At a meeting on the draft Decree regulating the mechanism to encourage the development of rooftop solar power on April 10, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien said that rooftop solar power sources can be linked and generate excess capacity to the national grid at a time-based price. That is, people and businesses can be paid when selling excess electricity to the national grid.

In addition, Mr. Dien also proposed allowing installation without following the Power Plan VIII and supporting interest rates when investing in electricity storage equipment.

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Excess rooftop solar power can be sold to the national grid. Photo: EVN

According to Mr. Do Van Nam, member of the Board of Members of the Northern Power Corporation, there should be policies to encourage industrial park enterprises to install storage equipment to convert unused electricity into clean baseload power.

This stored power can then be fed into the national grid in the evening at a suitable price, Mr. Nam emphasized.

Mr. Tran Quy Kien, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, said that current regulations in the land law do not create obstacles for rooftop solar power installation. Enterprises will also enjoy mechanisms related to green credits when using rooftop solar power.

"However, we also need a plan to manage, collect and handle expired solar panels in households, offices and industrial parks," Mr. Kien noted.

At the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha emphasized that the mechanism and policies to encourage organizations and individuals to invest in rooftop solar power are consistent policies. Because this source of electricity contributes to ensuring energy security. He also pointed out that this is an urgent task and an important solution to mobilize social resources to implement the Power Plan VIII.

Rooftop solar power, offshore wind power, biomass power, waste-to-energy power..., including projects that export electricity without connecting to the national grid, green hydrogen production, self-production, self-consumption... are prioritized for development under conditions that meet technology requirements, system safety, and reasonable prices. Developing rooftop solar power is a solution for economical, efficient use and land planning for energy.

The Deputy Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Industry and Trade to clearly define the forms of rooftop solar power business and non-business. From there, it will propose incentive policies, safety regulations, and corresponding fire prevention and fighting regulations.

Specifically, for households, offices, office buildings... installing rooftop solar power for self-production and self-consumption, not for business purposes, standard documents must be developed, procedures must be simplified as much as possible, except for projects with special requirements on safety, fire prevention and fighting.

For businesses investing in rooftop solar power for use, and at the same time installing additional power storage equipment, it is necessary to offer reasonable prices, along with support plans for finance, interest rates, taxes, etc.

"It is necessary to carefully calculate the scale of rooftop solar power development and accompanying incentive and support policies based on science and technology, technological equipment, transmission grid, economic efficiency; protect the long-term interests of investors; and focus on environmental protection," Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha noted.

According to the report of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, rooftop solar power is installed on the roofs of private houses, offices, and industrial parks, for self-production and self-consumption; may or may not be linked to the national power system; and is not for business or sale of electricity to other organizations or individuals.

The rooftop solar power capacity by the end of 2022 is about 9,000 MW, with a selling price of 8.38 cents per kWh according to Decision 13/2020. However, by the end of July 2023, there are nearly 400 MW connected to the grid waiting to be added to the planning. The fate of these projects has not been decided due to the lack of a clear mechanism.

Consider expanding the subjects eligible to directly purchase wind and solar power . In addition to production customers, other customers in need should also be considered to participate in the direct power purchase mechanism (DPPA).