Hanoi (VNA) – As the country’s total power output will expand by80,000 MW by 2030, while large sources are located far from centres, it isnecessary to develop sufficient power transmission grid to ensure stableoperation of the whole system, according to Deputy Minister of Industry andTrade Hoang Quoc Vuong.

At the conference “Vietnam Power Development Plan for the 2021-2030 Perioudwith vision until 2045” held in Hanoi on September 28, Vuong said the largeresources such as coal, gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) power plants willincrease their capacity by more than 30,000 MW, and onshore and offshore windand solar power mills by nearly 30,000 MW.

The trend of power transmission is likely to change,which means instead of transmitting power from the north and central regions tothe south like in the past, the direction will be in the opposite,Vuong said, stressing the transmission grid development plan should be studiedmeticulously in the power development Master Plan 8.

Deputy head of the Electrical System Development Department under the Instituteof Energy Nguyen Manh Cuong said under Master Plan 8, the country needs todevelop transformation stations with capacity totaling 81 GVA for the 12,000kilometres of the 500 kV transmission line, and 83 GVA for some 20,000kilometres of the 220 kV transmission line during 2021-2030. 

In the next decade, 1,200 kilometres of 500 kVtransmission line and 2,000 kilometres of 220 kV transmission line will be putinto operation each year on average as compared to the current 400 kilometresand over 1,000 kilometres, respectively, he added.

Investment for the 500 kV and 220 kV transmission lines is a big challenge forthe power sector, as the amount doubles the current capacity, he added.

The capacity of the whole system is expected to reachabout 138,000MW by 2030 and 302,000MW by 2045, of which priority is given tothe development of renewable energy sources in accordance with the potential ofeach region to ensure safety. Coal-fired thermal power will be reducedgradually, with an increase in gas thermal electricity to compensate.

Meanwhile, Le Thi Thu Ha, a representative from the Electricity Institute, saidthe power sector is desperate for 133.3 billion USD to develop the power sourceand grid system during 2021-2030, which means it needs 13.3 billion USD forpower investment each year.

Since power development Master Plan 8 has a close linkwith other sectors like coal, oil and gas, renewable energy, transport,socio-economy and urban space, specific and rational mechanisms and policiesmust be outlined to successfully carry out all power projects under the masterplan so as to ensure a stable supply of electricity, serving the socio-economicdevelopment in the coming time, Vuong said./.