Solving difficulties for renewable energy

With favorable natural conditions, Lam Dong has many opportunities to develop renewable energy. However, this electricity sector still faces many challenges that need to be solved.

Abundant potential

With vast seas and plateaus, lots of sunshine, wind and a diverse river and lake system, Lam Dong is expected to become the country’s leading renewable energy center. According to the province’s orientation, renewable energy development is identified as one of the key and strategic tasks to maximize the local potential.

Wind power project in Thuan Hanh commune. Photo: Le Phuoc

Currently, there are 97 renewable energy projects in operation in the province, with a total capacity of 3,887.89 MW, accounting for 47.17% (the total power capacity of the province is 8,241.89 MW). Specifically, there are 58 hydropower projects, with a capacity of 2,325.31 MW; 11 wind power projects, with a capacity of 404.2 MW; 28 solar power projects, with a capacity of 1,158.38 MW.

According to Mr. Nguyen Ba Ut - Director of Lam Dong Department of Industry and Trade, in recent years, the province has consistently implemented the policies, orientations, mechanisms, plans of the Central Government, the Government and relevant ministries and branches on renewable energy development. The Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Committee and all levels and branches of the province have focused on organizing and implementing drastic and synchronous solutions to exploit potentials and promote the development of electricity and energy in the locality. The province has attracted many economic sectors to participate in developing this power source.

The invested renewable energy projects have been put into production and electricity distribution with high growth rates. Thereby, they have become the driving force for industrial development, meeting the demand for electricity in the dry season, ensuring safe and stable electricity supply for socio-economic development, national defense and security in the locality.

However, Lam Dong province also acknowledged the difficulties in developing renewable energy in the area, which has special mineral resources, especially bauxite and titanium, which are widely distributed and occupy a very large area.

According to the assessment of the Provincial People's Committee leaders, the development of renewable energy is currently the biggest challenge for Lam Dong. If this situation is not resolved, it will lead to many difficulties for the locality. Currently, Lam Dong has about 2,500 projects, but if not resolved, many projects will not be able to be implemented. The current situation shows that there are many overlapping projects, especially in the field of bauxite and titanium minerals...

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien

“

Lam Dong needs to review the provincial planning based on regional and national planning; synchronously plan industrial centers associated with traffic infrastructure and warehouses. At the same time, select reputable contractors to implement projects, promote energy development, and turn Lam Dong into a national energy center.

Comrade Ho Van Muoi - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee

“

It is recommended that central ministries and branches conduct additional research in the field of renewable energy development in Lam Dong to meet local development needs.

Mr. Tran Ky Phuc - Director of Energy Institute, Ministry of Industry and Trade

“

With a long coastline, high wind speeds, and the lowest seabed depth, Lam Dong has the best offshore wind power potential in the country.

Focus on strategic solutions

To solve the problem of overlap between renewable energy projects and mineral areas, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Ho Van Muoi said: "To overcome these problems, the first solution is to apply the plan to eliminate mineral planning areas related to renewable energy projects. This is the top priority now to ensure the development of the energy sector if it brings higher economic efficiency."

Also according to the opinion of the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, another option is that some mineral planning areas that have not been exploited can be put into reserve areas. Then, mineral projects can be implemented when the 20-25 year life cycle of renewable energy projects ends.

On the other hand, in order to simultaneously develop both fields in a dual-use direction, that is, both exploiting minerals and developing renewable energy projects and works, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also proposed that wind power and solar power projects can still operate in parallel with mineral exploitation, provided that efficiency must be ensured. However, up to now, relevant laws as well as guiding documents on planning or minerals... have not had specific regulations or instructions on this content.

After the province's merger, Lam Dong has a great advantage in economic potential, especially renewable energy. Lam Dong currently has the largest area in the country with 4,233 km², an average amount of sunshine of about 2,500 hours/year, a sea surface of about 6,000 km², with 192 km of coastline... there are many advantages to develop solar power and wind power. This is a very good opportunity for Lam Dong to develop energy sources not only for the locality but also to meet the needs of the whole country. Previously, the province planned to produce about 21,000 MW to supplement the Power Plan VIII, but the locality was approved for only 6,600 MW, lower than the plan's expectation.

Meanwhile, Lam Dong has one thing that is different from other provinces and cities: the province has 5 bauxite processing, mining and deep processing factories. If 5 factories operate until 2030 (not including titanium), the energy source will account for about 4,000 MW of electricity. If the deep processing factories operate, the amount of electricity will be larger.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Ho Van Muoi proposed: "This is a very good opportunity for Lam Dong to "produce and consume itself", so the province recommends that the Government, ministries and central branches need to conduct additional research in the field of developing renewable energy sources in Lam Dong to meet the development needs of the locality".

According to the National Power Plan for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050 (revised Power Plan VIII), the total capacity of renewable energy sources allocated in the province for the period up to 2030 is 5,625.6 MW, and for the period 2031 - 2035 is 5,532.3 MW.

- The additional hydropower capacity in the 2026 - 2030 period is 338.6 MW, in the 2031 - 2035 period is 427.3 MW; the pumped storage hydropower capacity in the 2026 - 2030 period is 300 MW, in the 2031 - 2035 period is 600 MW.

- The additional onshore wind power capacity in the 2026 - 2030 period is 642 MW and in the 2031 - 2035 period is 250 MW.

- Offshore wind power capacity is oriented to develop in the 2026 - 2030 period at 2,000 MW, and in the 2031 - 2035 period at 2,300 MW.

- The additional solar power capacity in the 2026 - 2030 period is 2,195 MW and in the 2031 - 2035 period is 1,955 MW.

- Additional rooftop solar power capacity in the period 2026 - 2030 is 150 MW.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/go-kho-cho-nang-luong-tai-tao-394499.html