Stronger capacity to manufacture and supply equipment

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in the energy and power sector, achievements in science and technology, technology transfer, and the mastery of new and advanced foreign technologies and equipment have made significant contributions to the development of power generation sources, power grids, and domestic power system control, dispatch, information, and telecommunications systems. These advancements have helped resolve many complex production issues and increase the localization rate of equipment in the power industry.

For example, in power generation development, technologies used in power plants are generally modern and advanced, featuring high levels of automation and aligned with global development standards. Power plants are equipped with digitalized measurement systems to support monitoring and control of key equipment; they are integrated with SCADA/DCS systems, computer systems, and software-based control solutions provided by leading global corporations such as Emerson Electric, ABB, and Yokogawa Electric; dedicated broadband telecommunications systems are deployed, along with shared enterprise management software such as PMIS and ERP, as well as diverse protection and metering systems supporting multiple connection standards.

For the transmission system, thanks to strengthened science and technology activities, domestic enterprises are now capable of manufacturing and supplying 220kV transmission transformers with various capacity ranges, as well as providing certain integrated 500kV transformers. In addition, they have mastered technologies for monitoring and controlling unmanned substations and have produced various components and accessories for transmission grid projects. An example is the project titled “Development of Equipment for Measurement, Monitoring, and Diagnosis of Low-Voltage Transformer Operating Conditions.”

The management and operation of the power system have been modernized through smart grid solutions, including remote control centers, unmanned substations, live-line maintenance, the application of Distribution Management Systems (DMS), completion of fault recorder systems for the 500kV grid, and pilot implementation of synchrophasor (phasor angle measurement) technology for real-time wide-area system monitoring. Other advancements include constructing multi-circuit transmission lines of the same or different voltage levels; standardizing the use of conductors, tower configurations, phase arrangements, multi-circuit and multi-voltage lines, and accessories; applying heat-resistant conductors and aluminum composite core conductors; deploying GIS substation technology; and upgrading SCADA systems.

Promoting the Application of Advanced Digital Technologies

Under Decision No. 2795/QD-BCT issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade promulgating the Strategy for Science, Technology, and Innovation to Support the Development of the Industry and Trade Sector to 2030, key orientations for research, development, application, and technology transfer to serve sectoral development have been clearly defined.

For the energy and renewable energy sector, priorities include research on technological innovation and modernization of power generation and grid equipment to enhance efficiency, save energy, reduce electricity production and supply costs, and protect the environment.

This also includes research and development of high-efficiency coal-fired power plant technologies (using ultra-supercritical – USC and advanced ultra-supercritical – A-USC steam parameters), as well as the application of modern, high-performance environmental protection systems to reduce emissions from thermal power plants, ensuring compliance with environmental standards, technical regulations, and legal requirements.

In addition, advanced and smart metering technologies are being applied to monitor customers’ electricity consumption, prevent losses in power business operations, support load forecasting research, and meet operational management requirements. Remote meter reading and data acquisition technologies are being deployed, along with distribution grid automation integrated with customer services and demand-side management.

In addition, research has been conducted on modularizing distribution substations and developing integrated mobile substations. Synchronized systems of medium-voltage protection relays, Distribution Automation Systems (DAS), Distribution Management Systems (DMS), and distribution grid SCADA have been built and deployed. Condition-based equipment diagnostics, online monitoring, and live-line maintenance technologies are being applied to enhance the quality of operation and maintenance of the power distribution system.

Efforts are also focused on researching, applying, and developing technologies for manufacturing energy equipment and utilizing new energy forms, renewable energy, smart energy, and energy efficiency solutions. This includes research, development, and integration of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and energy storage systems to gradually replace fossil fuel sources to the greatest extent possible. The sector is also expanding the application of waste-to-energy technologies using municipal solid waste, biomass, and solid waste in alignment with environmental protection and circular economy development. Furthermore, research, development, application, and pilot testing are being carried out for geothermal energy, wave energy, tidal energy, ocean current energy, and hydrogen energy technologies.

In recent years, the energy and power sector has successfully implemented numerous investment programs and projects applying modern technological innovations, enabling Vietnam’s power system operation to approach the standards of advanced countries worldwide.

Translator: Vân Ly