Under the current policy, the renewable power plants providing electricity to the national grid prior to June 30 will be able to sell electricity at 9.35 cent per kwh for 20 years.

As for the projects to join the market after that time, EVN will buy electricity from them at 6.67-7.09 cent per kwh. Power generators are racing against time to put their plants into operation before the historic moment.

It is expected that 88 solar power plants will become operational in the time from April to the end of June.

By the end of April 2019, Vietnam had only four solar power plants with the total capacity of 150 MW.

Meanwhile, by May 26, the figures had risen to 34 and 2,200 MW. The other 54 projects will connect the national grid in the time to come, which means that 10 plants join the grid each week.

“This is a record high figure in the history of Vietnam’s power industry,” said Nguyen Duc Ninh from the Power Regulatory Center, or A0.

For many reasons, most renewable power projects are located in the coastal areas from Binh Dinh in the central region to Vung Tau City in the south, and in the southwest.

Thanks to the ideal climate conditions, Binh Thuan and Ninh Thuan are overwhelming other cities/provinces in attracting investments into the field.

The Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) reported that by March 2019, the total capacity of the solar power plants Ninh Thuan had committed to sell to EVN had reached 1,812 MW.

Meanwhile, Binh Thuan had 1,222 MW, Tay Ninh 799 MW, Phu Yen 414 MW and Long An 366 MW.

However, if considering the number of projects and total investment capital, Binh Thuan is leading the renewable power sector.

As of March 2019, Binh Thuan had 94 projects with total capacity of 5,347.72 MW and investment capital of VND137 trillion.

The first project that successfully connected the national grid in Binh Thuan is at Vinh Tan Power Center, developed by a subsidiary of EVN.

While most renewable power projects in Binh Thuan province are solar, Ninh Thuan has wind power as well. To date, it has licensed 43 solar and wind power projects.

Regarding wind power projects, 12 projects have been licensed and 16 others have been approved for investment with the total capacity of 800 MW, capitalized at VND28 trillion in total. Of these, three projects have finished the first phase of construction and put into commercial operation with the total capacity of 117 MW.

Kim Chi 

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