News

Urban Energy Challenges Raise Big Questions

Ho Chi Minh City, the largest metropolitan area in Vietnam with nearly 9 million residents and 2.2 million households, plays a central role in the country’s economy, culture, and scientific-technical development. Amid a rapidly growing electricity demand—especially in residential areas—ensuring a stable and continuous power supply is becoming increasingly critical.

Currently, Ho Chi Minh City relies heavily on thermal and hydropower plants located outside the city, with electricity transmitted through a high-voltage grid. Despite a total capacity exceeding 12,400 MW, the system faces risks due to this dependence on long-distance transmission. Meanwhile, rooftop solar energy adoption remains limited, with only around 14,000 systems installed (353.7 MWp), accounting for just 7% of the city's total electricity capacity.

Households consume up to 46% of Ho Chi Minh City's electricity—approximately 1.4 billion kWh per month. However, while solar power peaks during daylight hours, residential electricity demand is highest in the late afternoon and evening, leading to energy waste if no storage system is in place.

Illustration of a rooftop solar power installation for households

Economic Benefits and Energy Savings

Installing rooftop solar systems combined with battery storage is seen as an effective solution to maximize clean energy and deliver real savings for households.

A household consuming 800 kWh/month can save up to 570 kWh—about 71% of total usage—by installing a 5 kWp solar system with a 10 kWh battery. This translates to a monthly savings of up to VND 1.84 million, reducing electricity costs by nearly 80%.

Here’s an illustrative breakdown of monthly electricity costs for a household using 800 kWh/month before and after installing a 5 kWp solar system with 10 kWh storage:

    (*): Prices exclude VAT.

Rooftop solar helps households reduce their electricity bills while also easing the burden on the national power grid.

Contributing to ESG and Sustainable Development

If 50% of households in Ho Chi Minh City—about 1.1 million homes—installed rooftop solar systems with storage, the annual electricity output could exceed 7.5 billion kWh. This would help reduce more than 6 million tons of CO₂ emissions, save nearly 2.5 million tons of coal, and protect over 150 million trees annually—a remarkable impact on the environment, as shown in the statistics below:

These impressive figures highlight the environmental and social benefits of scaling up this solution.

• Environmental: Reduce emissions, conserve resources, address climate change.

• Social: Improve quality of life, promote clean energy access.

• Governance: Support local authorities in building green, clean, and smart urban models.

If you're looking for a long-term, green, and cost-effective energy solution for your home, contact us for consultation and support with system installation tailored to your needs.

CONTACT INFORMATION: PALMA SOLUTIONS CORPORATION

Head Office: 14 Street No. 5, Him Lam Urban Area, Tan Hung Ward, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City

Hotline: 093 1166 896

Email: info@palma.com.vn

Website: palma.com.vn 

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