VCCI has contributed its idea to MOIT’s draft decree on rooftop solar power development. The draft decree only covers installation of rooftop solar power systems that cannot be sold to other institutions and individuals.

VCCI said its members have raised a question whether the purchase or sale of rooftop solar power among the institutions and individuals of the same buildings is covered by the decree.  

In this case, there are many institutions and individuals in one building, and some of them install rooftop solar power systems to sell power to others in the same building. This means that the electricity is just transmitted among the people and not through the national grid.

VCCI believes that it would be better to encourage buying/selling electricity among institutions and individuals of the same buildings. It has asked the compilation agency to amend the draft decree by allowing the electricity sale/purchase under this mode (without transmission via the national grid).

The draft decree says that rooftop solar power systems have to register with provincial people’s committees though they are not connected with the national grid. 

On this issue, VCCI commented that the requirement is not necessary, because rooftop solar power systems just comprise small solar panels, serving electric equipment that doesn’t operate continually, such as water pumps and electricity storage devices.

VCCI emphasized that this type of rooftop solar power does not have negative impact on the national electricity grid safety and or any restrictions in total capacity. Therefore, there is no need for the state to control the systems with a new legal procedure.

If rooftop solar power systems of this type need to be managed to ensure safety for construction or fire prevention, the management will be done by existing regulations.

So, the decree needs to clearly stipulate that solar power systems that are not connected with the national grid will not have to follow procedures to make registrations.

Under the draft decree, the rooftop solar power systems that connect with the national grid must have capacity restricted at no more than 2,600MW as per the eighth national power development plan (Plan 8). VCCI also thinks the tentative regulation is unreasonable.

Luong Bang