Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s total output of electricity from renewable energies hit 9.5billion kWh in the first four months of 2021, up 156.9 percent year-on-year,and accounting for 11.8 percent of the total electricity output, according to areport by the Vietnam Electricity (EVN).

The electricity output from solar energy alone reached 8.73 billion kWh, anearly three-fold increase compared to the same period last year.

Meanwhile, during January-April, Vietnam produced a total of18.39 billion kWh from hydropower, up 59.3 percent year-on-year, and making up22.8 percent of the total.

The thermal power electricity yield reached 41.48 billion kWh, ayear-on-year decrease of 8.7 percent, and accounting for 51.4 percent of thetotal. The total output of electricity generated by gas turbines was 10.55billion kWh, down 16.4 percent, and equivalent to 13.2 percent of the total.

The output of oil-fuelled thermal power plant was small, reaching 2million kWh, while electricity import volume stood at 481 million kWh, down62.5 percent over the same period in 2020, and accounting for 0.6 percent ofthe total electricity production of the whole system.

The average daily electricity consumption of the wholesystem is expected to reach 774.3 million kWh per day in May, and the largest loadcapacity is estimated at 39,859 MW, as severe heat waves are forecast to linger throughout the country.

EVN also sets a target of well fulfilling the dual tasks ofensuring COVID-19 prevention and control and providing sufficient electricityfor socio-economic development and people’s daily activities, especially duringthe elections of deputies to the 15th National Assembly andall-level People’s Councils for the 2021-2026 term on May 23./.