What is the problem?
Problem in site clearance
EVN’s General Director Tran Dinh Nhan said that it takes only 6 months to implement a solar power project, but implementing a 220k or 500kV transmission grid project averagely takes about 3-5 years. The “hot” development of solar power plants has led to the overload in the majority of 110-500kV transmission lines and substations in the territory of Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan provinces. Meanwhile, power grid projects to release power capacity for solar power plants face many difficulties, particularly problems in site clearance.
Mr. To Van Dan - Head of Investment Management Department, National Power Transmission Corporation (EVNNPT) said that in order to release the capacity of renewable energy sources in Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan in the 2020-2021 period, the Corporation implements 12 projects of 220kV - 500kV transmission lines/substations; of which 6 projects in progress have been included in the planning and 6 ones have not planned yet.
Two projects under construction are facing difficulties in site clearance. Specifically, the 220kV Phan Ri substation project, although the construction and installation contractors have been ready set up since December 2018, it has not been commenced due to the difficulties in the compensation and site clearance. As by June 20th, 2019, just 4,508 m2/39,619.2m2 of the site has been handed over.
The 220kV Nha Trang - Thap Cham transmission line project is planned to be energized in December 2019. However, currently, it is facing problems in 55 foundation positions across natural forests, it is required to be reported to the Prime Minister for issuing a decision on changing forest use purposes.
Similar to EVNNPT, site clearance is also a big challenge for Southern Electricity Corporation (EVNSPC) in implementing projects releasing renewable power capacity, typically the Luong Son -Hoa Thang - Mui Ne 110kV project; replacing the Ninh Phuoc - Tuy Phong110kV transmission line, etc.
Mr. Lam Xuan Tuan – EVNSPC’s Deputy General Director said that, besides the site clearance, selecting contractors at this time is also a big challenge, because a great number of renewable energy sources projects under implementation has attracted almost all the human resources of construction and installation contractors.
Another difficulty facing EVNSPC is the situation that it has not reached agreements with plant owners to cut off power during the daytime, so that the construction is performed at night only (from 4pm the previous day to 6am the next morning). Carrying out construction at night is either unsafe or ineffective as expected. Although EVNSPC has requested the construction units to arrange their full forces, just 2 km of line is deployed each night, said Tuan.
Drastic attitude from many sides is in need
As by the end of June 2019, the total capacity of wind and solar power in Ninh Thuan province has reached 2,027MW (accounting for nearly 50% of the total renewable energy capacity of the whole country). In expectation, by December 2020, this figure will increase up to 4,240MW.
Contrary to the extremely high local capacity, the load demand of Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan is very small (that of Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan provinces varies between 100-115MW and 250-280MW respectively). Therefore, pushing up the progress of projects releasing the renewable energy capacity is particularly urgent, creating favourable conditions for power plants to operate at full capacity, at the same time helping EVN effectively mobilize this energy source to include it into the system.
Over the past time, EVNNPT and EVNSPC have closely coordinated with Ministries, departments, branches and localities to focus human resources on and directed contractors to speed up the progress of the projects releasing power capacity for renewable energy sources. However, accelerating the progress of these projects and ensuring the interests of investors and the power sector need the participation by ministries, departments and authorities at levels in pushing up the progress of appraising and verifying projects, agreement on route direction, substation locations, etc., shortening the time for agreeing on route direction and location, approving land use planning, etc.
In particular, local authorities should consider and direct its departments and agencies to more drastically perform compensation and site clearance works. Localities also need to work out flexible options to support affected households so as to hand over the site in advance for contractors for construction purposes in line with implementing procedures for compensation and site clearance as stipulated.
At the Conference on the operation of solar and wind power plants in Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan provinces, Mr. Tran Dinh Nhan – EVN’s General Director affirmed that EVN would determine the power capacity release for renewable energy projects as a particularly important task. Recently, the Group has drastically directed EVNNPT and EVNSPC to accelerate the construction progress of power grid projects. At the same time, EVN’s leaders also worked with local leaders to speed up the site clearance for the projects.
"However, in order to implement projects at the highest speed, EVN desperately needs the cooperation and sharing by local authorities and investors," said Tran Dinh Nhan.
Calculation results of the overload on transmission lines and substations in Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan provinces.
At 110kV Thap Cham Hau Sanh - Tuy Phong - Phan Ri line, the current-carrying capacity is 260-360%; Phan Ri - Song Binh - Dai Ninh 110kV line’s current-carrying capacity is 140%; Da Nhim - Don Duong 110kV line’s current-carrying capacity is 123%; Duc Trong - Di Linh 220kV substation’s current-carrying capacity is 110%, etc. These current-carrying levels will continue to increase in the future.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Communications Department - Vietnam Electricity Group;
Email: banqhcd@evn.com.vn
Phone: 024.66946405/66946413; Fax: 024.66946402
Address: No. 11 Cua Bac Street, Truc Bach Ward, Ba Dinh District - Hanoi;
Website: www.evn.com.vn, www.tietkiemnangluong.vn
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