Vietnam needs better policies to tap solar power potential

Vietnam needs better policies to tap solar power potential

Sustainable Energy Alliance (VSEA) said the country lacks a set of standards
for the development of solar power, which is abundant and untapped.

The comment was released at a VSEA conference on trends and challenges in
the sector held in Hanoi on August 21.

Vietnam is among countries that enjoy the most sunlight in the world, with
the Central Highlands and south central regions recording between 2,000 and
2,600 hours of sunshine every year.

However, most solar power projects in the country are small scale, with only
the under construction Quang Ngai grid-tied solar power project at a large
scale.

Experts said the biggest challenge is unattractive selling prices of solar
energy, while investors struggle to access funds for green power development
and face high costs due to the necessity to import most equipment.

Do Duc Tuong, Clean Energy Advisor at US Agency for International
Development in Vietnam, said a long-term and stable policy on solar power
prices is needed to encourage investment.

On the other hand, prices of solar batteries have fallen, falling from 4 USD
per watt peak capacity to about 0.5 USD per watt peak capacity in the past
five years.

Participants said this is a good sign for the renewable energy market, but
the Government should issue technical specifications to help consumers buy
quality products.

Hoang Thu Huong, deputy head of the industrial division under the Party
Central Committee's Economic Commission, said electricity infrastructure in
Vietnam has basically met economic development demand, but still needs
further investment to promote renewable
energy.

The Government is considering preferential pricing policies for the solar
and wind power sectors, she added.

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ower-potential/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+
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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com