Vietnam’s Largest Rooftop Solar Project for Taiwanese Footwear Giant Begins Commercial Operations

Vietnnamnews

HCM CITY — In 2021, a Taiwanese company, one of the world’s largest footwear manufacturers, had announced it is installing rooftop solar systems at its plants in Viet Nam to ensure it uses 100 per cent renewable energy. Until now, its rooftop solar system in Vinh Long province, developed by a Vietnam company, has come into operation, representing Vietnam’s growing role in sustainable industrial development. With a capacity of 37.6 MWP, it is the largest system of its kind installed anywhere in the world.

A rooftop solar system in a footwear manufacturer in Vinh Long Province.

The project incorporates high-quality European components, including ABB (Fimer) inverters, JJ-Lapp Solar Cables from Germany, and Schletter mounting structures. Tier-1 solar PV modules were selected to ensure maximum efficiency, and quality assurance was handled by RINA’s regional office in Singapore, benchmarking the system against international standards. 

In a rigorous global selection process, the investor & developer from Vietnam was chosen from 13 global contractors across Europe, Asia, the US, and Australia. It attributed its choice to the Vietnamese developer’s rich experience, strong capacity and appreciation of the legal and financing challenges, which has enabled it to successfully instal rooftop solar systems in Viet Nam.

The system is able to offset 1,187 tonnes of CO2 over a span of 25 years, which is equivalent to planting approximately 152,000 hectares of trees. It also reduces the temperature in the factory below by around 2.7 per cent.

The investment in the rooftop solar system shows the company’s efforts to create a better working environment for its more than 50,000 employees and further enhance its leadership in the footwear industry.

Further co-operation

After the successful installation of the Vinh Long solar rooftop plant, the Taiwanese company said there would be more projects targeting sustainable development.

The two companies plan to bring innovations and social responsibility to Viet Nam including 100 per cent use of renewable energy. They will provide the footwear producer’s 50,000 workers in Vinh Long with electric motorbikes.

The two companies will also collaborate to build affordable commercial houses for workers in Vinh Long.

The project will see the construction of 50,000 French-standard houses, including around 20,000 in the first phase beginning in July this year.

The housing project will include a number of amenities like parks and modern infrastructure. Notably, renewable energy will be used there, and wastes will be fully recycled.

The tie-up between the two companies will benefit not only the footwear producer’s workers but also others in the local area since Vinh Long is home to many industrial parks with a huge workforce, which has a high demand for housing.

https://vietnamnews.vn/brand-info/862759/taiwanese-footwear-producer-ties-up-vietnamese-company-for-renewable-energy-solutions.html