Securing electricity supply – a tremendous pressure
According to Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan – a senior energy expert, a standing member of the Science Council - Editor of Vietnam Energy Magazine, the electricity demand growth scenario is estimated on average 8 - 12%, equivalent to around 5,500 - 6,000 MW of capacity to be added per year. Whereas a significant amount of new supplies is not foreseen this year; renewable energy sources are not stable. Thus, challenges of how to ensure energy security are imposed on EVN in the context of low supply but high demand for electricity.
Speakers discussed solutions to ensure energy security in the coming time
Sharing the same view, Mr. Ha Dang Son - Director of the Center for Green Growth and Energy Research said that electricity demand is likely to grow strongly at 8 - 9% by the end of this year when all the production and service sectors become stabilized.
According to Mr. Vo Quang Lam – Vice President of EVN, the power industry faces two challenges. Firstly, Vietnam's installed capacity is at the top of ASEAN. When weather conditions vary, 17,000MW of solar energy may not be mobilized and only a modest portion of wind power may be mobilized. It’s inherently intermittent nature of renewable energy. In the first four months of 2022, conventional energy sources still play a key and decisive role in ensuring electricity supply for the country. Secondly, the high price of imported gas and coal resulting in increasing input costs to operate the power system is also a big challenge for EVN.
Energy saving – A fundamental solution
In order to achieve energy saving objectives, in the coming time, it is essential for the central to local levels to intensely implement solutions such as: stepping up the enforcement of the Law on Economical and Efficient Use of Energy; introducing financial supporting solutions for technology investment projects with high energy efficiency, funded not only from the state budget but also from the private sector; promoting the development of the energy market model, etc. At the same time, the awareness of businesses and people should be enhanced through communication activities and knowledge enhancement for energy users.
Mr. Vo Quang Lam – EVN’s Vice President also shared that over the past time, the economical and efficient use of energy has just been encouraging actions applied to businesses and people. In the coming time, these actions should be compulsory and legislated; at the same time, there should be a financial mechanism for the economical and efficient use of electricity, in order to create economic leverage and promote the participation of potential people and businesses, etc.