Favorable natural conditions and a vast land area enable Gia Lai province to quickly become one of leading producers of renewable energy, with wind power, solar power and biomass power.
According to industry experts and relevant bodies, Gia Lai province has an average of 1,900-2,200 sunlight hours a year, a total solar radiation of 335-380 kcal per square millimeter and an average solar radiation of 4.6-5.2 kWh per square meter a day. These conditions are favorable for the province to develop solar power projects with a capacity of about 7,500 MW.
As for wind energy, Gia Lai province has four potential areas to develop wind power, with an estimated capacity of about 11,950 MW, including 3,800 MW in the eastern region; 1,300 MW in the southeast region, 6,350 MW in the western region and 500 MW in Pleiku City.
While renewable energy development is encouraged by the Government and matched with local potential, Gia Lai province has paid great attention to calling for investment funds to develop renewable energy projects and has achieved very positive results, making Gia Lai a leading producer of this energy source.
According to the Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee, the province currently has three solar power projects with a total capacity of 138 MWp. The projects were approved by the Ministry of Industry and Trade to be added to the Gia Lai Power Development Plan, including 49-MWp Krong Pa solar power project (joined to the power grid on November 12, 2018; 40-MWp Chu Ngoc solar power project (divided into 2 phases, with Phase 1 (12.75 MW) put into commercial operation from April 6, 2019 and Phase 2 under construction); and 49-MWp Krong Pa 2 solar power project (being prepared for construction).
In addition, 10 other solar power projects are planned in the province with a total capacity of 632 MWp, including Plei Pai (300 MWp), Ia O (50 MWp) ), Chu Gru 1 (43.1 MWp), Van Phat (40 MWp), Phu Thien (40 MWp), Ayun Pa (25 MWp), Chu Gru 2 (23.9 MWp), Trang Duc (49 MWp), Gia Lam - Ia Srom (49 MWp), and Ia Srep - Bitexco - To Na (12 MWp).
Regarding wind power, Gia Lai province is also home to 50-MW HBRE Chu Prong wind power farm. The investor is advancing construction investment procedures. Currently, the Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee submitted 56 wind power projects with a total capacity of 8,053 MW to be added to the Power Development Plan.
As for biomass power, Gia Lai province has two operational biomass power plants with a total capacity of 144.6 MW, fed by bagasse, including Ayun Pa Biomass Power Plant (34.6 MW) and An Khe Biomass Power Plant (110 MW).
Mr. Ho Phuoc Thanh, Director of the Gia Lai Department of Planning and Investment, said that Gia Lai province has to date allowed investors to conduct research on nearly 180 power projects, including 112 wind power projects and 68 solar power projects, with a combined capacity of 25,000 MW. “If a MW requires US$1 million of investment capital, the total fund for 25,000 MW will be huge and the local State Budget will have a good source of income. If 60 out of 180 projects are built and operated in this phase and a MW will generate VND200 million (US$8,700) of tax, the budget income will be huge, while agricultural land is free from tax,” he analyzed.
The rising demand for electricity, coupled with the pressure of having clean energy sources and minimizing environmental pollution, has boosted the development of renewable energy sources. The development of solar, wind and biomass power projects in Gia Lai province also matches the renewable energy development strategy encouraged for investment by the Government. Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh once said, “Gia Lai is a typical model of utilizing local potential for development on the basis of effectively applying new policies and mechanisms. The province has turned policies and mechanisms into development resources and in fact achieved great outcomes.”
Source: Vietnam Business Forum
Vietnamese
October 2024
Hanoi