EVNSPC delegation inspecting power assurance work in Truong Sa (Spratly Islands) in May 2024
Developing renewable energy systems in the Spratly Islands
Vietnam Electricity (EVN) and Southern Power Corporation (EVNSPC) always consider the power supply to the island areas as an important political task. In particular, for Truong Sa island district, EVN has assigned EVNSPC and Ninh Thuan Power Company to take over the clean energy system on the islands since August 2017.
EVNSPC has closely coordinated with the Navy to repair, maintain, and service the power systems on the islands and platforms. The Corporation and its affiliated units such as Ninh Thuan Power Company, Ba Ria - Vung Tau Power Company, and units under the Navy regularly exchange information on the operational status of clean energy systems; provide training and guidance on the operation of clean energy systems, etc.
Kien Binh - Phu Quoc 220kV Line
The miracle of bringing electricity to the islands…
At the end of 2001, Phu Quoc island district (Kien Giang) only had a diesel power station with a capacity of about 3MW, supplying power to 4,252 customers in Dong Duong town and An Thoi commune, with an annual output of less than 6 million kWh. Because it is powered by oil, the cost of electricity on the island district is very high, making it difficult to ensure enough minimum electricity for daily life. In early 2002, Electricity Company 2 (now Southern Power Corporation - EVNSPC) took over the diesel power station and power grid on Phu Quoc island from Kien Giang province and invested in the power source and grid system.
By 2012, electricity had been delivered to most communes and towns across the island district with 96km of medium-voltage lines, 89km of low-voltage lines, and 192 distribution substations with a total capacity of 21,070kVA. A 24.7MW diesel workshop operates 24/7, supplying power to 13,000 customers. Commercial electricity in 2013 was over 55 million kWh. Although the Electricity sector has continuously invested in increasing the capacity of diesel power sources and building many power grid projects, due to the constant increase in electricity demand on the island, averaging more than 25% per year, it has only met about 70% of the demand.
Every year, the Corporation has to compensate for a loss of over VND 100 billion because the cost of electricity produced from diesel sources is too high, while the selling price is in accordance with the regulations to support people in remote areas and islands, so the cost of electricity production is always much higher than the selling price. For example, in 2012, the Electricity industry compensated for a loss of VND 164 billion, and in 2013, it compensated for a loss of nearly VND 180 billion.
However, realizing the role and responsibility of ensuring sufficient power to serve socio-economic development as well as people's daily life, clearly identifying that supplying power for Phu Quoc's development is an important political task, EVNSPC has invested in a 110kV submarine cable project across the sea to bring electricity from the mainland to the island.
In January 2010, the 56km long Ha Tien - Phu Quoc 110kV submarine cable project was officially deployed and surveyed on the sea for implementation. Constructing an overhead line at sea is difficult, and making an underwater cable is even more difficult. However, with continuous efforts, on February 2, 2014, EVNSPC energized and put into operation the 110kV Ha Tien - Phu Quoc submarine cable project. This was the longest submarine cable project in Southeast Asia at that time, with a total investment of more than VND 2,300 billion. Notably, since the national grid was made available, the electricity price on the "pearl island" has also returned to the average level equivalent to that on the mainland, decreasing by nearly 50% compared to that when the national grid was not available.
The power load in Phu Quoc is increasing at the fastest rate in Kien Giang province. Along with bringing electricity to the island, EVNSPC has invested in a synchronous power source and grid system on the island with a total capital of more than VND 7,080 billion. Up to now, the scale of medium-voltage and low-voltage lines and distribution substations has increased nearly 100 times, ensuring electricity for a 10.5-fold increase in the number of customers. In particular, the Kien Binh - Phu Quoc 220kV line project with a total investment of up to VND 2,212 billion, which was energized 2 years ago, is an important project of the whole industry, helping to increase the power supply capacity for Phu Quoc island by 500MW, with 5 times higher than the previous power usage capacity and meeting the electricity demand until 2035. This is also the first 220kV line across the sea in Vietnam and the whole Southeast Asia region.
EVNSPC has also implemented other projects such as the Kien Luong - Ha Tien 110kV line, 2 110kV substations and connecting lines. For example, in Lai Son island commune (Kien Giang), since the 110kV grid system connecting An Bien - Lai Son and the Lai Son 110kV substation was built, the medium- and low-voltage distribution grid was expanded, meters and branches were installed, etc., nearly 2,000 households on the island don’t need to worry about power shortages.
Mr. Bui Quoc Hoan - Deputy General Director of EVNSPC said that in the next phase, EVNSPC plans to invest more than VND 1,600 billion to continue to effectively exploit the power supply capacity from two projects: the 110kV underground cable line across the sea of Ha Tien - Phu Quoc and the 220kV line across the sea of Kien Binh - Phu Quoc. At the same time, EVNSPC continues to ensure the quality of electricity, improve the quality of electricity services so that people on the islands can experience better and better electricity services; and ensure electricity for socio-economic development in the islands of the Fatherland.