The additional charge of the national power grid is estimated at 423 million kWh a day in June 2014, said the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN), adding that the maximum capacity may reach 21,190 MW.
In Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, the peak capacity is expected at 2,595 MW in the summertime, an increase of nearly 250 MW over 2013. To ensure safe power supply, EVN has introduced a series of solutions.
Increased transmission capacity
According to data of power source operations, surcharge and breakdowns from the National Load Dispatch Centre (NLDC), the power sector is under relatively heavy pressures in the power supply. Hydroelectric sources continuously increased the output by 155-181 million kWh a day while other sources such as coal-fired and gas-fuelled added more than 100 -150 million kWh a day to meet the fast-rising load demand. Fortunately, with the right-scheduled commissioning of the 500-KV Pleiku - My Phuoc - Cau Bong high-voltage transmission line, stretching more than 437 km, effectively ensured safe, stable power transmission from the North to the South. And, together with the existing circuit 1 and circuit 2 of the 500-kV line, the Pleiku - My Phuoc - Cau Bong circuit helps link in safe, economical power system operation in case of high-rate power exchanges between different regions of the country. Furthermore, EVN directed the National Power Transmission Corporation (EVN NPT) and its subordinate units to strengthen coordination with localities to accelerate some transmission projects to improve the reliability and the capacity of the power supply system.
Recently, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued Directive 17/CT-BCT to ensure enough power for the during the highest demand duration of the year, the dry season. The ministry assigned specific agencies, units and groups concerned to ensure the best service and adequate electricity for power users during the dry season.
Increased investment for Hanoi power grid
In Hanoi, the power demand sometimes reaches 43,000 kWh in hot days. Nguyen Danh Duyen, Deputy General Director of EVN Hanoi Corporation, said EVN Hanoi invested VND1,964.7 billion (nearly US$100 million) to build, upgrade and tune the power grid in 2013. To date, EVN Hanoi has completed the construction 17 110-kV stations, upgraded 223 medium-voltage and low-voltage grid works, and put into use 329 km of medium-voltage lines, 69.9 km of medium-voltage underground cables, 981 transformers with a total capacity of 459.6 MVA, and 313 km of low-voltage lines. EVN Hanoi has also actively enhanced inspection into line and equipment operations during peak hours, regularly monitored the load of distribution transformers in order to level the load to avoid localised overloads. In 2014, EVN Hanoi plans to invest VND2,638 billion to build 40 220-kV and 110-kV projects and 204 medium-voltage and low-voltage projects. In addition, EVN Hanoi has carried out regulatory plans to encourage economical power use.
However, EVN Hanoi faces a plenty of difficulties when it carries out power grid construction like the inconsistency in the city overall master planning and the power grid planning, insufficient land funds for expansion of power stations and lines. To seek solutions to address these obstacles, in addition to specific directions for every project, in a recent working session with EVN Hanoi, Nguyen Ngoc Tuan, Vice Chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee, urged the power sector to review its development plans. In the long term, the Planning Institute and the Department of Planning and Architecture must facilitate EVN Hanoi to integrate their power development plans into the city’s development planning, he said. The corporation may be allowed to install surfaced lines to meet instant demand.
PV
Vietnamese
