Long Phan is a Young Energy Expert. He works at SNV Netherlands Development Organisation in Vietnam. While Long is under the traineeship of YEP, the YEP programme covers part of his salary. He shares his experiences so far with us.
Hello, my name is Long Phan. I joined YEP Programmes in 2020. I work as an Energy Data Analyst at SNV Netherlands Development Organisation in Vietnam. Their Biogas Programme aims to improve the livelihood and quality of life of rural people. It does this by promoting the market and non-market benefit of the biogas sector. For this programme, I collect and analyse on-site and off-site data. I develop data-processing models and present my insights.
The situation in Vietnam
People in developing countries are facing more and more challenges when it comes to energy for cooking and lighting. Their access to traditional cooking fuels is declining. Commercial fuels are expensive and the supply is unreliable. They also depelete natural resources and damage the environment. The smoke from burning solid biomass fuels can cause breathing and eye problems.
In Vietnam, farmers raise 26.9 million pigs. The pigs cause sanitary and environmental pollution problems. Biogas technology can turn animal manure into a renewable, reliable and affordable source of energy. Biogas helps deal with environmental, health and energy supply challenges. It directly contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate action.
The Biogas Programme
The Biogas Programme started in 2003. It has now installed 181,683 digesters in 55 provinces, supporting more than 800,000 people. The clean energy that a digester produces can be used for stoves for cooking, as well as lamps and boilers. Generating biogas also creates a valuable fertiliser by-product that increases farmers’ yields.
The impact so far is impressive: using biogas saves 500,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year. It also preserves 15,935 hectares of forest; that is 25,000 football pitches. I am really happy that I can contribute to this programme.
My plans for the future
I gained a lot of knowledge from the YEP training programme. This will help me with my plan to develop a solar photovoltaic and agriculture combination system for Vietnam.
Taking part in the YEP Programme means I am part of a large talent leader community. This means I can learn from and share with Young Experts all over the world. This creates opportunities for cross-border collaboration.
Would you like to know more?
Do you want to learn more about YEP Energy and the benefits for your organisation? Or are you a young energy professional and would you like to find out how you can take part? Visit the YEP Energy page.