'GREEN ENERGY' FROM THE ROOF OF DAIRY FARM AND BAGASSE

Green energy from the roof of a high-tech farm

With a relatively high intensity of solar radiation compared to the world, an average of about 4.6 kWh/m2/day, the average number of sunny hours a year from 2,500 to 3,000 hours, Vietnam is considered a potential country. major in solar energy development.

In 2019, the Government approved the National Program on economical and efficient use of energy for the period of 2019 - 2030. Pioneer in responding to the Government's program and implementing the renewable energy development strategy to save energy. To save fossil energy use, contribute to environmental protection, reduce production costs towards the goal of sustainable development, in 2020, TH Group has invested in developing solar power from the rooftops of the cluster. world's largest farm in Nghe An (certified record in 2020).

The solar power generation battery system installed on the roofs of TH dairy farms since June and completed at the end of September 2020 has been connected to the national electricity grid. Green electricity completely from nature has been met since August 1, sometimes reaching 1/5 of the electricity consumption demand of TH farm.

Currently, 6 out of 9 farms in the cluster have installed solar panels. It is expected that from now until the end of 2021, the roofs of 3 farms and a food factory will be "covered" with solar cells.

According to calculations from specialized data analysis software, each year TH's solar power system can produce about 4,281 MW. With the amount of solar power it can produce itself, TH will not have to use electricity from fossil energy sources, contributing to reducing emissions of 2,100 tons of CO2.

Not only producing electricity, the solar power system on TH farm's roof also acts as a heat barrier, cooling down the farm's roofs, contributing to further improving the cool and healthy living environment conditions. for dairy cows, contributing to the production of quality milk flow.

Creating green energy from the "roofs" of high-tech farms, TH continues to be consistent with the principle of "Dear Mother Nature, she will give you everything" with the vision and mission of "Do not maximize profit but towards harmony between interests", sustainable development, realizing the strategy of developing a green economy and a circular economy.  

"In my mind, sustainable development is always associated with Mother Nature, following nature. Therefore, let's cherish Mother Nature, who will give us everything!"

         *Founder, Chairman of Strategy Council - TH Group, Labor Hero Thai Huong

In the context that the power industry is under a lot of pressure to ensure electricity supply, the development of renewable energy projects, including solar power, rooftop solar power is considered one of the solutions to contribute Diversify energy sources, especially clean energy sources, improve power supply capacity for economic and social development needs, cut greenhouse gas emissions, protect ensure national energy security.

Electricity produced from bagasse, production by-products

Before developing electricity from solar energy, for many years now, few people know that TH has produced electricity from bagasse - a by-product of Nghe An Sugar Company Limited (NASU) - a member of the Group TH.

Turning bagasse into electricity, for many years now, 100% of the electricity used for all operations of the NASU factory is self-produced, the rest is connected to the national grid and sold to the State. Building a circular economy model, for NASU, all waste and by-products have value.

At NASU, cogeneration technology from bagasse has been incorporated into the production process. The amount of bagasse and sludge from the process of pressing sugarcane to get sugar is used as fuel for the furnace. Bagasse is used as fuel for steam production. Steam with high pressure from this process will push the turbine to rotate and run the generator, from which electricity is generated to serve the needs of the plant.

Not only can bagasse, sludge and waste gas from the production process be used to generate electricity, NASU also applies other models and methods to "360° green" the operation, production, protect its environment.

Optimizing the zero-waste production process, NASU sets out the motto "Trash is also a resource". All waste is reused without discharging into the environment.

TH Group's NASU sugar factory is also a pioneer in applying ecological agricultural methods, on sugarcane fields in the planning area of 18,500 hectares of raw materials. Unused parts of the plant such as leaves and roots will be kept and left to decompose naturally, creating a layer of cover on the soil. With this method, the soil is protected, kept moist and enriched with nutrients naturally, without the use of chemical fertilizers.

In addition, the ash from the process of burning bagasse becomes fertilizer for sugarcane fields. Molasses , a by-product from the centrifugation of sugarcane juice, is used in the processing of feed for dairy cows or sold to businesses in other manufacturing industries such as MSG, wine, beer, and alcohol.

NASU is one of the four largest sugar production companies in Vietnam that has been practicing respecting "Mother Nature" for more than 20 years when restoring habitats for trees and animals, not using Using chemicals to treat wastewater, applying a circulating lake model, turning waste into energy, etc.

"On NASU's 60-hectare campus, natural habitat regeneration is taking place. Grass is not mowed except in walkways and important areas. Plants die to rot naturally on the soil as a shelter for insects. The fruit on the tree is for the birds to eat. Currently, there are up to 41 species of birds residing here.

Environment is one of the 6 "pillars" of the sustainable development policy of TH Group. Over the years, TH has come up with many solutions, initiatives, green and circular production models to carry out environmental protection activities. Producing electricity from the sun or energy from by-products in the production process are just two of many sustainable development activities that TH Group has been implementing. "

Source: Hainan - Nong San Viet