The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade aims to install rooftop solar panels at 440 headquarters of administrative agencies and public service units in the city for a combined cost of approximately VND650 billion (US$25.6 million), heard a press briefing on Thursday.

According to Nguyen Phuong Duy from the municipal department, the draft plan for the first phase of a rooftop solar installation project is complete.

These rooftop solar panels will generate a total capacity of 43.3 MWp.

Through the project, 65 headquarters of military units, 72 police stations, 57 headquarters of hospitals, and 246 other administrative agencies will be equipped with rooftop solar panels.

The city expects to break even in five or seven years through a reduction in electricity consumption bills at these public offices.

The southern metropolis has been piloting a rooftop solar panel installation program at some public offices, such as the headquarters of the municipal Department of Industry and Trade. The system, with a capacity of 21 kWp, carried a price tag of some VND550 million ($21,600).

Before the installation, the department paid VND344.4 million ($13,530) for its electricity bills in 2020.

Its power consumption cost VND199.7 million ($7,850) in 2021 after rooftop solar panels were installed at its headquarters.

After being equipped with a rooftop solar system, the District 3 People’s Committee has been able to save VND93 million ($3,660) each year.

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