Vietnam will need 194 - 210 billion kWh of electricity in 2015, including both domestic production and import. The country will effectively use local energy sources for power generation while importing electricity and suitable materials to diversify energy sources and ensure energy security.
The figure will rise to 330 - 362 billion kWh in 2020 and 695 - 834 billion kWh in 2030. Vietnam will give priority to developing renewable energy sources for production and will raise the proportion of this energy from 3.5 percent of power output in 2010 to 4.5 percent in 2020. At the same time, electricity to GDP elasticity will be reduced from current 2.0 to 1.5 by 2015.
Under the direction of balancing production outputs in different regions, ensuring economy of power projects, and developing in couple with intensive investment and technological innovation, the Government advocates developing renewable power energies (wind power, solar power, biomass power, etc). The capacity of wind-to-power sources will be increased from the current negligible volume to 1,000 MW by 2020. Hydropower plants will be developed at appropriate rate.
Besides, in 2015 and subsequent years, Vietnam will continue developing 220 KV and 110 KV power grids, and improve regional electricity networks to enhance reliability, minimise power losses to facilitate electrification in rural areas.
In the future, the electricity industry will study and deploy the "Smart Grid” model - a master management solution for power use, ranging from power generation, transmission and distribution stages to end consumers on the basis of information technology advancements and broadband transmission lines. For users, the Smart Grid will help them optimise power use and reduce monthly power expenses thanks to the ability to measure daily electricity use. For power companies, Smart Gird will help manage the electrical network better, improve system reliability and minimise power loss. Smart Grid will boost interaction between electricity users and electrical equipment with the grid to maximise the efficiency of power supply and boost supply security.
However, the current grid development must conform to technical standards used in regional countries to be harmoniously connected with Vietnam's power grids and synchronised with other regional countries. In addition, the transmission grid must have backup to offset the surcharge. The electricity industry is now using 500KW ultra-high voltage lines but it will focus on studying the installation of 750 kW and 1000 kW voltage lines in the future or use single-current transmission lines after 2020. The 500 kW grid will be used to transmit electricity from power centres and major power plants to load centres in each region.
In the framework of cooperation and linking programmes with Southeast Asia nations and Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) nations, the Vietnamese power industry will coordinate and develop with neighbouring Laos, Cambodia and China. For Laos, we will link with northern Laos with 220 KW and 500 KW lines through Thanh Hoa, Nho Quan (Ninh Binh province) and Son La directions; with central and southern Laos through Thach My (Quang Nam) and Pleiku (Gia Lai). For Cambodia, Vietnam will buy and sell electricity, depending on capacity. For China, we will continue importing electricity on 220 KW and 110 KW lines and will consider using 500 KW lines or install 2,000 - 3,000MW single-current lines for this purpose.
To fulfil these tasks, Vietnam is forecast to need VND900 trillion (US$48.8 billion) for power development investment from now to 2020, or US$4.88 billion a year on average. The power industry will need support and cooperation from many ministries and branches like the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the customers and the Ministry of Finance.
Developing the electricity sector must go hand in hand with the country’s socio-economic development strategy and ensure electricity supplies for both production activities and people’s daily consumption while ensuring energy security in the future.
Thu Ha
Vietnamese
