Wind power projects in Binh Thuan call for help due to capacity reductions
Wind power projects in Binh Thuan call for help due to capacity reductions
The Wind Power Association of Binh Thuan Province has petitioned the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) not to cut the capacity of two wind power projects in the south-central coastal province.
After more than 10 years, the country is home to only nine wind power projects with a total capacity of some 350 megawatts (MW), making it challenging to meet the target of 800 MW of wind electricity by 2020, according to the association.
Meanwhile, the last two years have witnessed the introduction of nearly 100 solar power projects with a combined capacity of some 4,000 MW, 10 times higher than that of wind power projects and exceeding the planned capacity in the adjusted National Power Development Plan VII.
The association stated that scores of solar power projects in some provinces, such as Binh Thuan and neighboring Ninh Thuan, coupled with the lack of synchronization between the planning and execution stages of power source and grid projects, have been severely overloading the local power grid system.
The association referenced the Phan Ri-Ninh Phuoc 110kV power transmission line, noting that the capacity of the line is over 100 MW, and that the two wind power projects – 24-MW Phu Lac 1 and 30-MW Binh Thanh 1 – were earlier connected with the grid.
However, more than 10 solar power projects have been linked with the line in recent months, and they have a combined capacity of some 400 MW, exceeding the current-carrying capacity of the grid.
An electricity system regulator under State utility EVN in June asked that all power projects connected with the grid lower their capacity by 38% to 65% of their designed capacity during the daytime.
However, according to the association, the electricity sales contracts of these two wind power projects, compared with those of solar power projects, have no provision to cut their capacity if the grid is overloaded.
Therefore, the association claimed that the reduction in their capacity is unfair and goes against the agreement.
“We suggest EVN not slash the capacity of the wind power projects,” the association said in its petition.
The association added that responsibility lies with the management agencies rather than the wind power investors for the lack of synchronization in planning between power sources and grids.
In case of further capacity reductions, the association stressed these investors would send their petitions to higher management agencies to identify those responsible and demand compensation for their losses.
