Solar power projects rush to make operation deadline
June 30 is the deadline for solar power projects to connect to the grid in order to enjoy a feed-in tariff (FIT) of 9.35 cents per kilowatt-hour for a period of 20 years. Investors are intensifying their efforts to meet the project requirements in order to enjoy the lower price fixed under Prime Ministerial Decision 11/2017/QD-TTg.
The testing and licensing of nearly 100 solar power projects in little more than two months are expected to challenge the units operating and managing the power system.
At a conference on preparations for the operation of solar power plants, a representative of the National Load Dispatch Center of Vietnam said solar power capacity fluctuates across the seasons of the year, adding that plants developed in the same region suffer a similar fluctuation in solar power production, resulting in power instability. Starting in June, the generation of renewable power must guarantee that power lines and transformers are not overloaded, as that may cause harmonic voltages to exceed the limit of 110kV on the power grid, especially in the southern provinces of Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan.
According to the National Load Dispatch Center of Vietnam, the number of solar power plants scheduled to go into operation from now until June is high, causing difficulties and putting pressure on those responsible for testing and appraising them.
The National Load Dispatch Center of Vietnam has asked investors to maintain close cooperation and proposed that they provide technical documents for their projects as soon as possible to ensure their operating plans go as scheduled.
As a direct management unit of the power system, EVN has made greater efforts to improve its power transmission system, publicize the status of its operations, seek optimal technical solutions, simplify administrative procedures and create favorable conditions for investors.
EVN General Director Tran Dinh Nhan said the company would gather feedback and investors’ opinions and quickly issue a draft regulation on processes and procedures involved in testing, appraising and commissioning COD of partly- and fully-completed solar power plants. All the units under EVN will support investors and create favorable conditions to put their projects into commercial service by June 30.
Source: VEN