In a recent proposal sent to the city People’s Committee, the Department of Industry and Trade suggested having the photovoltaic systems at 107 offices of various departments and agencies, 15 public hospitals and 35 public schools.

The entire system is expected to have a generation capacity of 9,400 kilowatt peak (kWp).

The project will use funds from the state budget and "other legal sources" and be carried out in five years starting this year, the proposal says.

The department calculates that the average investment cost of a rooftop solar power system is currently about VND15-25 million per kWp and it can be recouped in five to nine years.

Electricity consumption in HCMC accounted for 15 percent of the nation’s total and increased by an average of 7 percent per year in 2013-2019, the department notes. Therefore, it is necessary to invest in solar power systems at public offices and ease pressure on power sources, and at the same time, reduce greenhouse effect and carbon dioxide emissions, it argues.

HCMC has already piloted the installation of solar power systems at the People's Committee buildings of districts 4, 8, 10, 12, and Phu Nhuan. This has resulted in cost savings while helping protect the environment.

According to the HCMC Electricity Corporation, as of last year 2020, the city had nearly 14,300 rooftop solar power installations with a total capacity of more than 365 MWh.