Renewables pricing policy created with due process: energy regulator

By Nguyen Tam
Thu, March 16, 2023 | 3:26 pm GMT+7

The pricing policy for renewable projects that missed the government's preferential feed-in-tariffs was created in line with regulations, the country’s Electricity Regulatory Authority argued in response to a petition sent to the Prime Minister by 36 project developers.

A total 36 companies developing wind and solar projects across Vietnam sent a letter to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh earlier this week to ask for changes in power pricing policy for "transitional projects".

According to their petition, the Covid-19 pandemic slowed plans to start 84 wind and solar projects in the country, resulting in them missing the deadline to obtain favorable pricing, better known as feed-in-tariffs (FiTs).

The FiTs were for solar power projects that came into commercial operation by December 31, 2020, and it was November 1, 2021 for wind power projects.

The developers of the 84 projects are disappointed with the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s new pricing policy under Decision 21 dated January 7, 2023, which they consider might lead to their bankruptcy.

They argued the decision was made in a big rush that failed to be appraised thoroughly, failed to seek enough opinions, or independent consultancy.

Electricity of Vietnam's (EVN) method of calculation is not suitable and does not ensure objectivity, the petitioners claimed.

But the Electricity Regulatory Authority argued that Decision 21 was issued in a proper process with steps taken as regulated. The Independent Advisory Council, as well as Vietnamese and foreign consultants had advized this electricity pricing scheme.

The authority explained that the FiTs were designed to promote investment in solar and wind energy just in a certain period of time. Meanwhile, the pricing policy for post-FiTs projects was created based on actual costs specified in the feasibility study reports and technical design of solar and wind power plants that had signed power purchase agreements with EVN prior to the FiT deadlines.

An operational wind farm of BIM Group in Ninh Thuan province, south-central Vietnam. Photo courtesy of the company.

An operational wind farm of BIM Group in Ninh Thuan province, south-central Vietnam. Photo courtesy of the company.

Under Decision 21, the maximum purchase price for transitional solar power projects is now VND1,185-1,508 (5.0-6.4 U.S. cents) per kWh, depending on the type and excluding VAT.

The ceiling price for transitional wind power projects is VND1,587-1,816 per kWh (6.8-7.7 U.S. cents).

This framework will provide the basis for EVN to negotiate prices with developers of transitional renewable energy projects after a two-year wait.

The rates for transitional projects under the ministerial decision are lower than the incentivized FiTs applied to the projects that met the FiT deadlines.

The 20-year preferential FiTs are 9.35 U.S. cents per kWh (Decision 11/2017) and 7.09-8.38 U.S. cents per kWh (Decision 13/2020) for solar power projects that became operational by December 31, 2020; and 8.35-9.8 U.S. cents per kWh for wind power projects that became operational by November 1, 2021.

The 84 post-FiT projects have a combined electricity generation capacity of 4,871.62 megawatts, of which 4,184.8 MW is wind power and 491.82 MW, solar power.

Comments (0)
  • Read More
Chinese firm proposes its 3rd waste-to-power plant in Vietnam

Chinese firm proposes its 3rd waste-to-power plant in Vietnam

China’s EverBright Environment has proposed investing about VND1.6 trillion ($60.82 million) in a waste-to-energy plant in the central province of Quang Tri.

Energy - Fri, October 24, 2025 | 8:45 pm GMT+7

Mega golf-commercial-urban complex proposed for southern Vietnam city Can Tho

Mega golf-commercial-urban complex proposed for southern Vietnam city Can Tho

Vietnam Royal Investment Group JSC has proposed developing a 766-hectare golf-service-commercial-urban complex in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho.

Real Estate - Fri, October 24, 2025 | 4:31 pm GMT+7

Sumitomo makes first hydropower investment in Vietnam

Sumitomo makes first hydropower investment in Vietnam

Sumitomo Corporation has made its first hydropower investment in Vietnam by acquiring a 49% stake in Mekong Electric Power Engineering and Development JSC which owns the 48 MW Dak Di 1 & 2 run-of-river hydropower project in Danang city.

Energy - Fri, October 24, 2025 | 3:42 pm GMT+7

Investors urge Vietnam to fix legal hurdles to LNG power projects

Investors urge Vietnam to fix legal hurdles to LNG power projects

A group of investors in Vietnam’s gas-fired power sector has urged the country's parliament to address regulatory gaps that have stalled multi-billion-dollar LNG and domestic gas-fueled power projects, warning that delays could derail the country’s energy transition targets.

Energy - Fri, October 24, 2025 | 2:12 pm GMT+7

Central Vietnam province Gia Lai okays 3 large-scale wind power projects

Central Vietnam province Gia Lai okays 3 large-scale wind power projects

Gia Lai province has granted in-principle approvals to three large-scale wind power projects with total registered capital mounting to VND19.35 trillion ($734.9 million).

Energy - Fri, October 24, 2025 | 12:01 pm GMT+7

HCMC pushes for early investment in Thu Thiem-Long Thanh railway project

HCMC pushes for early investment in Thu Thiem-Long Thanh railway project

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has emphasized the need for early investment and operation of a railway connecting Thu Thiem in the metropolis with Long Thanh International Airport in neighboring Dong Nai province.

Infrastructure - Fri, October 24, 2025 | 10:49 am GMT+7

Vietnam to let foreign investors place orders directly via global brokers

Vietnam to let foreign investors place orders directly via global brokers

Vietnam plans to allow foreign investors to place orders directly through global brokerage firms, a move aimed at easing access to its stock market after a long-awaited upgrade to "secondary emerging" market status, a top regulator said.

Finance - Fri, October 24, 2025 | 8:28 am GMT+7

Vietnam business lobby urges easing of football betting limits

Vietnam business lobby urges easing of football betting limits

Vietnam’s leading business lobby VCCI has called on the government to sharply ease limits on international football betting and relax foreign ownership rules to make the industry more appealing to investors.

Finance - Thu, October 23, 2025 | 9:30 pm GMT+7

Powering growth from within

Powering growth from within

The development of a strong domestic private sector is essential for building a resilient, independent, and self-reliant economy that is less dependent on state-owned enterprises or foreign investment, writes Tim Evans, CEO of HSBC Vietnam.

Economy - Thu, October 23, 2025 | 9:09 pm GMT+7

Vietnam's stock market regulator appoints 2 new vice chairpersons

Vietnam's stock market regulator appoints 2 new vice chairpersons

The State Securities Commission of Vietnam (SSC) has appointed Nguyen Hoang Duong and Le Thi Viet Nga as its new vice chairpersons.

Finance - Thu, October 23, 2025 | 4:14 pm GMT+7

Vinhomes chairman appointed CEO of VinSpeed

Vinhomes chairman appointed CEO of VinSpeed

Pham Thieu Hoa, chairman of Vinhomes, has been appointed CEO of VinSpeed, a newly established company specializing in railway construction.

Companies - Thu, October 23, 2025 | 3:40 pm GMT+7

De Heus, Hung Nhon to invest $380 mln in high-tech agriculture hub in southern Vietnam

De Heus, Hung Nhon to invest $380 mln in high-tech agriculture hub in southern Vietnam

Dutch agribusiness group Royal De Heus and Vietnam’s Hung Nhon Group plan to invest VND10 trillion ($380 million) to develop a high-tech agricultural ecosystem in Tay Ninh province between 2025 and 2030.

Industries - Thu, October 23, 2025 | 2:35 pm GMT+7

Consumer finance major F88’s credit rating upgraded on improved funding capability, liquidity

Consumer finance major F88’s credit rating upgraded on improved funding capability, liquidity

Vietnamese credit ratings agency FiinRatings has upgraded F88's credit rating from “BBB-” to “BBB”, with a “stable” outlook, citing the company's enhanced capital-raising ability and improved liquidity position.

Companies - Thu, October 23, 2025 | 2:00 pm GMT+7

Vietnam's benchmark VN-Index could surpass 2,000 points in 2026: exec

Vietnam's benchmark VN-Index could surpass 2,000 points in 2026: exec

VN-Index could top 2,000 points next year, said Huynh Minh Tuan, founder of FIDT - a Ho Chi Minh City-based investment consulting firm.

Finance - Thu, October 23, 2025 | 10:55 am GMT+7

Key factors helping firms export to demanding markets: DH Foods exec

Key factors helping firms export to demanding markets: DH Foods exec

Don’t treat business as a week-to-week or month-to-month affair. To go the distance, you must conduct business ethically, writes Nguyen Trung Dung, CEO of DH Foods.

Consulting - Thu, October 23, 2025 | 8:00 am GMT+7

Gold exchange, gold derivatives, gold ETFs proposed to be launched in Vietnam

Gold exchange, gold derivatives, gold ETFs proposed to be launched in Vietnam

Forming a gold exchange under state management in Vietnam is suitable to the reality, said Dao Xuan Tuan, head of the foreign exchange management department under the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV).

Finance - Wed, October 22, 2025 | 9:00 pm GMT+7