EVN is making great efforts in releasing generated renewable energy capacity
In his opening remarks to the conference, General Director of EVN Tran Dinh Nhan said that over the past time, although EVN had regularly monitored the development of solar power, actively grasped information and promptly worked with investors (since 2018), but in fact, there were still obstacles and inconsistencies between generation and grid development.
Although renewable energy (RE) had been always prioritized to be generated at maximum capacity, but out of more than 4,500MW of wind and solar power which had been put into operation before 30 June 2019, 440MW capacity had to be reduced in generation, currently. EVN has been coordinating with relevant ministries and branches to implement solutions to accelerate projects releasing capacity. It is expected that, in the third quarter of 2020, EVN will release all of this capacity, earlier than the targeted plan.
The feed-in tariff (FIT) mechanism for wind power will end in November 2021. Therefore, in order to maximize the efficiency of wind power projects, EVN expects investors to discuss and share frankly their need in order to coordinate closely and synchronously with EVN in solving difficulties and obstacles.
Speaking at the conference, investors highly appreciated EVN’s efforts in implementing power grid projects aimed at releasing RE capacity over the past time, especially in the context of difficulties in site clearance.
Investors thanked EVN for having promptly organized this conference for investors to get the information. One of their concerns was that a lot wind power projects would be added in the plan in the near future might cause overload to the transmission grid system. Therefore, EVN would have to accelerate the progress of construction of transmission lines in coordination with wind power projects; at the same time, it is recommended the Ministry of Industry and Trade should consider and supplement the planning for appropriate projects to avoid overloading cases, as caused by solar power projects in the recent years.
Information exchange and share should be made
In addition to 9 wind power projects that have been granted a commercial operation certificate (COD), there are still 31 projects (with a total capacity of 1,645MW) with signed power purchase agreements (PPA) but have not been granted a COD, as reported in EVN’s Electricity Market Department. In which, as calculated by A0, conditions for capacity releasing are guaranteed as committed in the signed PPA. Specifically, for COD projects in 2020, overload occurred in areas of Tra Vinh, Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan provinces; good release are ensured in other areas. Overload for COD 2021 projects may only occur in areas of Binh Thuan and Ninh Thuan provinces, other areas are at normal mode.
A large number of wind power investors across the country attended the conference - Photo: Gia Hieu
In addition, there are currently 59 projects with added planning until 2025 without signed power purchase agreements, with a total capacity of about 2,700MW. Calculations showed that capacity release in Phu Yen area is slightly overloaded; capacity release in Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan areas is overloaded; capacity in Quang Tri area will be well released when 220kV Lao Bao substation and 220kV Lao Bao - Dong Ha transmission line are implemented; the remaining areas ensure proper release.
Therefore, EVN kindly requires investors to actively negotiate on power connection and sign power purchase agreements with EVN in order to ensure the project progress since the application time of FIT price will expire soon (November 2021), especially projects located in areas with good capacity release; coordinate with EVN to conduct tests and to grant COD, etc. Along with that, wind power investors also should improve their published quality and their forecast generation capacity; comply strictly with operating regulations/ requirements, etc.
For projects waiting for additional planning, EVN proposed the Ministry of Industry and Trade to give priority to considering additional planning of projects that ensure capacity release, etc.
Investors should coordinate closely with and provide regularly information to EVN about implementation progress of their projects. On its side, EVN will also publicize information on construction investment. A synchronous and smooth coordination should be made by and between both sides.