Over the last three years, fisherman Iputu Gede Astawa has watched his daily catch off the northern tip of Indonesia’s Bali island fall at an alarming rate. Having swapped his paddle for an outboard motor in a futile effort to fish further out to sea where waters are more dangerous, Astawa blames a nearby coal power plant for harming his livelihood. “My catch is totally different to what it was before the power plant began operating,” said Astawa, a third-generation fisherman based near the port town of Singaraja who heads a group of about 30 other fishermen. Where once they caught 400 buckets of fish a day, they now net just 10. Astawa is one of three local residents fighting a legal battle to stop the planned expansion of the Celukan Bawang power plant, about 120 km (75 miles) from the main tourism hub of Denpasar, which began operating in 2015. “All the fishermen will be impacted and we will lose our jobs,” said Astawa, 43, who now makes furniture to … [Read more...] about Legal fight over Bali coal power plant illuminates Indonesia energy dilemma
Hydro power projects
ABB powers Industry 4.0 for sustainable growth
ABB Vietnam’s director Brian Hull spoke to VIR’s Phuong Thu about his company’s 25-year success story in the country as well as the path Vietnam should take to ensure sustainable growth. ABB has been a part of Vietnam’s economic development since 1993. Would you like to tell us about your performance in Vietnam? ABB entered Vietnam early and this year is an important milestone for us, as it marks our 25th anniversary. Over the last 25 years, ABB Vietnam has grown to become a reliable partner in the field of technology, providing solutions and services to the market. In addition, ABB factories in Vietnam manufacture transformers, high-voltage components, and medium-voltage power products for customers across Southeast Asia and the world. We currently employ some 900 people across Hanoi, Danang, and Ho Chi Minh City. Despite the financial crisis in 1997, which impacted the global economy with long-lasting consequences, ABB in Vietnam stayed strong, believing in … [Read more...] about ABB powers Industry 4.0 for sustainable growth
Danang lights up with solar power
Danang lights up with solar power Pham Ngoc Cong covered the 12sq.m roof of his 3-storey home with solar panels to generate power for his family’s daily needs. The renewable energy system has helped Công cut his household’s electric consumption by 30 per cent each month, while cooling the penthouse during the scorching heat of summer. The grid-tie solar power system produces 12 kilowatts per hour, supplying enough power for all electrical equipment including high consumption air conditioners and refrigerators, while solar-powered water heaters provide 24-hour hot water for family use. “It’s saved me quite a bit of money. I used to pay VND2 million (US$88) each month for my family’s use from the city’s grid, but I pay just VND1 million ($44) since the top-roof solar power system was installed two years ago,” Cong said. “Meanwhile, three water heaters, which were powered by solar energy, costs almost nothing from the power grid in … [Read more...] about Danang lights up with solar power
Đà Nẵng lights up with solar power
Home energy: A roof-top solar power system on a building in Đà Nẵng. The system supplies enough power for daily use. — VNS Photo Minh Vũ Viet Nam News Between 2008 and 2011, the central city of Đà Nẵng has cut 12,000 tonnes of carbon emissions after developing environmentally friendly electric cars and household solar powered water heaters. Connecting household solar panels to the grid is seen as a positive way to make Đà Nẵng a ‘green’ city by 2025. Bùi Hoài Nam reports. Phạm Ngọc Công covered the 12sq.m roof of his 3-storey home with solar panels to generate power for his family’s daily needs. The renewable energy system has helped Công cut his household’s electric consumption by 30 per cent each month, while cooling the penthouse during the scorching heat of summer. The grid-tie solar power system produces 12 kilowatts per hour, supplying enough power for all … [Read more...] about Đà Nẵng lights up with solar power
EVNGENCO 1 seeks to ensure power supply in dry season
(VEN) - The Power Generation Corporation 1 (EVNGENCO 1) will focus on harnessing fuel sources for the operation of thermal power plants to ensure sufficient power supplies in the 2018 dry season. Electricity demand is growing at around 11 percent a year in Vietnam, which relies largely on coal-fired and hydro power plants. In the first quarter of the year, the corporation’s power output reached nearly 7.77 billion kWh, equal to 22.6 percent of the yearly plan, including nearly 1.97 billion kWh from hydropower and more than 5.8 billion kWh from thermal power. Total value of investment-construction volume in power projects owned by EVNGENCO 1 reached more than VND3.18 trillion in the first quarter of the year, while those invested by the parent company, Electricity of Vietnam (EVN), stood at around VND738 billion. The corporation is urgently completing projects and deploying capital for additional key projects. At the end of March 2018, the corporation submitted an equitization … [Read more...] about EVNGENCO 1 seeks to ensure power supply in dry season