TTC Group and its electricity arm Gia Lai Electricity JSC (GEC) on Friday inaugurated the TTC Phong Dien solar power plant after just nine months of construction.

This is the first 35MW solar power plant to be put into operation in Viet Nam.

The power plant, located in Dien Loc Commune in Thua Thien-Hue Province, has total investment capital of nearly US$43 million. Work on the project started in January 2018.

About 145,560 solar panels were installed with advanced technology and equipment, which will absorb the sun’s radiation and convert it into electricity for the national grid.

The plant is expected to generate about 60 million kWh per year, which is nearly equal to the annual electricity consumption of about 32,628 households in Viet Nam. It is estimated to reduce CO2 emissions by about 20,503 tonnes per year.

“It’s very encouraging to see Phong Dien solar power plant go online, paving the way for the development of Viet Nam’s solar energy sector, by leveraging the private sector.

“As a development institution and a GEC shareholder, IFC believes GEC is moving on the right track to tap into the rich potential of Viet Nam’s green energy sector, improving the national energy supply capacity through expanding supply of reliable and clean energy,” said Kyle Kelhofer, IFC Country Manager for Viet Nam, Cambodia and Lao PDR at the event.

Besides TTC Phong Dien solar power plant, GEC will officially put the TTC Krong Pa solar power plant in Gia Lai Province into operation in the last quarter of this year. The $60.3 million project has a capacity of 49MW.

In the solar energy sector, the TTC energy segment is implementing six plants which are expected to be put into operation before June 2019. – VNS