The plant spans 49ha in Tuy Phong District, Binh Thuan Province. — Photo genco3.com

Vinh Tan 2 solar power plant, worth VND986 billion (US$42.3 million), began commercial operation in the south central province of Binh Thuan on Saturday.

Financed by the Power Generation Joint Stock Corporation 3 under the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN), the 49-ha plant has a designed capacity of 42.65 MWp and is expected to contribute 68.4 million kWh of electricity to the national grid each year.

EVN chairman Duong Quang Thanh said the operation of the plant will provide electricity for the south as the domestic coal reserve are insufficient to meet demand and sources of hydro-power are exhausted.

To date, 79 solar power plants have been connected to the national grid and begun commercial operation for a combined capacity of 4,312 MW, Thanh said, adding that construction of 10 to 12 more plants should be completed by the end of this month.

Viet Nam’s annual power consumption has increased by an annual average of 10 per cent in recent years, and the country is at risk of facing power shortages in the 2020s. According to environmental experts, renewable energy like solar will play a vital role in helping Viet Nam accomplish its long-term goal of hooking up the whole country to the national grid. — VNS