law on Economical and Efficient Use of Energy along with a system of documents guiding its implementation. The National Target Program on Economical and Efficient Use of Energy, implemented in the period 2006-2015, has helped save over 15 million tons of oil equivalent (TOE).

In the 2019-2030 period, the Program aims to save 5-7% of total national energy consumption in the period up to 2025 and 8-10% in the entire period from 2019 to 2030, equivalent to about 60 million tons of oil equivalent (TOE).

Prime Minister 's Directive No. 20/CT-TTg on enhancing electricity saving in the 2020-2025 period requires saving 2% of electricity consumption each year.

Furnace system at Do Luong cement factory. Photo: Thu Huyen

In addition to quantitative goals, the National Program also sets a qualitative goal of changing the energy use behavior of agencies, organizations, communities and individuals in the direction of saving, efficiency and responsibility, aiming to build people and businesses responsible for national energy resources through changing awareness, thinking, behavior, and forming habits of using energy economically and effectively.

In particular, Resolution No. 55-NQ/TW on the orientation of Vietnam's national energy development strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2045, issued on February 11, 2020, affirms: "Exploit and effectively use domestic energy resources in combination with reasonable energy production and import; thoroughly practice energy saving and efficient use. Proactively produce a number of key equipment in energy sub-sectors; upgrade and build advanced and modern power transmission and distribution grids".

International experience shows that investing 1 dong in energy efficiency and conservation brings benefits equivalent to investing 3-4 dong in developing supply sources. Therefore, using energy efficiently and economically, combined with conserving energy resources, is a key factor in ensuring national energy security.

Integrate usage goals

Recently, at the seminar on "Improving the dissemination of energy efficiency for sustainable development" held in Hanoi, Dr. Vu Dinh Anh - economic expert said: Although Vietnam has had many clear, consistent and scientific policies and strategies on energy saving and efficiency, on the one hand, the concretization is still slow, so enterprises, which are important entities implementing the National Program, are still confused in implementation. On the other hand, the results of implementing strategies for economic restructuring, technology and cultural development have not met the targets, so the completion of the goal of energy saving and efficiency as integrated goals is limited.

Fiber production is one of the sectors that consumes a lot of electricity. Photo: Thu Huyen

On that basis, Dr. Vu Dinh Anh emphasized 3 solutions, including:

First: Integrate the goal of using energy economically and efficiently into the economic restructuring plan. Change the economic structure towards harmony and sustainability, limit and eventually eliminate the promotion of economic growth based on energy consumption. It is necessary to review the development needs and energy consumption structure of each industry and field to shape the national economic structure to have less or limit development based on energy consumption.

Second: Integrate the goal of saving electricity, using energy economically and efficiently in the national technical and technological innovation strategy plan. Technological innovation must be closely linked to the factor of using energy economically and efficiently, saving electricity. Do not import outdated technologies and equipment that consume a lot of energy and consume high electricity into Vietnam. Develop a roadmap to replace old technologies, techniques, machinery and equipment with low energy efficiency and electricity consumption.

Rooftop solar panels - one of the solutions to reduce power consumption. Photo: Thu Huyen

Third: Integrate the goal of saving electricity, using energy economically and efficiently into the strategy of building and developing culture and people to meet the requirements of sustainable national development. Saving electricity, using energy economically and efficiently must become civilized characteristics of the new Vietnamese people. Propaganda, training and improving awareness of individuals and communities about saving electricity, using energy economically and efficiently must be closely linked to the development of Vietnamese people in order to build a new society that is responsible for national energy resources, with future generations in conserving energy resources.

Synchronize solutions

Specifically for the above goals, Dr. Vu Dinh Anh said that it is necessary to change habits and raise awareness of energy saving among workers in a substantial way.

Industrial zones and manufacturing plants have high energy consumption, so it is practical to promote the benefits of energy saving to workers, launch emulation movements and organize activities to reward collectives and individuals with a sense of responsibility in energy saving, along with strict measures to handle cases of waste in energy use. Many businesses have accessed productivity improvement tools such as TPM, 5S, Kaizen, etc., which have contributed to promoting workers to be more self-aware and responsible for their work, raising awareness of energy saving, and reducing costs for businesses.

Inverter cabinets installed for energy-saving fans in cement factories. Photo: Thu Huyen

Along with that is the application of modern technology, production automation and the use of new alternative energy sources. According to the assessment, the high energy cost for industrial production is mainly due to the fact that many enterprises are using old, outdated machinery and equipment that are inefficient in terms of energy use. While the financial capacity to be able to convert technology, techniques, and replace old, outdated equipment with new, more efficient lines.

Therefore, replacing old, outdated equipment with modern, energy-saving equipment is an inevitable trend for businesses. According to the Director of the Center for Energy Research and Green Growth (Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations), the potential for saving electricity in the manufacturing sector is still very large. Using high-efficiency power-consuming equipment can save 20-40% of electricity consumption depending on scale and technology.

Operations at Song Lam Cement Factory. Photo: Thu Huyen

In addition, installing large-scale renewable energy systems such as rooftop solar power is also a solution to help reduce electricity consumption and even sell excess electricity back to suppliers. Promoting the use of electricity economically and efficiently is not only a matter of saving energy for each consumer but also contributes to reducing the load on the general power system, contributing to ensuring national energy security. The biggest difficulty that businesses face is solving the problem of cost - benefit and financial resources for technological innovation, purchasing machinery and equipment as well as policy risks.

At the same time, it is necessary to monitor and improve the system in the direction of saving energy and efficiency. Enterprises use energy economically and effectively through measuring, analyzing, monitoring and warning technology when there is an incident causing leakage or energy loss, managing electricity usage, reducing energy consumption, regularly controlling all areas and systems that consume the most energy, arranging reasonable production plans, minimizing the use of devices that consume large amounts of electricity during peak hours, etc.

Source: https://baonghean.vn/long-ghep-muc-tieu-su-dung-nang-luong-tiet-kiem-va-hieu-qua-post276129.html