The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) agrees to continue to receive and handle requests of selling energy generated from roof-top solar power projects while the new price after 30 June 2019 are not yet approved

Previously, pursuant to Decision No. 11/2017/QĐ-TTg of the Prime Minister, electric energy generated from solar power projects in general and from roof-top solar power projects in particular were purchased by electricity buyers at a price of 9.35 cent USA/kWh, resulting in a relatively satisfactory growth of roof-top solar power projects in recent years. However, according to this Decision, its enforceable validity was lost after 30 June 2019.  Since then, although the need of installation and development of new roof-top solar power projects was still very potential, expecting a mechanism for new price of solar energy had made  the roof-top market go slow.

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With the spirit of maximizing possible power generation from roof-top solar power projects, on 25 December 2019, Vietnam Electricity (EVN) sent a written request to the MOIT for permission to continue receiving and handling requests for selling electric energy generated from roof-top solar power projects, confirming energy meter readings and delivered electric energy, but not paying that energy until the competent authorities issue official guidelines.

In a separate move, on 31 December 2019, the MOIT submitted Submittal No. 10170/TTr-BCT to the Prime Minister on Draft Decision on incentive mechanism for solar power development in Vietnam applied after 1 July 2019, including the content “A rooftop solar power system is a power system with photovoltaic panels installed on the roofs of construction works, with a capacity of not more than 1 MW, directly and indirectly connected to the power grid with a voltage level of 35 kV or lower”. The selling price of the rooftop solar power systems is VND1,916/kWh, equivalent to 8.38 cents USA/kWh. However, up to now, the MOIT said that the above-mentioned incentive mechanism has not been approved by the competent authorities.

On 6 January 2020, the MOIT has issued Document No. 89/BCT-ĐT to EVN on implementing agreements of rooftop solar power. Thereon, pursuant to Document No. 89/BCT-ĐT, dated 6 January 2020 of the MOIT, EVN has issued Document No.125/ EVN-TTĐ dated 7 January 2020 to EVN’s Corporations to direct implementation. In which the MOIT agreed with EVN’s proposal to continue receiving and handling the requests for selling power energy generated from roof-top solar power projects, confirming energy meter readings and delivered power energy, but not paying that energy until the competent authorities issue official guidelines.

The MOIT directed EVN and its units to pay attention to ensure connections of rooftop solar power systems to the national power system should comply with the laws and regulations and not cause overloading the existing power system. In addition, the MOIT also required that investors should be informed clearly that they would be responsible for risks of changes (if any) as compared to the proposed rooftop solar power in the Draft that the MOIT had submitted to the Prime Minister in Submittal No. 10170/TTr-BCT dated 31 December 2019./.


  • 09/01/2020 03:35
  • evn.com.vn
  • 1611