Vietnam seeks to develop solar energy (Photo: icon.vn)

Vietnamese authorities have identified Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, the Mekong River Delta, and the Central Highlands as having a strong potential in renewable energy. In the Central Highlands, hours of sun total 2,000-2,600 per year. Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Hoang Quoc Vuong said: “The Central Highlands’s wind power capacity could reach 2,000MW, more than Vietnam’s second largest hydro power plant in Hoa Binh. The region also has an advantage in solar energy with direct solar radiation of 5 KWH per square meter. South Korean investors are interested in this area and have set up a solar radiation measurement station. The measurement results are promising.”

Central Highland provinces are creating a legal corridor, adopting incentives, and reforming administrative procedures for investors. Dak Lak has attracted the largest amount of investment in solar energy and has signed memoranda of understanding to build solar power plants with investors Solarpark Korea Company, Long Thanh Investment and Infrastructure Development Joint Stock Company, Namu Company of South Korea, and AES group of the US. The provincial master plan for power development in the 2016-2025 period includes an additional 12 solar power plants. The central government will soon issue additional incentives. Deputy Minister Vuong again:“The Ministry of Industry and Trade are working on a policy to ensure that electricity prices are seductive enough for investors and administrative procedures are simplified and transparent. Our new policy on solar energy and adjustments on wind energy have been submitted to the Prime Minister. We hope that once the two policies are approved, there will be a breakthrough in renewable energy in the Central Highlands and all over Vietnam.”