Transparent procedures for rooftop solar power.

It can be affirmed that the issuance of the Decree on the development of rooftop solar power is necessary for many reasons.

First of all, the policy of developing renewable energy, including solar energy, has been clearly stated in Resolution No. 55-NQ/TW of the Politburo on the orientation of the National Energy Development Strategy of Vietnam to 2030, with a vision to 2045, and in the Power Development Plan VIII. The advantage of rooftop solar power is that it is green and clean. Therefore, developing this power source will contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting the environment; on the other hand, it will also meet the local energy needs for daily life and production, thereby reducing the load on the national power grid and transmission system - thus reducing investment costs for the power sector and reducing power losses.

Furthermore, because the Prime Minister 's Decision No. 13/2020/QD-TTg on the mechanism for encouraging the development of solar power was not applied from January 1, 2021, a "legal vacuum" has existed since then. Consequently, the development of rooftop solar power for self-consumption, without generating electricity or selling it to the national grid, has faced many obstacles and has not been implemented.

Furthermore, in Resolution No. 98/2023/QH15 on piloting some specific mechanisms and policies for the development of Ho Chi Minh City, the National Assembly allowed the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City to decide on the use of rooftops that meet technical requirements of administrative offices, public service units, and offices of agencies and units identified as public assets in the city to install solar power systems to provide electricity for the operation of those offices. To implement this mechanism, the city also needs more specific guidance.

In this context, it is necessary to develop and promulgate a Decree specifying regulations on the development of rooftop solar power to create a legal framework and mechanisms to attract and encourage businesses and individuals to invest in rooftop solar power for self-consumption. The Decree will also serve as a tool to help state agencies effectively manage this sector and contribute to the implementation of the National Assembly's policy.

Anticipating the promulgation of the Decree on the development of rooftop solar power, the business community also hopes that the Decree will stipulate transparent and clear administrative procedures. This is because, according to feedback from many businesses, the installation of rooftop solar power still faces many obstacles. In particular, administrative procedures regarding construction, fire safety, and environmental protection for rooftop solar power are not yet clearly defined and are applied differently in various localities. For example, regarding construction procedures, some localities consider rooftop solar power as a construction project, while others consider it as an add-on device, leading to different procedures. Regarding fire safety procedures, some places do not consult the Department of Industry and Trade, some places have the fire safety agency proactively consult the Department of Industry and Trade, while others require businesses to consult the Department of Industry and Trade.

One of the most important measures for developing rooftop solar power is the need for clear, transparent regulations and the consistent application of administrative procedures. Therefore, the draft Decree proposal should include a policy on reviewing legal regulations in other fields related to rooftop solar power installation and propose amendments within this Decree itself, so that businesses and individuals can apply them conveniently.

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/chinh-sach-va-cuoc-song/minh-bach-thu-tuc-cho-dien-mai-nha-i360948/