The combined model of cucumber production under the solar array of Mr. Chau Hon’s family brings a profit of 200,000 VND/day. Photo: Hong Diem Sustainable development model In 2018, the Green Innovation Development Center (GreenID) conducted research and put into practice a model combining agricultural production and solar power. According to GreenID, the model is designed according to the standards of rooftop solar power installed on construction sites, greenhouses planted under the guidance of Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) with a capacity of 45kwp installed on 400 square meter area. With a capital of over 900 million VND, the model will be completed and connected to the power grid in December 2020. To ensure plant efficiency, below the photovoltaic panels are designed at a distance of 1-2m. On average, the system produces 103kwh of electricity per day. In the first 3 months of 2021, 4,471kwh of electricity will be produced from this model (equivalent to 22 million VND). This is the first model with the participation of 3 parties (people, businesses and non-profit organizations). Accordingly, the enterprise will withdraw support capital in the first 10 years, then will hand over the entire system to GreenID and households participating in the model. After 20 years, the model will be handed over to households for management. The installation of solar panels above combined with growing vegetables and colors below not only creates additional income from selling electricity, but also makes the most of the arable land area, resolving conflicts in the use of resources. raw land. In fact, the crops grown underneath the electric panels have higher yields and better product quality. The model is expected to open up new directions for local agriculture. Truong Kien Tho, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of An Giang province, said that this is a model that brings dual benefits, when combining agricultural production with solar power, helping people have clean electricity. , develop local agricultural production, and bring stable income for farmers. Open up a new direction Realizing the economic benefits that the model brings, Mr. Chau Hon (40 years old), from An Hoa hamlet, Chau Lang commune, Tri Ton district, An Giang province boldly and the research team developed the model on the land of family. From the beginning of 2021 up to now, the research team has cooperated with the project team and Mr. Hon’s family to experiment with water spinach and cucumber plants to calculate the appropriate level of cover under the solar panels and compare. with growing plants outside. The results show that, grown according to the above model, both plants grow well and give higher yields than those grown outside. “The research results of the pilot model will be documented to share with stakeholders and promote the process of promulgating appropriate policies for the development of a combined model of agricultural production and solar power. God. We will survey and replicate the model in areas with suitable conditions in An Giang province,” said Mr. Truong Kien Tho. Mr. Chau Hon excitedly said: “Compared to growing outside, cucumbers are grown under shaded solar panels, with very few pests and diseases, the plants grow well, the fruit setting rate is high, the fruit is even and the fruit is uniform. beautiful, yield higher than growing cucumber outside about 30%. On average, every day, I sell about 30-40 kg for 6,000 VND/kg, I earn about 200,000 VND, much more leisurely than rice production. Ms. Pham Thi Nguyet, Vice Chairman of Chau Lang Commune People’s Committee said, Chau Lang is a mountainous commune with special difficulties with more than 62% of the population being Khmer, the poverty rate is still over 3.4%. People mainly depend on agricultural production. The development of agriculture in combination with solar power has initially helped farmers change their traditional farming practices and adapt to new farming techniques to create dual incomes on the same land area. This is a model that can help many farmers get out of poverty and become well-off. “However, the replication of the model faces many difficulties due to high investment costs, the arable land of many households in the commune is far from the national power transmission line, so at present, this model has only been implemented. experience with Mr. Chau Hon’s family. With the benefits that the model brings, hopefully in the near future, there will be policies to develop this model” – Ms. Nguyet pondered.

Stemming from the research on the model combining agricultural production and solar power in 2018, the Green Innovation and Development Center (GreenID) continues to do field research to pilot the model in An Giang province. The selected place is the cultivated land of Mr. Chau Hon’s family, Khmer household in An Hoa hamlet (Chau Lang commune, Tri Ton). The model was implemented by GreenID and Climate Sense Co., Ltd. (Climate Sense) from May 2020, with the support of the Management Board of the Sustainable Energy Development Project in An Giang province, Department of Agriculture and Development. Tri Ton district rural area and Chau Lang Commune People’s Committee. The model is designed according to the standards of rooftop solar power installed on construction works, tree-growing houses and instructions of EVN (Vietnam Electricity) with a capacity of 45Kwp, installed on an area of ​​400m2. of Mr. Chau Hon’s family. The model is completed and the grid is connected in December 2020. To ensure the efficiency of the plants underneath, the solar panels are designed with the right spacing, to ensure the growth of the plant variety. This is considered the first model with tripartite cooperation (people, businesses and non-profit organizations). The benefit sharing mechanism is discussed, agreed and harmonized among the participants. Agricultural production and sub-system farming activities are calculated and tested as soon as the system is completed with a number of short-term crops to assess growth and economic efficiency of the system. paradigm. The solar model associates agricultural production with double efficiency According to GreenID, the profit from the model will be divided among the parties according to the proportion of capital contribution invested. The disbursement period for Climate Sense is in the first 10 years because Climate Sense capital is meant to support initial investment. After 10 years, the whole system will be handed over to GreenID and households for management and use. After 20 years, GreenID will hand over to households full ownership. This model is expected to bring many multilateral financial benefits to the participants and facilitate as well as a typical model to call for more investors to expand. Farmers are excited Since commissioning in early 2021, the power generation portion is monitored remotely on the phone application. As recorded, the sunniest day, the model produces about 246Kwh of electricity and the lowest is 43Kwh on the day. On average, the system produces 103 kWh of electricity per day (as of April 7, 2021). Every month, electricity will record the indexes and payout on the amount of electricity sold to the investor’s account. From January to March 2021, the project has sold more than 4,471 kWh of electricity, equivalent to over VND 22 million. In this joint venture model, all participants benefit from the project. All profits earned from the sale of electricity to EVN will be distributed to the parties to the investment according to the profit sharing structure agreed upon by the parties in the joint venture cooperation contract. Joining the model, Mr. Chau Hon’s family and the project planted some new crops to test new crops for research. From January to April 2021, the research team collaborated with the project team and farmers to experiment with water spinach and cucumber to calculate the suitability of plants under solar panels and compare them with planting. outside. In fact, plants in the shade under solar panels grow well because they retain moisture, avoid direct sunlight due to extremely sunny weather and improved farming techniques. “I planted cucumber from February to 2021, the plants grown in a greenhouse under the panels outperform the control field outside, the fruiting rate is quite stable. Currently, my family harvests more than 30kg of cucumber per day. The fruit has a nice design and is long, fresh and delicious, highly appreciated by customers ”- Mr. Chau Hon said excitedly. Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Truong Kien Tho said that the combination of agricultural production and solar power is a new model, showing initial efficiency. “When looking at the pictures of the panels covering the agricultural land, many people think it is impossible to cultivate. However, when choosing suitable crops, productivity and quality are higher. In the same arid land, farmers can keep an income from farming while also earning a monthly electricity bill. This is a model that can help many farmers to escape poverty sustainably and get better-off ”- Mr. Tho assessed. The model of installing solar cells combining agricultural production below helps generate additional revenue from selling solar power, making the most of arable land to increase income, and reduce conflicts in use. use of land resources. Some crops benefit from increased coverage, resulting in higher yields and better product quality

Inauguration of a model combining agricultural production and solar power. The model will be deployed from May 2020, completed and connected to the grid in December 2020, exploiting electricity from the beginning of 2021. Solar power system with a capacity of 45kwp, installed on an area of ​​400m2, Below is a plant membrane house. Photovoltaic panels are designed with suitable spacing, ensuring the growth of plants. On average, the system produces 103kwh of electricity per day. From January to March 2021, the project has sold more than 4,471kwh of electricity, equivalent to more than VND 22 million. Underneath the panel system, farmers experimentally planted cucumbers. Cucumbers grown in the model had a higher fruiting rate than the outside control field. The fruits were long, beautiful, and the average fruit was harvested more than 30kg per day. Mr. Truong Kien Tho, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of An Giang province, said that this is the first model of combining agriculture – solar power with a tripartite cooperation between people, businesses and teams. non-profit organizations are conducted in An Giang. The model helps farmers have dual income sources, increases production efficiency in a sustainable direction. The positive test results have proved the suitability and feasibility for replication. Farmers grow cucumbers in a net house, with solar panels above. Delegates visit the model.