The conference was organized by Vietnam Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) along with United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Vietnam with the participation by many donors such as the European Union, the German Embassy in Vietnam and the World Bank.
This activity was performed within the framework of the Promotion program for the development of rooftop solar power in Vietnam in the 2019 - 2025 period by the MOIT in order to implement the National Strategy on developing renewable energy through solutions on developing the market of rooftop solar power technology.
Mr. Michael Greene, Director of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Vietnam said that the Promotion program for rooftop solar power has set a highly ambitious target but it is feasible as Vietnam has a great potential for solar energy and the rapidly growing market of solar power equipment. Unlike grid-connected solar power plants in large scale which require enormous investments in power grid infrastructure, rooftop solar power systems can be widely developed without distribution grid upgrading since this technology is particularly effective in meeting the demand of on-spot peak load.
As a sponsor for some renewable energy development projects in Vietnam, representing the Germany, Mr. Sebastian Paust, First Secretary, Head of Development Cooperation Department of the German Embassy in Vietnam said that currently in Germany, there are 1.5 million rooftop solar power systems and this nation is willing to share its lessons of experience as well as support the Promotion program on the development of rooftop solar power in Vietnam.
“Through organizations such as GIZ and Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), we will support activities on developing human resources, establishing sets of technical standards as well as conduct research works and pilot funding programs in order to encourage the private sector and households to participate in business activities for developing rooftop solar power.
The Promotion program for the development of rooftop solar power in Vietnam in the 2019-2025 period, approved by the MOIT under Decision 2023/QD-BCT (5 July 2019), includes five components: Developing and completing policies and regulations on supporting the development of rooftop solar power with the orientation to shift to market-based conditions; Standards, verification and testing; Promoting market conditions and pilot funding programs; Certificate Program of Rooftop solar power and Developing management information systems and Communication strategies.
Electricity and Renewable Energy Authority (EREA) under Ministry of Industry and Trade is assigned to lead the implementation on the basis of integrating the program's activities into the technical support and development support projects of donors such as Vietnam Low Emission Energy Program (V-LEEP) of USAID, German Cooperation Organization GIZ, Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau and the Energy Support Programs of EU and World Bank.
According to Mr. Nguyen Quoc Dung - Head of Business Department, Vietnam Electricity, up to 18 July 2019, up to 9,314 customers have installed solar power systems to their house roofs with a total installed capacity of 193MWp.
Of which, 204 systems were installed on the building of the power industry and 7,550 households have installed solar power systems on their roof.