Feasibility of solar hot water systems in Vietnam

This study describes the prospects for solar hot water systems in Vietnam. Changes in domestic energy consumption, both in terms of quantity and patterns of usage, particularly the increase in electricity use for hot water systems, are expected. VIETSIM, a computer program for simulating solar hot water systems in Vietnam will be described. This program has been validated by comparing the results of this program with those from the well-known TRNSYS program and shown to be highly reliable. The feasibility of SHWS will be studied for both the domestic and commercial sectors. For the domestic sector, the feasibility of SHWS will be studied for medium size families in three locations, representing the main climatic types in this country. The optimum criteria for designing SHWS in this sector are also investigated. For the commercial sector, a case of a hotel/office building is analysed and it is shown that the application of SHWS is very feasible due to high electricity prices for the commercial sector. With the natural advantages of high solar intensity, the social advantages of having plentiful and cheap human resources, and an economic environment with high energy and capital inflation, the use of solar hot water systems in this country can be very favourable if the government has the correct policies to encourage this application. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.