On Environmental Protection
Training on the Development of Renewable Energy at the Local Level in the Mekong Delta Region
Production process of biogas within farming communities.
HSF
In collaboration with the Dragon – Mekong Institute of Climate Change (part of Can Tho university), the foundation led a workshop programme from the 10th to the 11th of July. It was designed to address the pervasive problems regarding the supply of energy in the Mekong Delta region. The goal behind this programme was to increase public knowledge and understanding of renewable energy and to build on the capability of developing renewable energy within the communities that lie within the Mekong Delta region in an effort to alleviate the effects of climate change at the local level.
The programme was divided into four sections, the first of which addressed the fundamental knowledge behind renewable energy, such as where it can be found and the types of renewable energy. The second section addressed the advantages and disadvantages of renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind and hydropower. The third section addressed the development of biogases from farming communities, from the types of biogases that can be produced to the analysis of costs and investments towards biogas production. The fourth and final section addressed the preservation of energy in the community and among families, from small-scale models of renewable energy to the abilities and barriers involved in the development of renewable energy.
An example of a stove being powered by biogas.
HSF
To affirm the foundation’s commitment to tackling climate change and developing renewable energy within the Mekong Delta region, the head of Hanns Seidel Foundation office in Vietnam, Dr. Axel Neubert, made a speech during the programme which had the following words:
“The co-operation between HSF and DRAGON is one important pillar of our work in South-East-Asia. In the past years, our effective partnership has made a significant contribution to improve environment practices in the Mekong-Delta. In the past years our partnership has focused on renewable energy-based adaptation in particular. So, I hope that we will further strengthen this partnership and expand the level of co-operation with this activity.”
The biomass in turn produces the biogas needed for consumption.
HSF
The fruitful collaboration between HSF and the Dragon – Mekong Institute will remain vital for the protection of the local environment in the Mekong Delta region. The workshop programme that was conducted in early July is a major step in achieving this objective in the long term.