What is EVN doing to cope with the risk of power shortage?

Faced with this situation, Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) has sent a report to the Ministry of Industry and Trade on the emergency situation of electricity supply, especially in the summer months of 2023 due to the risk of power shortages nationwide.

The risk of power shortage is present.

Responding to VTC News recently, Mr. Vo Quang Lam - Deputy General Director of EVN said that electricity consumption has increased while the hydrological situation of hydroelectric reservoirs in recent months has had many unfavorable developments.

“Currently, 13/47 hydropower reservoirs belonging to EVN and investors outside EVN have reached or are below the dead water level (total capacity of about 4,500 MW). Among them are large hydropower reservoirs of EVN such as: Lai Chau, Tri An, Ialy, Ban Chat, Huoi Quang, Trung Son, Buon Kuop, Buon Tua Srah, Srepok 3, Song Ba Ha.

The remaining output in the entire system is 4.5 billion kWh, 1.6 billion kWh lower than planned, 4.1 billion kWh lower than the same period in 2022. During the peak hot months of May, June and July, especially during peak electricity consumption hours, the risk of power shortage is present," said Mr. Vo Quang Lam.

In response to the forecast of an upcoming power shortage, at the recent monthly press conference of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Mr. Tran Viet Hoa - Director of the Electricity Regulatory Authority - said that since the beginning of the year, the main sources of electricity mobilized have been hydropower and coal-fired power (accounting for over 70%).

Meanwhile, the drought has caused a serious shortage of water for hydroelectric reservoirs. Currently, 13/47 large hydroelectric reservoirs have reached or are near dead water level, and the electricity output mobilized from hydroelectric plants has decreased sharply.

"With very low water levels in hydroelectric reservoirs, fuel supply for thermal power plants is difficult, and there will likely be a serious power shortage in the coming days, greatly affecting production and people's lives," Mr. Hoa predicted.

Mobilizing renewable energy is one of the solutions to limit power shortages that the Ministry of Industry and Trade and EVN are aiming for (Photo provided by the Ministry of Industry and Trade).

With the spirit of not letting there be a shortage of coal and gas for electricity production to ensure sufficient electricity supply for socio-economic development, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has directed units to supply fuel to thermal power plants.

“The Ministry also requested EVN to urgently negotiate to mobilize renewable power plants that are ready to ensure legality to add to the system. To date, the Ministry has agreed on the temporary price of eight wind and solar power plants with a temporary price equal to 50% of Decision No. 21/QD-BCT.

The ceiling price for ground-mounted solar power plants is VND1,184.90/kWh; floating solar power plants are priced at VND1,508.27/kWh; onshore wind power plants are priced at VND1,587.12/kWh; and offshore wind power plants are priced at VND1,815.95/kWh,” Mr. Hoa added.

Risk of power shortage, how does EVN intervene?

According to forecasts, operating the power system during the peak hot months of May, June and July will be very difficult, especially the Northern power system will face a situation of not being able to meet the peak load of the system with the largest capacity shortage of about 1,600 - 4,900 MW.

To ensure coal and gas for electricity production, EVN has sent a document to its partners. Specifically, EVN has sent a document to the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group, PetroVietnam Fertilizer and Chemicals Corporation and Ca Mau Petroleum Fertilizer Joint Stock Company proposing to give up gas for electricity production.

EVN said that the fuel supply (coal, oil, gas) for electricity production did not meet operational requirements, combined with prolonged incidents of some thermal power plants causing a large shortage of power capacity.

Gas resources in the Southeast have been on a sharp decline in recent years, with the amount of gas supplied for electricity production averaging only 13.5 - 14 million m3/day, while the demand is over 21 million m3/day.

The amount of gas supplied by the Southwest for electricity production only reaches an average of about 4 million m3/day, while the maximum operation of Ca Mau gas turbine plants requires about 6 million m3/day.

EVN has therefore requested the above companies to support and reserve gas for electricity production during the two peak months of the dry season (May and June). In particular, EVN has proposed to stop the entire Ca Mau and Phu My fertilizer plants to reserve gas for production until the end of May.

Regarding coal sources for electricity production, Mr. Vo Quang Lam said that because the amount of coal supplied could not keep up with the demand, EVN also sent a document to the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group and the Management Board of the Hau River 1 Oil and Gas Power Project to "borrow" coal to serve the electricity production of the Duyen Hai 3 and Duyen Hai 3 expansion thermal power plants.

EVN has developed plans to deal with the risk of power shortages (Photo: EVN).

According to EVN, if there is not enough coal, this plant may have to stop all operations in the next few days, the power system will continue to have a shortage of about 1,938 MW.

“EVN will continue to optimally mobilize hydropower sources, combined with increasing maximum transmission from the Central region to the North. At the same time, it will negotiate to increase electricity imports from China and Laos; negotiate and sign electricity purchase contracts from Thai Binh 2 Thermal Power Plant, a number of hydropower plants and transitional renewable energy projects on the basis of agreeing on temporary prices to put into operation in accordance with the direction of the Ministry of Industry and Trade,” said Mr. Lam.

Along with that, EVN Deputy General Director Vo Quang Lam also called on people and customers to use electricity economically, especially during peak hours at noon and in the evening (noon from 11:30 to 14:30, evening from 20:00 to 22:00).

“Customers can save electricity by using air conditioners reasonably (set at 26-27 degrees or higher, combined with fans) and should not use many high-capacity electrical devices at the same time. Factories should adjust their time and produce at night to avoid overloading the transmission lines,” said Mr. Lam.

Propose the Prime Minister to issue a directive on electricity saving

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has just submitted a document to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on issuing a directive to increase electricity saving in the 2023-2025 period and the following years at a rate of 2%/year, emphasizing that electricity demand remains high at 8.5%.

The specific goals and proposed energy saving solutions are as follows:

Agencies and offices must save 5% of total electricity consumption, mobilize resources to install and use rooftop electricity systems, and heat water with solar energy.

Outdoor lighting is reduced by at least 20% based on the application of management solutions, regulations, technical standards and technology.

Restaurants, hotels, commercial service establishments, office complexes, and apartment buildings must reduce outdoor advertising and decorative lighting capacity by at least 50% during peak evening hours.

Enterprises should develop reasonable production plans, limit peak hours, integrate renewable energy sources, key energy-using facilities should save at least 2% of electricity consumption, and participate in load adjustment...

Households use energy-saving labeled appliances and practice energy-saving habits.

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Source: https://vtc.vn/evn-dang-lam-gi-de-ung-pho-voi-nguy-co-thieu-dien-ar784121.html