Scottish power plans

EVN workers examine electricity facilities (Photo: VNA) The Vietnamese government’s permission for private companies to invest in and build power plants and transmission systems became a big step forward, bringing competition in the energy sector to a manageable level. The first 500kV super-high voltage power transmission line invested by Trungnam Construction and Investment JSC has been operating stably for more than a year. Trungnam’s project includes a 500kV substation and transmission lines combined with a 450MW solar power plant, promoting its advantages when participating in the power grid of Ninh Thuan province and the south-central coastal region. Pham Nhu Anh, member of the Executive Board of Military Bank, which arranged capital for Trungnam to invest in transmission infrastructure, pointed out that capital is still a bottleneck in Vietnam’s electrical infrastructure development. According to Anh, the fact that Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) still holds a monopoly on … [Read more...] about Transmission boost to remove major power bottlenecks

The power industry is still facing many challenges to meet the rising demand in Vietnam. Vietnam needs US$133.3 billion to invest in new power plants and transmission networks from 2021 to 2030, according to Vice Minister of Industry and Trade Hoang Quoc Vuong. Vietnam needs US$133.3 billion investment in power projects by 2030. Photo: GIZ At the second conference on the National Power Development Plan VIII (PDP) VIII for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2045 on September 28, the Vietnam Energy Institute (VEI) reported that of the total investment, US$96 billion will be spent on new power plants and US$37.3 billion on expanding the power grid. It means the country needs an annually an amount of US$13.3 billion for investment in new power plants and transmission networks in the next 10 years. Deputy Minister Vuong told the conference that according to the power source development program until 2030, the total power capacity is expected to increase by … [Read more...] about Vietnam needs US$133.3 billion investment in power projects by 2030

A wind power project in the northern province of Ninh Thuận. — Photo evn.com.vn HÀ NỘI — The Vietnamese economy’s unparalleled exposure to multinational corporations and the global consumer market calls for a pragmatic alignment between the country’s renewable energy strategy and the decarbonisation commitments of the global brands, according to IEEFA’s latest report on Việt Nam. “Multinational corporations responsible for up to US$150 billion of Việt Nam’s export revenues have made specific pledges on carbon neutrality or decarbonisation of varying scope and timelines,” said Thu Vũ, energy finance analyst leading the Vietnamese market coverage for IEEFA. “These brands’ journey toward sustainability progress is one in which Việt Nam can not afford to ignore or miss out on.” Việt Nam is currently the largest exporter of goods in developing Southeast Asia. With nearly 60 per cent of the exports being manufactured goods for the big brands, its growing role in the global … [Read more...] about IEEFA: Việt Nam’s manufacturing future rests on a credible renewable energy game plan

Increasing demand Nguyen Tuan Anh, Deputy Director of the Electricity and Renewable Energy Authority under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), said that new power sources expected to be put into operation in the 2022-2025 period will not keep up with the load growth, making it increasingly difficult to ensure stable supply and risking peak capacity shortage in the northern region from May to July. Transmission of renewable energy sources remains limited Nguyen Tuan Anh explained that about 10 major power projects in which Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) is not invested, are behind schedule bringing capacity shortage to about 7,000 MW, which will affect power supply. Meanwhile, renewable energy sources (solar and wind power) have been significantly supplemented, but transmission of the energy remains limited, likely resulting in local electricity shortages at times. Tuan Anh also said that according to the MoIT’s Electricity Master Plan VIII, the demand for … [Read more...] about Transparency needed to draw power industry capital, officials say

Flexibility is required in handling raw material issues for power plants and easing coal supply pressures, Photo: Shutterstock Thai Binh Thermal Power Plant under Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) has been in a coal shortage since the beginning of 2022. Ta Trung Kien, director of the plant, said that the volume of coal delivered “has been reduced significantly” compared to the signed contract. Vinacomin Group and Dong Bac Corporation – two of the coal suppliers for the Thai Binh Thermal Power Plant – delivered only just over 74 per cent of the monthly plan. “The two units of our plant need about 6,400 tonnes of coal per day. Due to a lack of coal, the plant was forced to use backup coal to maintain the operation. By the end of the first quarter, these reserves were at just about 14,000 tonnes, much lower than the required norm of 80,000 tonnes,” Kien said. Many other plants are facing similar problems, including Nghi Son 1, Vung Ang 1, Vinh Tan 2, and Duyen Hai 1, which currently … [Read more...] about Nation lacking coal supply for sufficient power generation

A study proposes developing a mechanism for reserve capacity payments for flexible power plants, and developing an ancillary services market for the Vietnam grid. A latest power system study carried out by the Vietnamese Institute of Energy (IE) under the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoIT) recommends adding internal combustion engine (ICE) power plants in the National Power Development Plan VIII to ensure energy security. An internal combustion engine In the short term, the IE recommends building 650MW of ICE power plants in the South during 2022-2023 to support the high energy demand from 2022 to 2025, especially as Vietnam is expected to experience delays in the delivery of some coal and liquified-natural gas (LNG) power projects in the South. Additionally, drought conditions could create a risk of power shortage in the country. In the long term, the needed capacity of flexible ICE power plants to provide reserve capacity, supply peak demand, and … [Read more...] about Vietnam should add internal combustion engine power plants from 2022: Study

Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) granted an initial approval on Wednesday for a Tokyo Electric Power's (Tepco) plan for releasing water from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear power plant into sea, citing there are no safety issues. The NRA plans to make a decision on final approval after a one-month public comment period, an official at NRA said, who deals with the issue. In 2021, the Japanese government approved the release of over 1 million tonnes of irradiated water from the site after treatment into the ocean, starting around spring 2023. The announcement provoked concerns from local fishermen and objections from neighbouring China and South Korea. Tepco plans to filter the contaminated water to remove isotopes, leaving only tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen hard to separate from water. Tepco will then dilute the water until tritium levels fall less than 1/40th of regulatory limits, before pumping it into the ocean. Even after the NRA's approval, Tepco, … [Read more...] about Japan nuclear regulator grants initial nod to Fukushima water release plan

The project with a total investment value of approximately €17 million ($18.22 million) comprises a 50/60Hz shore power plant for cruise ships and ferries and a 50Hz shore power plant for ferries. It makes it possible to generate the electricity ships need while they are in the port using renewable energies on-shore instead of diesel generators on board. The new shore power connection will be one of the largest installations of its kind in Europe. After completion at the end of 2023, the port of Kiel will be able to supply green power to six ships simultaneously at all of its major passenger, cargo, and ferry terminals. Siemens won the new contract following an EU-wide invitation to tender and a negotiation procedure with a preliminary qualification competition. “Connecting ships to shore power has an enormous economic and environmental impact. Ships save expensive fuel, new business models open for port operators, and port staff and residents benefit from a … [Read more...] about Siemens to build one of Europe’s largest shore power connections in Kiel

Illustrative photo Currently, although there is renewable electricity from wind and sun, it is not yet stable. The program from now until 2025 needs to put into operation about 5,500 MW of renewable power energy, which includes 4,000 MW of wind power and about 1,500 MW of solar power, together with an appropriate storage system to meet capacity demand during peak hours. The nuclear power program had stopped in 2016. Now there is still need for coal-fired thermal power, and domestic coal is not enough for this, so it is necessary to import foreign coal. By 2025, more and more coal will be needed, while domestic exploitation is becoming stagnant, so coal will continue to be imported. To speed up the import of coal, Vietnam has asked the Australian Ambassador to find ways to bring coal into Vietnam soon. Australia will supply Vietnam with good quality coal at a reasonable price to have the cost of electricity production at an appropriate level, ensuring enough electricity for our … [Read more...] about Thermal power plants dependant on imported coal

Businesses across Ho Chi Minh City have increased prices of essentials due to higher production costs despite consumer purchasing power having decreased by up to 25 percent, a survey of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper has shown. Enterprises in Vietnam have issued warnings that food prices will continue to rise unless solutions are found to restrain surging food input costs, including raw materials, gasoline, and animal feed. As a case in point, cooking oil is now being sold 15-20 percent more expensive at supermarkets in Ho Chi Minh City than at the beginning of the year, and 70-90 percent higher than the price of 2020. Notably, Tuong An cooking oil now sells for VND60,000-160,000 (US$2.6-$6.9) per liter, depending on the type, while a set of 10 chicken or duck eggs is offered at VND33,000-VND38,000 ($1.4-$1.64) at traditional markets. The rates are about 20 percent higher than earlier this year, and nearly double those of last year, mostly owing to higher production costs and … [Read more...] about Purchasing power drops, food prices rise in Ho Chi Minh City