A view of solar panels of the Cat Hiep solar power plant in Cat Hiep commune of Phu Cat district, Binh Dinh province (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – With its many incentives for cleanenergy development, the Government is making solar power projects moreattractive than ever.
Almost two years since it was issued, Prime MinisterNguyen Xuan Phuc’s Decision No.11/2017/QD-TTg on mechanisms to encourage thedevelopment of solar power projects in Vietnam has created a magnet forinvestors in this field.
Last April, a complex of three solar powerplants with the total capacity of 330 MWp was inaugurated in the south centralprovince of Ninh Thuan. Invested in by BIM Energy of BIM Group and AC Energy ofthe Philippines’s Ayala Corp., it is Southeast Asia’s biggest solar powercomplex at present.
In January, the Solar 1 factory of the BP SolarJSC in Ninh Thuan officially generated electricity for the national grid. With the capacityof 46MWp, it is designed to produce some 75 million kWh each year.
Aside from big investors, solar powerdevelopment has also attracted many households.
With just a few rooftop solar panels, manyhouseholds have been able to generate enough electricity not just for daily use,but also to put towards the national grid. Solar power, bought at 2,134 VND(0.09 USD) per kWh, has become a source of income for a number of families.
Nguyen Ngoc Tuong Vi, a division head at the HoChi Minh City Power Corporation, said the firm has connected 1,432 rooftopsolar power systems of local households with the city’s grid. They have thetotal capacity of 17.46MWp, generating more than 4 million kWh to thegrid.
The sector has spent more than 8.5 billion VNDon buying the electricity from locals, she noted.
Deputy Director General of the Southern PowerCorporation Nguyen Van Ly said his firm had linked more than 1,290 household rooftopsystems with the national grid as of mid-May. With their panels’ total capacityof 20,299kWp, they have generated nearly 3 million kWh of power.
He added that the corporation will step upcommunications to encourage people to install more rooftop solar panels in thetime ahead.
According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade,121 solar power projects have been added to the national and provincialelectricity development plans. They are expected to have the combined capacityof 6,100 MW before 2020.–VNA
VNA
