• Donor: REPIC Platform
  • Project lead: Center for International Industrial Solutions under Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) – Switzerland
  • Implementing partners:
    VNCPC
    Kaskad-E GmbH (Switzerland)
    ZHAW Institute of Natural Resource Sciences (Switzerland)
    REM Tec s.r.l (Italy)
    Institute for Circular Economy Development (ICED) under Vietnam National
    University Ho Chi Minh City
    Nghe An Tea Development JSC. under Song Lam Cooperation
    Vina Viet Hien One Member Co., Ltd
    Soils and Fertilizers Research Institute (SFRI) under Vietnam Academy of
    Agricultural Sciences (VAAS)
    Bach Khoa Solar Energy Development and Investment JSC. (SolarBK)
  • Duration: 01/2023 – 02/2025
  • Sector: Renewable energy, green tea
  • Region: Vietnam
  • Contact: Do Thi Diu
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Tel: (84-24) 3868 4849 – ext 32

The proposed project aims to assess the feasibility and to recommend the imple mentation roadmap for the application of a pilot integrated agrivoltaics, pyrolysis and biochar system in the tea-producing area of Anh Son district, Nghe An province, towards building a sustainable tea farming and production model according to the circular economy model for Vietnam.

Main activities of the service:
The project consists of 03 technical work packages (WP) and 01 integrated one. Within each WP, knowledge transfer takes place between the Swiss/European and Vietnamese partners, with the active participation of the local private sector. Specifically:

  • WP 1: Application of pyrolysis technology for heat and biochar production from acacia wood chips. For this purpose, the PPV-300 pyrolysis technology of Vina Viet Hien Co. will be adapted to produce heat for tea leaf drying. Electricity from the photovoltaic unit will be used among others to support these processes;
  • WP 2: Assessment of (i) biochar properties and quality, (ii) soil health before and after biochar amendment (focus on carbon storage, water retention capacity and nutrient content), and (iii) impact on tea quality and yield;
  • WP 3: Application of agrivoltaics to provincial tea growing settings (slope, solar radiation, soil, etc.) and assessment of impacts on tea quality and yield;
  • WP 4: Knowledge integration, business model design and implementation roadmap development based on inputs from WPs 1 to 3.

Activities in 2023

  • Taked part in project kick-off meeting at the end of 02/2023;
  • Participated in a field trip in the project area from 05-10/02/2023 in Anh Son District to meet and exchange information to better understand project activities and the areas of expertise of each partner in charge. The project team worked with the Board of Directors and other representatives of Nghe An Tea Development JSC, visited various locations and met farmers and local authorities to gain knowledge about the current status and production needs, specific characteristics of tea farming and promote the project at the local level;
  • Participated in a study tour to learn from the experiences of international partners operating in the field of renewable energy (pyrolysis technology, agro-photolysis) and organic production in Switzerland and Italy taking place on 03-09/09/2023; and
  • Supported Vina Viet Hien Company in deploying the pyrolysis work package (WP 1) and reporting the results to the project team.