Proactively issuing the process of testing and recognizing the commercial operation date (COD)
In order to create favourable conditions for solar power investors to put the plants into commercial operation before 31 December 2020 - the deadline to enjoy FIT 2 prices - Vietnam Electricity Group has just issued Decision No. 1010/QD-EVN dated 10 July 2020 on Procedures for testing and recognizing “Commercial operation date” for wind and solar power plants. In particular, clearly defining the order, procedures, implementation steps; responsibilities of each unit in registering for testing and recognizing commercial operation date for solar power plants.
EVN always creates the most favourable conditions for commercial operation solar power generation plants
According to Decision No. 1010/QD-EVN, in order to register for COD testing, the generating unit must complete SCADA connection of the power plant before the date of testing; no later than 20 working days before the date of testing COD for accreditation, the generating unit shall send it to the competent dispatch authority having control rights and the electricity trading company the program for running trial of the power plant; no later than 03 working days before the expected date of testing and acceptance, the generating unit officially registers the testing and acceptance schedule with the dispatching authority.
Mr. Tran Dang Khoa - Head of EVN Electricity Market Department said that in 2019, EVN issued Decision No. 578/QD-EVN dated 10 May 2019 on the process of testing and recognizing “Commercial operation day” for wind and solar power plants. Thereby, the process has been successfully implemented in recognizing COD for 86 solar power plants to be put into operation before 30 June 2019 in a short time to ensure safety and in accordance with the law regulations, an unprecedented event in Vietnam's electricity system. However, Decision No. 578 together with the Prime Minister's Decision No. 11/2017-QD-TTg on the mechanism of encouraging the development of solar power projects in Vietnam has now expired from after 30 June 2019. In the context that there is not much time left until the end of 2020, EVN has been proactively and soon issued Decision No. 1010 to replace Decision No. 578 so that plants can understand and implement the testing and recognizing processes for “Commercial operation date”.
Under the Decision, within 01 working day from the date of receiving the registration schedule for testing, acceptance and the competent dispatching authority shall take the responsibility to resolve and send the form of testing and acceptance registration resolved to the generating unit. The dispatch authority has the right to change the test plan to ensure safe operation of the national electricity system and in accordance with the testing requirements, but must notify it to the generating unit, etc.
The content of the Process has been specifically informed to each investor through many meetings with investors in 2019 and 2020 for the goal that EVN will work closely with the investors and plan a reasonable testing to optimize allocation of time and resources to meet the investors’ requirements.
In parallel with the promulgation of the process, EVN will mobilize resources and human resources to conduct partially or entirely testing and recognizing COD for the investors. However, to effectively implement the work items, the investors need to register for early testing so that the National Load Dispatch Center will proactively arrange the time and manpower for the first energizing and COD testing for plants.
Ready to support investors 24/24
Mr. Nguyen Xuan Nguyen - Director of Solar Park 1,2,3,4 Solar Power Plant Control Center (Long An) highly appreciating EVN's support in recent years.
In order to create favourable conditions for investors, minimize intermediaries, EVN and units such as the National Load Dispatch Center, the Electricity Trading Company, etc., have actively applied IT in deploying processes and procedures. Typically, EVN has received COD registration documents of investors through the website http://ppa.evn.com.vn. The National Load Dispatch Center is put into operation the online service portal to send registration documents for initially energizing the renewable energy projects. The above applications are implemented by the units on a digitized basis, minimizing the procedures and travel time for investors.
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"To support EVN plants, many online groups are opened for 24/24 support such as the group of the National Load Dispatch Center or the Electricity Trading Company, etc., which is very useful for investors." - Mr. Nguyen Xuan Nguyen - Director of Solar Park 1,2,3,4 Solar Control Center (Long An).
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Besides, the units under EVN also create exchange groups through Viber App., with investors, ready to support, answer questions and enquiries from investors 24/24 hours.
For plants that have been put into operation, the allocation of capacity is ensured by the publicity, transparency and fairness; making full use of the load capacity of the lines, giving priority to renewable energy plants, in order to minimize the losses of investors.
The efforts by EVN and its affiliates during the process from the beginning of 2019 have been highly appreciated by investors. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Nguyen - Director of Solar Park 1,2,3,4 Solar Power Control Center (Long An) shared: Over the past time, the Solar Park has received a great support from EVN as well as units such as the National Load Dispatch Center, the Southern Electrical Dispatch Center, the Electricity Trading Company, the Southern Power Corporation in bringing two Solar Park 1.2 plants into operation. Commercial operation from June 2019. Currently, the remaining 2 plants are receiving such positive supports for COD in July 2020.
Mr. Ngo Son Hai - Deputy General Director of EVN said that from now until the end of 2020, about 36 power plants will be energized and put into commercial operation. Although the number of plants is not big, the energizing will be performed at the end of 2020. In order to facilitate the process of testing, energizing and putting into operation the plants, EVN and its member units shall arrange manpower to maximally support investors in the process of implementing the processes and procedures.