Major agricultural firms to develop rooftop solar power

Agribusinesses De Heus Vietnam and Bel Ga JSC have signed agreements with Green Roof, a local rooftop solar power developer, to install rooftop solar power systems at their establishments in the next two years.

According to the agreements signed on Thursday, sides will set up rooftop solar systems of up to 20 MWp at 30 facilities of the two agribusinesses in 19 cities and provinces of Vietnam.

The move shows De Heus and Bel Ga’s commitments to low-emission and sustainable growth, and a contribution to Vietnam’s target of net-zero emissions by 2050.

The project, also the biggest rooftop solar power project in the Southeast Asian country so far this year, is scheduled to start in the second quarter and is set for completion in 2024, generating 28 million kWh of clean energy and reducing 22,500 tons of carbon dioxide emmisions annually.

Johan van den Ban, general director of De Heus Vietnam, said the firm would continue to engage in renewable energy, such as battery energy storage systems and floating solar power systems on fisheries farming areas. De Heus Vietnam is willing to participate in direct power purchase agreements upon the availability of this mechanism in Vietnam, he added.

Gabor Fluit, CEO Asia at Royal De Heus, emphasized the project would fulfill 20-25% of electricity demand at facilities run by De Heus and Bel Ga.

Dutch agribusiness De Heus, which entered Vietnam late 2008, operates 23 factories in the country, including 14 purchased from Masan Group in late 2021.

Bel Ga was established in 2013 with strong support from Belgium's Belgabroed Group and the Netherlands' De Heus Group, two major players in the poultry sector. The firm now operates four poultry farms and two hatcheries.

The installation capacity of rooftop solar power in Vietnam as of March 2 was estimated at 7,660 MW, or 9.65% of the total of all power sources, according to EVN's National Load Dispatch Center.