In an effort to remove obstacles for renewable energy projects, mobilize resources for the national economy, and address concerns raised by businesses and localities, the Prime Minister has issued a directive requiring swift action from relevant authorities.

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyễn Hòa Bình, on behalf of the Prime Minister, has signed Official Telegram No. 118/CĐ-TTg regarding the urgent implementation of tasks assigned under Resolution No. 233/NQ-CP dated December 10, 2024. The resolution outlines key principles and directions for resolving difficulties encountered by renewable energy projects.

The directive emphasizes the importance of responsibility, transparency, and accountability, and explicitly prohibits avoidance, delay, wastefulness, corruption, and group interests. To ensure effective execution of Resolution No. 233/NQ-CP, the Prime Minister has requested ministers, heads of ministerial-level and government agencies, chairpersons of provincial and municipal People’s Committees, and the Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) to promptly address all relevant tasks under their jurisdiction.

The official telegram clearly states that any difficulties and obstacles related to renewable energy projects must be resolved by the authorities at the level responsible for them, who will be held accountable before the Government and the Prime Minister for the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of their reports and proposals.

Specifically, the Chairman of the People’s Committee of Lâm Đồng Province is tasked with directing the resolution of challenges related to wind and solar power projects that overlap with zoning plans for exploration, mining, and processing of titanium ore and national titanium reserves (previously associated with Bình Thuận Province), as well as bauxite-related zoning conflicts (previously associated with Đắk Nông Province). The results must be reported by July 25, 2025.

The Chairman of the People’s Committee of Dak Lak Province must oversee the resolution of obstacles affecting the Long Thành 1 solar power project, which overlaps with the irrigation planning area of the Ia Mơr Reservoir. The resolution must be completed and reported by July 25, 2025.

Chairpersons of the People’s Committees of Dong Nai, Lam Dong, Khanh Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City, and Dak Lak (according to post-merger administrative boundaries) are required to resolve issues related to land management procedures for wind and solar power projects mentioned in Conclusion No. 1027/KL-TTCP. This includes procedures related to land use expansion, land lease, and land use conversion for a total of 40 projects. All resolutions and reports must be finalized and submitted by July 25, 2025.

The Prime Minister has also instructed the Chairpersons of the People’s Committees of the following provinces and cities Dong Nai, Vinh Long, Dong Thap, Can Tho City, Phu Tho, Ho Chi Minh City, Khanh Hoa, Lam Dong, and Dak Lak to direct the identification and classification of land used for farming and aquaculture that hosts rooftop solar power systems with large installed capacities, implemented under the investment model of agricultural farms. This directive is to be carried out in accordance with the provisions set out in Report No. 345/BC-BCT dated December 24, 2024, by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Results must be submitted by July 25, 2025.

The official telegram further instructs the General Director of Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) to oversee and resolve all issues related to electricity pricing agreements for rooftop solar systems installed on agricultural and forestry land with large capacities under the farm investment model. The outcome of this work must also be reported by July 25, 2025.

Regarding the challenges and complications in applying the FIT (Feed-in Tariff) pricing mechanism for wind and solar power projects, the Prime Minister has assigned the Minister of Industry and Trade and the General Director of EVN to review and propose clear and actionable solutions. These proposals should be based on the implementation progress of tasks outlined in Notification No. 334/TB-VPCP dated June 28, 2025, and further elaborated in Document No. 729/BC-BCT dated July 15, 2025, issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The Ministry is responsible for collecting feedback from relevant ministries and agencies, consolidating and finalizing the report to the Government no later than July 25, 2025.

In addition, the Prime Minister has directed the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, in coordination with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and local authorities, to promptly review and comprehensively resolve outstanding issues related to overlapping zoning plans for mineral reserves, irrigation planning, and land-use conversion for forest and agricultural land. These issues must be addressed within their respective jurisdictions by July 25, 2025, and any matters beyond their authority must be reported to the Prime Minister.

Source: https://vneconomy.vn/thu-tuong-yeu-cau-9-dia-phuong-va-nhieu-bo-khan-truong-thao-go-kho-khan-cac-du-an-nang-luong-tai-tao.htm

Rooftop solar power systems in industrial parks hold significant development potential, driven by the growing demand for clean energy and the decreasing cost of investment. However, in practice, there remain numerous regulatory and operational barriers related to investment, installation, grid connection, and electricity sales within industrial zones that must be promptly addressed.

Rooftop solar power in industrial parks shows substantial growth potential

According to a report from the Electricity Regulatory Authority (Ministry of Industry and Trade), by the end of 2024, renewable energy projects (excluding hydropower) in operation reached a total capacity of 23,253 MW, accounting for 27% of the national power system’s total installed capacity.

As for rooftop solar power, by the end of 2024, Vietnam Electricity (EVN) had been purchasing electricity from 103,170 systems, with a total installed capacity of approximately 9,572.58 MWp. The total energy supplied to the national grid in 2024 was 10.991 billion kWh, making up 3.56% of the country’s total electricity output (308.73 billion kWh).

A WAVE OF KEY POLICIES INTRODUCED

The adjusted National Power Development Plan for the period 2021–2030, with a vision to 2050 (PDP8 – adjusted) has recently been approved by the Prime Minister. The plan clearly states the priority and encouragement of solar power development, aiming for 50% of office buildings and 50% of residential households to utilize self-produced, self-consumed rooftop solar power by 2030 (used for on-site consumption, not for sale to the national grid).

Specific targets include:

• By 2030, the total installed capacity of solar power (including utility-scale and rooftop systems) is expected to reach 46,459–73,416 MW, accounting for 25.3% to 31.1% of the total energy mix.

• By 2050, the capacity is projected to increase to 293,088–295,646 MW, making up 35.3% to 37.8% of the total.

At the recent seminar titled “Promoting Green Energy in Industrial Parks: Solutions for Effective Business Implementation”, Ms. Phan Thị Thu Thủy, Deputy Head of the Electricity Market and Power System Department under the Electricity Regulatory Authority, stated that numerous policies have been introduced to ensure the sustainable development of renewable energy, meeting the country’s electricity demand for socio-economic growth. Key policies include: Law on Electricity No. 61/2024/QH15, which replaces the 2004 Electricity Law, Decree No. 56/2025/NĐ-CP, detailing specific articles related to power development planning under the Electricity Law, Decree No. 58/2025/NĐ-CP, outlining regulations related to renewable energy development, Decision No. 988/QĐ-BCT, issuing the electricity price framework for solar power projects in 2025. Among these, Decree 58/2025/NĐ-CP serves as an important legal foundation that facilitates the development of rooftop solar power systems.

Regarding self-produced, self-consumed rooftop solar systems, Ms. Thủy shared that the government encourages purchasing surplus electricity, up to 20% of the actual monthly electricity output. This incentive is seen as a driving force to expand household-based rooftop solar generation, especially for standalone residential homes.

Despite these supportive policies, Ms. Thủy noted that current regulations do not permit entities outside of Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) to purchase surplus power. This limitation could restrict the ability of organizations and individuals to develop solar power systems within industrial zones and clusters that fall under the power grid managed by non-EVN wholesale and retail electricity providers.

BARRIERS THAT STILL NEED TO BE UNBLOCKED

According to Mr. Phan Công Tiến, an energy expert from the Institute for Smart Energy Applications Research (iSEAR), Decree No. 57/2025/NĐ-CP which outlines the mechanism for direct power purchase agreements (DPPA) between renewable energy generators and large electricity consumers and Decree No. 58/2025/NĐ-CP have marked an important turning point in promoting flexible energy models. Under these mechanisms, businesses are now allowed not only to install on-site solar power systems for internal use but also to purchase renewable electricity directly from off-site projects through the DPPA framework. However, significant obstacles remain in the implementation of both decrees.

Specifically, under Decree 57, only large electricity users are permitted to participate in DPPA. Retail electricity providers operating within industrial clusters are only allowed to purchase power via the national grid for systems with capacities of 10 MW or more. Meanwhile, according to the 2024 Electricity Law, retail companies are allowed to purchase electricity for resale and are not prohibited from installing rooftop solar systems to resell power to customers. “Therefore, by limiting surplus power purchases from self-producing, self-consuming customers to only EVN, Decree 57 creates inefficiency and poses a major barrier to industrial parks pursuing green transformation and energy autonomy,” Mr. Tiến emphasized.

In addition, the application of a price cap for DPPA transactions via private transmission lines is currently creating difficulties for businesses. In reality, such a price ceiling is only necessary in markets showing signs of monopoly or unfair competition, where government intervention is needed to prevent unreasonable price hikes and protect consumer interests.

With regard to Decree 58, many enterprises and customers operating within retail-based cluster models still face challenges in installing self-produced, self-consumed solar systems. The primary issue stems from the lack of consensus between manufacturing tenants and industrial park operators, despite the decree clearly stating that favorable conditions should be provided for such installations.

Moreover, Decree 58 limits the installed capacity of self-consumption solar power systems to not exceed the user’s peak demand (Pmax), which reduces the economic efficiency of these projects. In reality, solar energy generation is weather-dependent, and output fluctuates throughout the day based on solar radiation. To optimize investment returns, many businesses choose to install systems with capacities larger than their peak load.

“This ‘overcapacity’ allows better utilization of energy during periods of lower sunlight and supports storage solutions,” Mr. Tiến explained. “Excess electricity can be stored and used during low-sunlight periods or at night, thereby enhancing energy autonomy.” He further proposed removing the capacity limit regulation, as most systems are now equipped with anti-reverse power protection devices, which prevent any adverse impact on the grid.

POLICY NEEDED TO ENABLE POWER SALES WITHIN INDUSTRIAL PARKS

In response to ongoing regulatory challenges, representatives of industrial park developers from Hanoi, Hai Phong, Vinh Phuc, Quang Ninh, Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Hung Yen, Hai Duong, Ha Nam, and Thai Nguyen have proposed that the Government and relevant ministries urgently issue circulars, decrees, and guiding documents to support the implementation of Decree No. 57/2025/NĐ-CP and Decree No. 58/2025/NĐ-CP. These documents should include policies allowing the development of rooftop solar power, investment in electricity infrastructure and grid connections, and authorization for power sales within industrial parks, thereby providing clean energy to businesses operating in industrial and manufacturing zones.

In terms of surplus electricity generation, it is important to note that solar power output heavily depends on the number of sunlight hours throughout the year. As a result, solar energy yields in northern Vietnam are significantly lower than in the southern regions under the same technical specifications. Applying a uniform electricity price cap across all regions disadvantages solar developers in the North and reduces the attractiveness of solar investment there. Meanwhile, Northern Vietnam urgently needs to develop more local generation to prevent overloading the North-South transmission grid and reduce transmission costs. Therefore, a separate pricing mechanism for solar power in Northern Vietnam should be introduced to encourage investment.

Within the industrial park model, facility lessors face regulatory ambiguity over the definition of “self-produced, self-consumed electricity”, making it difficult for tenants to legally purchase renewable energy. As a solution, several industrial park developers have proposed that non-state electricity distributors and retailers operating within industrial parks should be officially recognized as “large electricity users” under current legal definitions. This would allow them to sign DPPA contracts with renewable energy developers, promoting healthy market competition and driving energy prices down. Furthermore, the definition of “self-produced, self-consumed electricity” should simply refer to electricity not exported to the EVN grid, which aligns with the country’s current economic goals.

Additionally, in order to accelerate solar deployment, relevant authorities should promptly issue legal documents that provide clear, detailed guidelines on implementation procedures including investment, planning, construction, environmental protection, and fire safety to ensure consistency and synchronization across all stages of project development.

Source: https://vneconomy.vn/dien-mat-troi-trong-khu-cong-nghiep-can-them-cu-hich-chinh-sach.htm

The Prime Minister has tasked the Minister of Industry and Trade and the General Director of Vietnam Electricity (EVN) to review, propose, and clearly recommend solutions for the obstacles related to Feed-in Tariff (FIT) pricing.

Rooftop solar power systems based on the self-generation and self-consumption model are becoming an increasingly proactive energy solution for households and businesses across Northern Vietnam. Not only do they help reduce electricity bills, but these systems also contribute to easing the load on the national power grid, supporting sustainable development goals and the transition to green energy.

Nearly 8,700 Customers Have Installed Systems

According to the Northern Power Corporation (EVNNPC), as of June 30, 2025, a total of 8,664 customers across 17 northern provinces and cities (excluding Hanoi) have installed rooftop solar systems, with a combined installed capacity reaching 577.1 MWp.

Despite unfavorable weather conditions in June 2025, electricity output from these systems fed into the grid was still estimated at 52.7 million kWh. Over the first six months of the year, total rooftop solar generation exceeded 226 million kWh. For the entire year of 2025, EVNNPC expects to purchase approximately 530 million kWh of rooftop solar electricity at a projected cost of nearly VND 1,005 billion.

Implementation in the field has proven the clear effectiveness of rooftop solar systems. For example, at Nam Dinh Mechanical Company (Ninh Binh Province), a 350kWp solar system installed on a 2,000m² factory rooftop now supplies about 35% of the company’s electricity demand, helping the business save an average of VND 100 million per month.

On a smaller scale, Mr. Le Cao Uy’s household in Ninh Binh City installed a 6kWp system with battery storage, reducing his monthly electricity bill by over VND 1.5 million especially during peak summer months. Inspired by his results, he has also advised many neighbors to invest in their own on-site renewable energy systems.

Rooftop Solar System at Nam Dinh Mechanical Company

EVNNPC Promotes Rooftop Solar Power Development

According to Ms. Trinh Thi Kim Ngan, Head of Communications at the Northern Power Corporation (EVNNPC), although the average solar radiation potential in Northern Vietnam is lower than in other regions, it is still sufficient to effectively harness rooftop solar energy. The self-generation and self-consumption model not only helps customers save on electricity bills but also supports the power sector by reducing grid load during peak hours, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and contributing to environmental protection.

EVNNPC has issued numerous guidelines and documents to assist local power companies in promoting this model. The corporation has also called for cooperation from local authorities, departments, and mass organizations to encourage residents and businesses to install rooftop solar systems.

EVNNPC Issues Guidelines on the Implementation Process for Grid-Connected Rooftop Solar Systems with Self-Consumption and No Surplus Power Sale

According to the updated Power Development Plan VIII, Vietnam’s rooftop solar potential is estimated at around 48,200 MW. Promoting grid-connected rooftop solar systems for self-generation and self-consumption without selling surplus electricity is considered a key solution to reducing the pressure on power supply, lowering energy costs for households and businesses, and significantly contributing to the national goals of energy security, green economic development, and long-term sustainability as directed by the Government.

Source: https://www.evn.com.vn/d/vi-VN/news/Dien-mat-troi-mai-nha-Giai-phap-tiet-kiem-hieu-qua-cho-khach-hang-mien-Bac-60-17-503559