Energy demand in Vietnam may not rise as much as 13-14 percent annually, but may actually reduce if smart energy sources are utilised, said specialists at the recent Vietnam-Japan Workshop on Smart Community held in Hanoi.
From initiative…
Smart community is constituted by many smart infrastructures like smart transport, smart society, and the development of new energy and renewable energy, coupled with the effective use of fossil energy to supply the most efficient energy.
The East Asia Smart Community Initiative (EA-SCI) was initiated by Mr Banri Kaieda, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan (METI), at the 16th Consultative Meeting of ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) in 2010. Accordingly, ASEAN countries, Vietnam in particular, need to develop a smart community, smart energy systems and smart social infrastructure for a sustainable society.
Hoang Quoc Vuong, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of Vietnam, said: “In Vietnam, industrial parks create a big source of income for the State Budget and generate jobs for millions of workers on the one hand, and have a lot of potential for energy conservation on the other. Steel and cement producers can save up to 20 - 30 percent of energy used. Not only manufacturing industries, but big cities can also economise energy.”
“I hope the smart community model will soon be deployed throughout the country. This will be the basis for Vietnam to deploy better energy conservation and efficiency in the coming time,” said Deputy Minister Vuong.
Although the concept of smart community is relatively new in Vietnam and most of its applications have not been deployed, Mr Hidekaru Takakura, General Secretary of the Japan Smart Community Alliance (JSCA), still believes in the applicability of this initiative. “Building a smart community is also a move to fight against climate change and overcome energy shortage in the future," said Hidekaru Takakura.
…to deployment
Japan is assisting Vietnam to build and deploy demonstration projects aimed at realising the concept of smart community, which will contribute to stable power supply, energy efficiency, renewable energy and resource conservation in Vietnam.
Previously, a Letter of Intent (LOI) related to exploring collaboration in renewable energy, resource saving, energy efficiency and smart community was concluded between the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Japanese New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (NEDO) on January 26, 2011. In implementing the contents of this LOI, JSCA expressed its readiness to support and constructively participate in facilitating smart community technologies in Vietnam. This support will include drafting or implementing master plans for industrial parks or urban cities, and exchanging information on important issues relevant to the international development of smart community technologies.
In light of this support, the Ministry of Industry and Trade shall invite JSCA to examine possible ways to facilitate the smooth development of smart community technologies in Vietnam. Cooperation with private businesses shall also be encouraged in this regard.
METI, NEDO and JSCA will facilitate these activities in close coordination with the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Japanese experts surveyed many industrial parks and factories in Vietnam to build experimental smart community projects. Vietnam and Japan will reach agreement on pilot projects to be deployed in Vietnam in the next stage.
Huong Giang
Vietnamese
