Detecting many mistakes in rooftop solar power development

Perform the tasks assigned by the Prime Minister in Document No. 185/TTg-CN dated February 9, 2021 on reviewing issues related to Solar power developmentthe Minister of Industry and Trade issued Decision No. 795/QD-BCT dated March 5, 2021 on inspection of solar power development and Document No. 1376/BCT-DL dated March 15, 2021 on Control plan investigate and develop solar power in the provinces: Binh Phuoc, Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Long An, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Gia Lai, Dak Nong, Dak Lak and Ho Chi Minh City.

On March 21, 2022, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued Conclusion No. 1424/KL-BCT on reviewing issues related to the development of Solar PV at 10 power units across the country.

Many mistakes

Based on the aggregated data of the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN), the inspection team of the Ministry of Industry and Trade conducted an inspection at 6 power companies under the Southern Electricity Corporation; 3 power companies under Central Power Corporation and Ho Chi Minh City Power Corporation. These are power units with a large number and scale of solar PV put into operation before January 1, 2021. The test results showed many violations in power companies in the central and southern regions.

Specifically, at Dong Nai Electricity One Member Limited Liability Company, there were 2 customers who violated the time limit for implementing the agreement to connect Solar PV beyond the time limit prescribed by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Sign a power purchase agreement with a capacity exceeding the capacity in the connection agreement, contrary to the regulations of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. This happened at Cao Capital Solar Power System, Xuan Phu Dong, Quang Trung Co., Ltd.

Binh Duong Power Company has violated the agreement on connection of excess capacity at the request of the customer, signed a power purchase contract with a capacity exceeding the capacity in the connection agreement, which is not in accordance with the capacity in the contract. application for sale of electricity, which is inconsistent with the acceptance record.

This happened at the Solar PV system at Thai Cat Green Energy Co., Ltd., Hau Giang Energy Investment Co., Ltd., Hoang Kim Phat Production Trading Co., Ltd., and Mai Son Lam Joint Stock Company.

Binh Phuoc Power Company: Violation of response time, improper settlement of 5 customers; agreement on connection of excess capacity at the request of the customer, signing a power purchase agreement with a capacity exceeding the capacity in the connection agreement, not matching the capacity in the electricity sale application, deviation from the margin acceptance test for 3 customers.

At Ninh Thuan Power Company: Violating the implementation time of the agreement to connect Solar PV when exceeding the time limit specified in the Solar PV systems of Zeus Development Joint Stock Company, Hoang Quan Energy Co., Ltd., Co., Ltd. Thao Nguyen Farm, customer has code PB18020044373.

In addition, Ninh Thuan Power Company also signed a power purchase agreement with a capacity exceeding the capacity in the application for development and connection agreement at the Solar PV power system of BP Solar Company, Bac Phuong Company. , Gia Nhat Minh Trading Investment Co., Ltd.

According to the inspection team, the agreement and approval to connect the solar PV system causing overload of the power system is against the regulations of the Prime Minister. This happened at the 110/22 kV substations of Ninh Son, Thap Cham, Ninh Hai, Ninh Thuan 1, and Ninh Phuoc, leading to an increase in the transmission capacity to the 110 kV lines supplying these substations.

The inspection team also discovered that the agreement on connection, acceptance, and signing of power purchase and sale contracts is not the right target for the Solar PV system.

Specifically, 30% of photovoltaic panels are installed on the rack frame but without the roof. This happened at the cluster of projects of the investors, which are Minh Cuong Energy Co., Ltd., Anh Tuan Energy Co., Ltd., Binh Minh Ninh Thuan Power Co., Ltd., and Quoc Thang Ninh Thuan Co., Ltd. in Bau village. Ngu, Phuoc Dinh commune, Thuan Nam district, Ninh Thuan province.

Binh Thuan Power Company was also pointed out that the order of implementation of solar PV development is contrary to the regulations in the system rooftop solar power of Binh An Renewable Energy Investment Joint Stock Company, Global Green Technology Company; acceptance, signing of power purchase and sale contracts with capacity exceeding the capacity in the connection approval document, contrary to regulations, occurred at the Solar PV system of Ham Tan Solar farm Co., Ltd.

Central power companies share the same mistakes. At Gia Lai Electricity Company, the inspection team pointed out that the implementation time of the agreement on connection of solar PV exceeded the specified time limit. Occurs at the solar PV systems of PV Venus Company, PV ENERGRY Company, Tien Minh Gia Lai One Member Company Limited, Thang Binh Energy Company Limited, LTH Vietnam Trade and Investment Company Limited.

Dak Nong Electricity Company was discovered that the settlement time for customers in the connection agreement, signing of a contract to buy and sell solar PV exceeded the prescribed time limit; Approving the connection, putting into operation, signing power purchase and sale contracts while the grid overload has been determined and requiring customers to commit to reducing capacity when the grid is overloaded is against the Prime Minister’s regulations Government and Ministry of Industry and Trade.

According to the inspection team, the agreement on connection, acceptance, commissioning and signing of power purchase and sale contracts of the Solar PV system, causing overload of the grid system, is against the Prime Minister’s regulations. This happened at DD481CJU road, 110 kV substations Dak Mil, Dak Song, Dak R’Lap 2, Krong No and resulted in an increase in transmission capacity to the 110 kV transmission lines for these stations.

The inspection team also pointed out that the acceptance and signing of power purchase and sale contracts with capacity exceeding the capacity in the written approval of connection, contrary to the provisions of this power company.

Notably, Dak Lak Power Company implements solar PV development not in accordance with the current status of the power grid and lacks transparency. Specifically, the power grid is not overloaded but it is announced on the website that the station/line cannot release its capacity; announced on the website that the line/substation could no longer release its capacity, but then approved to connect many customers to the medium-voltage grid that had previously announced overload. This violates the provisions of the Electricity Law 2004.

At the Ho Chi Minh City Electricity Corporation, the inspection team did not find any violations and proposed to review all the connection agreements, contract signing, contract appendices, and application of electricity purchase/sale prices to different types of electricity. solar power system in accordance with the law.

Strictly handle violations

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the development of solar power in recent years still has some shortcomings such as: Developers are concentrated in a few localities with high radiation intensity, average number of sunny hours per year. large years, while the grid infrastructure has not met the requirements for transmission.

The field of renewable energy is a newly developed field in recent times, including the field of solar power and especially solar PV. Most of the investors in the field of EE are newly established or private enterprises, do not have much experience in investment. Therefore, in the process of investment preparation, implementation, construction, acceptance and put into use, some investors have not well implemented regulations on construction, fire prevention and fighting, land and environment. field, etc., but mainly focus and concern on electrical connection, completion of electrical equipment installation and confirmation of operation date to put into power generation.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade acknowledged that the development of solar PV in recent years has been uneven in localities, concentrated in low-load areas, leading to unsuitable electricity demand, causing imbalance in the process. the dispatching and operation process of the power system, affecting the reliability of power supply.

Before the violations related to the development of solar PV, the Ministry of Industry and Trade stated that, 10 inspected provinces and cities have not managed, monitored and promptly inspected activities related to solar power in their localities according to their competence. .

Some solar PV systems installed on the roofs of works and projects in industrial parks and economic zones were put into commercial operation before January 1, 2021, but at the time of inspection, they did not have a construction permit or office. acceptance test of fire prevention according to regulations. Many solar PV systems installed on the roofs of agricultural farms (livestock or cropping…), have been put into commercial operation before January 1, 2021, but the records and procedures are related to the land of the farms. agriculture has not met the requirements as prescribed.

On the basis of this conclusion, the Ministry of Industry and Trade recommends that power companies be inspected and reviewed the entire development process of solar PV projects/systems such as approval, connection agreement, acceptance, commissioning, and commissioning. generate electricity, set meter readings, sign contracts, purchase and sell electricity in accordance with the provisions of law.

At the same time, coordinate with EVN, local State management agencies to handle Solar PV projects/systems.

Proposing EVN to take charge of handling the Solar PV systems, relevant organizations and individuals have violated the provisions of the law during the implementation of Solar PV development. Directing, inspecting and reviewing the entire process of implementing and developing Solar PV projects/systems at power companies nationwide in accordance with the provisions of law; In case of detecting violations, strictly handle them according to the provisions of law. Request power units to review the business conditions of solar PV investors in the field of power generation in accordance with the law.

In addition, it is recommended that the People’s Committees of the provinces and centrally-run cities direct relevant departments and agencies to fulfill their responsibilities in Decision No. 13/2020/QD-TTg and other relevant laws. related to post-monitoring the process of developing Solar Power in accordance with its authority.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade also assigned the Electricity and Renewable Energy Department to assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with relevant agencies and organizations to monitor and report on the implementation of inspection conclusions.

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