HCMC – The HCMC Department of Industry and Trade has proposed offering the city a special mechanism to develop on-site power generation, with a focus on investment in rooftop solar power to meet the city’s high electricity demand.
The city asked the Government for approval to apply feed-in tariffs for rooftop solar power projects and implement rooftop solar power projects in line with the prime minister’s Decision 11/2017 and Decision 13/2020 on promotion of solar power investment.
The city should be permitted to install rooftop solar panels at administrative agencies, the local media reported.
The proposal is aimed at cutting monthly electricity costs for investors of rooftop solar power, increasing their income after selling electricity not used to the Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) and reducing heat for their buildings, said the municipal department.
The development of a rooftop solar power system also helps boost green and clean energy growth, contributing to reducing carbon dioxide emissions and thermal radiation for buildings and ensuring energy security. The proposal matches the Government’s clean and renewable power development strategy, said the municipal department.
HCMC has much potential for solar power, with over 1,580 kWh per square meter each year on average. The number of sunshine hours ranges from 100 to 300 per month around the year.
In 2022, the city consumed over 27 billion kWh of electricity, mainly from the Phu My thermal power center, Nhon Trach 1 and 2 thermal power plants, the Tri An hydropower plant and the Vinh Tan Electricity Center.
Meanwhile, HCMC is set to spend some VND13 trillion on rooftop solar power projects from now until 2030, with total electricity output of 300 MWp per year.
In 2016, the Government’s policy of calling for connection with the national grid and EVN’s commitment to purchasing electricity from rooftop solar power projects led many residents and firms to invest big in the field. At the end of 2022, HCMC had over 14,150 rooftop solar power projects with a total capacity of 355 MWp.
However, the policy was stopped in 2020, leading to a suspension of connection with the national power grid. As a result, many firms and households that invested in rooftop solar power were in turmoil.
