It is expected that nearly 100 solar power plants will be put into operation in the first 6 months of 2019 (Illustration photo)
According to the Prime Minister’s decision, Vietnam Electricity (EVN) is responsible for purchasing all the electricity output generated by grid – connected solar power projects being integrated into the power grid before June 30, 2019 for 20 years at preferential feed-in tariff.
Therefore, solar power developers have been "speeding up" to be able to catch up with this cutoff date.
A "race" against time
Mr. Nguyen Quoc Trung - Head of the Electricity Market Operation Department under the National Load Dispatch Center said that in the first 4 months of the year, 18 solar power plants with a total capacity of 850MW were put into operation. It is expected that from now until June 30, 2019, 75 solar power plants with a total capacity of about 4,000MW will be synchronized with the power system.
A huge workload must be urgently finished in a short time to enable these power plants to be put into operation. Moreover, May and June are normally the peak time of the hot season, hence the most difficult and stressful operation period of the power system. A0's staff therefore is exposed to enormous work pressure.
A0 has been taking the initiative in working out solutions, closely coordinating with and providing maximum support for solar power plant developers during this critical period. Typically, according to the current circulars, the whole duration for processing all works from receiving the investor’ application for grid connection until the first energizing time is 90 days, however A0 has actively shortened this duration down to only 15 days (6 times faster).
The Center has operated its Online Service Portal to receive investors’ application documentation for the first energizing time. Information technology has been maximally utilized to resolve problems promptly and timely, avoid subjective errors which may delay progress.
Mr. Nguyen Quoc Trung added that A0 arranged people 24/24h, even on the last holidays such as the March 10 (lunar calendar), April 30 – May 1, or the weekends. In addition, A0 has set up many information channels to support investors, customers and contractors through viber, zalo, creating online working groups.
Removing difficulties in operation
Nearly 100 solar power plants in operation with a total capacity of nearly 5,000MW will supplement a remarkable power source to the power system, especially in the context of stressful supply - demand balance. However, the development of solar power plant projects is so "hot", most of them are densely located in Binh Thuan, Ninh Thuan and Dak Lak province, leading to overloading of power grids in these areas.
In addition, due to the intermittent and unstable nature of this energy source, which is highly dependent on weather conditions, the power system operation is also facing many challenges.
Operation of the power system will face many difficulties because solar power is instable and highly dependent on weather conditions.
Since early 2018, A0 has collaborated with EGI Consulting (Kingdom of Belgium) in carrying out a project to assess impacts of renewable energy sources on power system operation. Since then, based on the actual development status, A0 has kept on following up, considering and putting forward to EVN optimal operation options, with the aim of ensuring a safe, stable and uninterrupted power supply.
A0 has been developing a system for monitoring the operation of renewable energy plants and will put this system into practice by June 2019; actively studying and proposing capacity adjustment principles and solutions, coordinating in shutting down or decreasing capacity of conventional power plants and renewable energy plants when full - load or overloading situations occur on the grid. Along with that, A0 will be strengthening the training and development of high quality human resources in operation of renewable energy plants.