On 23 December 2020, in Ho Chi Minh City under the direction of the Office of the National Steering Committee for Electricity Development, the Scientific Council of Vietnam Energy Magazine organized the “Vietnam Clean Energy Forum (the first time) and the Voting for Vietnam’s Leading Clean Energy Enterprise in 2020”.
Overview of “Vietnam Clean Energy Forum 2020 (for first time) and the voting summary for Vietnam’s Leading Clean Energy Enterprise in 2020”.
Making an opening speech at the Forum, Mr. Nguyen Thai Son – Permanent member of the Scientific Council of Vietnam Energy Magazine said: Under the close direction of the Party and Government, the active participation of the whole society in the development of power industry. In the past 20 years, the power industry has had a strong growth, basically meeting the power demand for socio-economic development. Up to now, the power system capacity has reached about 58,000 MW, the commercial power output per capita in 2019 has reached approximately 2,500 kWh, making an important contribution to the high-speed economic development over the past decades.
Mr. Nguyen Thai Son – Permanent member of the Scientific Council of Vietnam Energy MagazineIn the power source structure of the country, recently, the capacity of power plants using clean fuels has been increasing (including hydropower of 20,800 MW, gas turbines of 20,400 MW, renewable energy about 8,000 MW – consisting of wind power, solar power, biomass power). At present the proportion of clean power sources has reached 61% of the total installed capacity of the system. Of these, only counting in the past 2 years (until October 2020), the number of renewable power projects invested and operated by the private sector included 11 wind power plants with a capacity of 494 MW and 106 solar power plants with a capacity of 5,853 MW.
Up to now, according to statistics, clean power projects have been added to the National Power Planning and Provincial Power Planning with operation schedule before 2021, including 187 wind power projects (with a capacity of 11,419 MW), 135 solar power projects (with a capacity of 13,617 MW). In addition, about 320 solar power projects with a capacity of 34,000 MW and 300 wind power projects with a capacity of about 74,000 MW are being proposed by investors and localities to include into the master plan before 2021- 2023.
Regarding liquefied natural gas (LNG) power, up to now, 11 plant projects have been added to the national planning (total capacity of 16,100 – 16,400 MW). This showed that over the past time, the additional inclusion into the planning is mainly clean power sources. Thus, it can be affirmed that the development of clean power sources in Vietnam is a requisite trend in the present period and in the future.
However, at present, we also face many difficulties and barriers that affect the development of clean power sources and the participation of local and foreign private investors as well. These are the issues of mechanisms and policies, of planning and investment procedures, of the power grid to release capacity, of capital mobilization, of site clearance, including the lack of technical standards and regulations significantly affect the transparency of the encouragement of clean energy development.
According to Mr. Nguyen Thai Son: Resolution No.55 of the Politburo on Vietnam’s energy development orientation has identified the policy of developing renewable energy and clean energy and encouraging households to use clean and renewable energy is the important content of the Resolution. Currently, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is finalizing the Power Plan 8. Preliminarily, to meet the power demand in the 10 years to 2030, on average, we need to put into operation of 7,000 – 8,000 MW of power capacity of all types each year; total investment capital on the yearly average is from USD 13-15 billion/year. However, determination of the mechanisms, organization and implementation of the planning to be feasible the volume to secure the energy security are still indefinite contents in the solutions.
Therefore, “Vietnam Clean Energy Forum 2020 (first time) and the summary of voting for Vietnam’s Leading Clean Energy Enterprise in 2020″ is a forum for local and international investors who operate in the field of clean energy (gas power, wind power, solar power, small hydropower, biomass…) to share and reflect difficulties and obstacles in mechanisms, policies, barriers in the development of clean power projects in Vietnam in order that the Forum organizers and representatives of the competent authorities at all levels to acknowledge, summarize and give recommendations to the competent authorities to facilitate, dismantle and find solutions to promote the development of clean energy source in Vietnam in the upcoming time, contribute to “bring the Resolution No.55 to life”.
Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan – Chairman of the Voting Council for the Top 10 Leading Clean Energy in Vietnam in 2020 of Vietnam Energy MagazineReporting at the Forum, Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Chairman of the Voting Council for the Top 10 Leading Clean Energy in Vietnam in 2020 of Vietnam Energy Magazine said: In addition to the achievements, opportunities, rapid growth of the current clean power source and the enterprises will face with some barriers and disadvantages in the upcoming time, including:
Firstly, many solar and wind power sources have to reduce the power generation due to grid congestion that will affect the efficiency and revenue. Although in the past 2 years, EVN has invested in 21 power grid projects from 110 to 500 kV with over 750 km of transmission lines and over 5,000 MVA of substations for the release of renewable energy. Many renewable energy investors have invested themselves in the power grid connected to the common transmission system, but the regulations on the scope of management, asset handing-over and so on are still unclear.
Secondly, the addition of new projects to the master plan will be difficult due to the new provisions of the Planning Law and the current regulations are not synchronous and often prolong the project investment progress, or sometimes the project was added to the master plan, but the associated connection grid is not approved.
Thirdly, incentive mechanisms through price compensation (FIT) will expire at the end of 2020 (for solar power) and November 2021 (for wind power), while
there are no follow-up mechanisms, such as the bidding regime, or newly issued FIT tariff.
Fourthly, the current regulations on standards of different types of renewable energy, technical specifications of renewable energy technologies are available, but some points are unclear and unspecific that caused difficulties for both power buyers (EVN), investors and equipment suppliers.
Fifthly, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the world and Vietnam, the mobilization of investment capital, order, receipt and transportation of equipment of renewable energy projects – especially wind power equipment imported to Vietnam were severely affected (prolonged time for order fulfillment, shortage of experts to supervise installation, acceptance…) and the consequences are expected to last after the year of 2020.
Sixthly, the contents of current power purchase agreements (PPAs) still do not include provisions in which the power buyer shares risks with power source investors, especially private investors.
Seventhly, the issues of land compensation and site clearance for clean power projects are shortcomings and lack coordination between state management agencies and local governments that prolong the project implementation time.
Next, at the Forum, local and international investors and experts in the field of clean energy discussed difficulties and obstacles in terms of mechanisms and policies in the development of renewable energy projects in Vietnam as follows:
1/ The shortcomings and overlapping of some legislations and legal documents on planning, investment, construction and bidding are causing difficulties in clean energy development in Vietnam. Specifically, in the power planning, land planning and management, investment preparation, capital arrangement (when there is no government guarantee and shall participate in the competitive power market)… The discussion emphasized regulations as well as the lack of consistency in the scope of sea surface management between the central and local governments; the fee for using the sea surface is also unreasonable.
2/ The delay in the process of verification, submission and approval of the projects.
3/ The power grid infrastructure is weak and unsynchronous in order to create technical facilities for integrating the renewable energy sources. This led to the reduction of the power generation down to 30-40% of the capacity of the solar power and wind power plants in the past time. It caused big difficulties for investors to mobilize the capital due to the effectiveness of the project remarkably reduced.
4/ The share of the benefits and obligations among investors at a cluster of the renewable energy projects when connecting with a common transmission grid.
5/ Some inadequacies in technical standards for renewable energy projects, regulations on waste treatment of solar panels at the end of the project life have
6/ The lack of coordination between state management authorities and local governments in supporting investors (land use planning, land compensation, site clearance…).
7/ The delegates also shared the current situation of rooftop solar power development and great opportunities for development in the provinces in South Vietnam. At the same time, they mentioned the difficulties in promoting the service market to strongly deploy this type in the upcoming time.
At the Forum, the Scientific Council of Vietnam Energy Magazine announced the rankings of the Top Leading Clean Energy Enterprises in Vietnam in 2020 and the Top Promising Clean Energy Enterprises in Vietnam in 2020, also awarded certificates and trophies to the enterprises accompanying the Forum.
Vietnam’s Top 10 Leading Clean Energy Enterprises in 2020VIETNAM’S TOP 10 LEADING CLEAN ENERGY ENTERPRISES IN 2020
1/ Trung Nam Construction Investment Joint Stock Company.
2/ Bim Energy Group Joint Stock Company.
3/ Truong Thanh Vietnam Group Joint Stock Company.
4/ Sao Mai Group.
5/ BCG ENERGY Joint Stock Company.
6/ Phu Yen TTP Joint Stock Company.
Vietnam’s Top 20 Promising Clean Energy Enterprises in 2020VIETNAM’S TOP 20 PROMISING CLEAN ENERGY ENTERPRISES IN 2020
1/ SOLAR ESCO Joint Stock Company.
2/ Phu Cuong GROUP.
3/ KTG ENERGY Joint Stock Company (KTG Energy).
4/ ON ENERGY Green Energy Joint Stock Company (ON Energy).
5/ KOSY Joint Stock Company (Kosy Group).
6/ SKYX SOLAR Joint Stock Company.
Enterprises accompanying Vietnam Clean Energy Forum 2020.ENTERPRISES ACCOMPANYING VIETNAM CLEAN ENERGY FORUM 2020 (FOR THE FIRST TIME):
1/ JIANGSU GOODWE POWER SUPPLY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
2/ LONGi SOLAR TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
3/ SHENZHEN GROWATT NEW ENERGY CO., LTD.
4/ SHENZHEN GROWATT NEW ENERGY CO., LTD.
5/ EVN Southern Power Company (EVNSPC).
6/ EVN Ho Chi Minh City (EVNHCMC).
7/ Thai Binh Duong Joint Stock Company.
8/ Vietnam Oil and Gas Construction Joint Stock Company (ALPHA ECC).
9/ Power Generation Joint Stock Corporation 3 (EVNGENCO 3).
10/ Vietnam – Russia Petroleum Joint Venture (VIETSOVPETRO).
Mr. Hoang Trong Hieu – Deputy Chief of Office of the National Steering Committee for Electricity Development.Concluding the Forum, Mr. Hoang Trong Hieu – Deputy Chief of the Office of the National Steering Committee for Electricity Development affirmed: In recent years, clean energy enterprises have contributed a part to the power supply to develop the economy, while significantly involving in job creation, environmental protection, and substantive support for local social safeguards. The leading clean energy enterprises that present today are a clear proof that: the Resolution No.55 with clear vision and orientation has begun to come to life.
The forum raised the obstacles, barriers and difficulties in the investment and construction progress of many existing clean energy projects, such as: Effective time of the FIT mechanism for solar and wind power; the follow-up mechanism delay and reduce the incentive; regulations on taxes and fees (especially for wind power and offshore wind power) are still unreasonable and unclear…
In addition, there are also the obstacles in terms of technical issues, the weak context of the power grid infrastructure, transmission congestion – power generation reduction, lack of the state capital, the seriously objective impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic…But there are many problems with a lack of synchronization, delays in mechanisms and policies from the state management side, from the central to local levels.
By this Forum, the Office of the National Steering Committee on Electricity Development, Vietnam Energy Magazine will acknowledge the important and substantive recommendations from the delegates and summarize them to make recommendations to the competent authorities. “We strongly hope that, in the upcoming time, the state management authorities will consider reasonable recommendations and will adjust and promulgate appropriate regulations and mechanisms to meet actual requirements in order to create motivation for clean energy enterprises to be confident to invest and develop renewable energy”, emphasized Mr. Hoang Trong Hieu.
According to Mr. Hoang Trong Hieu, although this year, the number of enterprises included in the rankings of Top 10 leading clean energy enterprises in Vietnam is still limited, while there are still a number of the remaining clean energy enterprises with rather large scale, but due to the hasty preparation, late submission of documents, or failure to meet the requirements of the Voting criteria, it is impossible to fully honor the leading enterprises. However, we also hope that enterprises operating in Vietnam’s clean energy industry will continue to make efforts and strive more in investment activities, technological innovation, production and business management…in order to heighten their position and continue to register to participate in the 2021 voting and the following years.
