Solar power mobilization remains low, coal power surges across the system

In July, Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) said that it had ensured sufficient electricity supply for socio-economic development and people's daily needs. The total electricity output of the system in July reached 26.20 billion kWh - an increase of 7.1% over the same period last year. In the first 7 months, the total electricity output of the system reached 160.58 billion kWh, an increase of 1.9% over the same period.

The mobilization rate of some types of power sources over the total electricity output of the entire system in July is as follows: Hydropower reached 36.80 billion kWh, accounting for 22.9%. EVN further informed that currently, the water inflow in the Northern lakes continues to be very poor, only reaching 30 - 60% of the average of many years, with almost no floods.

Huy động điện mặt trời vẫn thấp, điện than tăng vọt trên toàn hệ thống - Ảnh 1. — Hydropower sources this year are nearly 16 billion kWh lower than the same period last year.

In addition, coal-fired thermal power reached 79.95 billion kWh, accounting for 49.8%. The report said that after receiving instructions from the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group (TKV) and the Northeast Corporation have delivered additional coal volumes compared to the contract, ensuring that coal-fired thermal power plants produce higher electricity output and increase inventory reserves.

Renewable energy reached 22.11 billion kWh, accounting for 13.8% (of which solar power reached 15.48 billion kWh, wind power reached 6.06 billion kWh). Gas turbines reached 18.01 billion kWh, accounting for 11.2%. According to EVN, the amount of gas supplied is still low compared to the demand for operating gas power plants (due to the decline in gas mines); oil-fired thermal power reached 1.23 billion kWh, accounting for 0.8% and imported electricity reached 2.22 billion kWh, accounting for 1.4%.

Notably, 1 year ago, the electricity output of the whole system also increased.

Specifically, by the end of July 2022, the total output of the entire system reached 158.02 billion kWh, an increase of 4.2% over the same period. Notably, hydropower output reached 52.58 billion kWh, accounting for 33.3%, 15.78 billion kWh higher than the same period this year. In contrast, coal-fired thermal power reached 63.94 billion kWh, accounting for 40.5%, more than 16 billion kWh lower than the same period this year. From May to June, hydropower production continuously decreased, water levels in hydropower reservoirs fell below the alarm level, so the mobilized hydropower source decreased. To compensate, coal-fired thermal power plants had to increase capacity. Therefore, the increase in coal-fired thermal power this year is equivalent to the decrease in hydropower.

However, data shows that renewable energy sources last year compared to this year have not changed much. By the end of July 2022, electricity output from renewable energy reached 22.06 billion kWh, accounting for 14% (of which solar power reached 16.54 billion kWh, wind power reached 5.24 billion kWh); by the end of July 2033, renewable electricity reached 22.11 billion kWh, an increase of only more than 0.5 billion kWh, of which solar power this year was mobilized 1.06 billion kWh lower than last year.

Meanwhile, this year, the grid has added many transitional solar and wind power plants after successfully negotiating provisional prices and receiving approval from the Ministry of Industry and Trade for provisional prices. As of August 1, 59/62 projects have completed negotiations on provisional prices and signed power purchase contracts with the Electricity Trading Company under EVN. According to EVN, the cumulative power output of transitional renewable energy projects from the time of COD commercial operation to July 31, 2023 is about 211.7 million kWh; including an average daily power output of about 3.2 million kWh, accounting for about 0.4% of the total mobilized power output.

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