According to Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN), by late June this year, Vietnam had 89 solar and wind power projects with a total capacity of 4,543 MW, accounting for 8.3% of the total national power capacity. The figure far exceeded the planned renewable capacity of just 850MW by 2020.

By late June this year, Vietnam had 89 solar and wind power projects with a total capacity of 4,543 MW

Among those, Binh Thuan and Ninh Thuan provinces only accounted for up to 38 solar and wind power plants with a combined capacity of 2,027MW. This rapid growth means that local power grid was unable to keep pace.

In reality, most of 110-500KV lines and transformer stations in the provinces are working much higher than their designed capacity. The lines are reportedly operating over 360% of their capacity.

Nguyen Duc Cuong, director of the National Electricity Regulation Centre, said that EVN ever warned solar and wind plant investors of the overload for the power grid system.

To improve the situation, the centre was forced to reduce capacity by 30-35% of some renewable power projects to ease the pressure on the national power grid.