Towards harmonious development of renewable energy
The plan to implement the National Electricity Development Plan for the period of 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050, has just been approved. Although it is considered a new step forward in the field of renewable energy, it is also hidden many unknowns are difficult to predict compared to previous times.
Ea Nam Dak Lawsk wind power plant. Photo: EVN
After nearly a year of waiting, on April 1, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha signed Decision No.262/QD-TTg dated April 1, 2024 of the Prime Minister on approving the Plan for implementing the development of National electricity Plan in the period of 2021 - 2030, vision to 2050 (Power Plan VIII). Many opinions evaluate this as a significant step forward in thinking about institutional planning for electric energy development compared to Electricity Planning VII. However, there are still comments expressing concerns.
Accordingly, only from now until 2030 (the first stage in the planning period), concentrated solar power will not be granted a development quota. At the same time, in the period after 2030 to 2050, this type of power source will have its room expanded if it is developed in the form of self-consumption and self-production on a non-legalized basis if there are violations of planning, land and other regulations.
However, the issue of "self-production - self-consumption" has only arisen with rooftop solar power since the end of last year with many contents waiting for policy decisions on purchasing, mobilization, and connection mechanisms.
Specifically, Power Plan VIII determines the total power capacity of 150,489 MW (excluding exports, existing rooftop solar power, and renewable energy to produce new energy). Of which, the total installed capacity of solar power is 12,836 MW (excluding existing rooftop solar power), accounting for 8.5% of total source capacity, including 10,236 MW of concentrated solar power and 2,600 MW of solar power.
The content in the recently issued implementation plan of Power Plan VIII shows that the concept of "self-production - self-consumption" has been applied to concentrated solar power with a total capacity of about 4,140 MW of new development from 2030.