MOIT starts to inspect solar power development according to the Prime Minister’s Direction

The solar power projects strongly developed in 2 recent years due to the stimulating mechanism of the Government. However, the massive development of rooftop solar power projects without  a controlling electricity demand leaded to the difficult problems for operating the national power system. In particular, in the first months of 2021, there happened a decline of solar power generation that caused wasting social resources and anxious and urgent mentalities for the investors.

Therefore, on February 9, 2021, the Prime Minister issued document No. 185 TTg-CN requesting the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT), the People's Committee of provinces and cities (PPCs) and EVN to review issues related to solar power development in our country. In which, the Prime Minister has assigned MOIT to preside over responsibility and coordinate with PPCs and EVN for carrying out:

Firstly, overall reviewing the development of the ground and rooftop solar power projects, studying and immediately handling unexpected arising problems and not letting bad consequences happen.

Secondly, Carrying out inspection and supervision on rooftop solar power  development; promptly correcting and immediately handling violations if any, especially the deeds for seeking policy profit in the deploying rooftop solar power projects.

Thirdly, studying and proposing the most effective management solutions for renewable energy projects in the coming time, not letting weakness in the promulgated policy and mechanism, and having the measures to limit the reduction of the renewable energy projects which are in operation, and minimizing the economic loss for the investors and wasting social resources.

Fourthly, reviewing the overall power source projects, updating the supply-demand balance, strengthening the management of the planning activities, and urgently completing the Power Development Planning VIII for submitting.

To implement the tasks assigned in Document 185 TTg of the Prime Minister, MOIT has recently issued Document No. 1216 / BCT-DDL dated March 8, 2021 to PPCs and EVN on proposing to review the relevant contents and appoint focal points to coordinate with MOIT inspection team. At the same time, MOIT also has issued Decision No. 795/QD-BCT dated March 7, 2021 on inspecting developing solar power development and establishing an inspection team chaired by the leader of the Electricity and Renewable Energy Department. The inspection team expects  to carry out the activities firstly in 10 provinces and cities with the large rooftop solar capacity.

Up to now, EVN has issued documents No. 1245/EVN-KD dated March 16, 2021 on reporting the results of developing rooftop solar projects to December 31, 2020 and No. 1246/EVN-KD dated March 16/2021 on reporting the data of solar power projects; the Power companies of the provinces and cities have compiled  detailed lists of rooftop solar power projects and sent them to the local Department of Industry and Trade before March 11, 2021. The MOIT inspection team expects to start the activities from March 17, 2021 to the end of 2021.

From the report lists, as of December 31, 2020, the whole country had 146 ground grid-connected solar power projects (on ground and lake surface) with a total capacity of 8,900 MW, but among these projects there are 3 unrecognized COD projects with a capacity of about 250 MW. 

Regarding rooftop solar power projects as of December 31, 2020, the whole country had 105,996 systems with a total installed capacity of 9,731 MWp (about 7,784 MWac) in operation, accumulated at 1,337,093 MWh, reducing emissions of about 1,220,766 tons of CO2.

 The solar power projects in general and rooftop solar power projects in particular, in this time are installed mainly in the Southern and Central Power Corporations (the rooftop capacity is over 5,603 MWp in Southern and 3,054 MWp in Central).

MR. NGUYEN THAI SON (Scientific Council of VER).