Vietnam considers 20% offtake from self-use rooftop solar power installations

Vietnam may allow excess rooftop solar power to be connected to the national grid at no more than 20% of installed capacity, says a much expected government decree being finalized by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT).

The decree was discussed at a government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Monday as the government is attempting to finish a regulation to stimulate self-use rooftop solar power development.

Excess power generated by self-use rooftop solar installations can be sold to the state-owned Vietnam Electricity (EVN) at a price equivalent to the average rate of the previous year, according to the draft decree.

The MoIT report said the draft decree would facilitate trading of self-use rooftop solar power generated at industrial parks, economic zones, export-processing zones and high-tech parks.

PM Chinh asked the ministry to gather public feedback on the draft decree, finalize the document and submit it to the government next week.

Earlier, the MoIT had proposed purchasing excess rooftop solar power from homes and offices at VND671 (2.6 U.S. cents) per kWh. The proposed price was 58-63% lower than what EVN was paying commercial solar power farms.

Vietnam currently has about 103,000 rooftop solar power projects with a total installed capacity of more than 9,500 MW. According to the national power development plan for the 2021-2030 period with vision until 2050 (PDP VIII), the capacity of solar power connected to the national grid will increase to 2,600 MW by 2030.