How do power plants in Ha Tinh operate when the water level rises?

(Baohatinh.vn) - In a favorable hydrological context, specialized agencies will gradually reduce the capacity of thermal power plants and prioritize mobilizing maximum capacity of hydropower plants in Ha Tinh.

From the end of June 2025, the National Power System Dispatch Center (A0) will prioritize mobilizing the capacity of hydropower plants when hydrological flows at reservoirs increase, meaning that thermal power plants will operate in a context of reduced capacity to "give" power generation capacity to hydropower plants.

In Ha Tinh , for more than a month now, Vung Ang 1 Thermal Power Plant (belonging to Ha Tinh Oil and Gas Power Company, located in Vung Ang Economic Zone) has been operating power generation according to "orders" from A0 with a "scenario" of gradually reducing the power output to the grid.

Operation engineer of Vung Ang 1 Thermal Power Plant at the Central Control Room.

Mr. Le Ba Hung - Deputy Manager of the Operation Workshop (Vung Ang 1 Thermal Power Plant) said: "With 2 generators, total capacity of 1,200 MW, if at the time of mobilizing maximum capacity to serve the load demand, the plant will generate about 26 million kWh/day to the grid. However, for more than a month now, due to prioritizing the operation of hydropower plants, Vung Ang 1 Thermal Power Plant has only mobilized the operation of 1 generator (unit 2), while unit 1 is temporarily suspended, waiting for "orders" from the system. Accordingly, the plant's current electricity output to the grid fluctuates from 8 - 9 million kWh/day. From now until October 2025 is the rainy season, the water level in rivers and reservoirs in the Northern region is forecast to rise, A0 will continue to prioritize power generation capacity for the system of hydropower plants".

According to information from the Planning and Materials Department (Ha Tinh Petroleum Power Company), in July 2025 alone, Vung Ang 1 Thermal Power Plant connected to the national grid about 270 million kWh, with revenue reaching about 550 billion VND. Accordingly, in the first 7 months of 2025, the plant's commercial electricity output reached about 3,962 million kWh, with revenue of about 7,424 billion VND.

For hydropower plants in Ha Tinh, recently, improved reservoir water levels have created favorable conditions for mobilizing power generation capacity.

Under favorable hydrological conditions, A0 will prioritize mobilizing capacity from hydropower plants.

In recent days, Huong Son Hydropower Joint Stock Company (located in Son Kim 1 commune) has focused on generating electricity at maximum capacity with an output of 750,000 kWh/day for Huong Son Hydropower Plant and 160,000 kWh/day for Huong Son 2 Hydropower Plant.

Mr. Ngo Xuan Manh - Manager of Huong Son Hydropower Plant said: With the water level of the Cold Water Reservoir rising (802m), recently, the plant has been generating electricity at maximum capacity according to the direction from A0. Proactively responding to storm No. 3, heavy rainfall is expected, the water flow to the Cold Water Reservoir will increase, so in recent days, the plant has proactively regulated the water level of the reservoir to a low level (799.10m) to ensure safety for the project and the downstream area.

According to Mr. Ngo Xuan Manh, from the end of March 2025 to mid-May 2025, the water level of the Cold Water Reservoir continuously decreased due to hot weather. However, due to the impact of the flood from the end of May 2025 and the circulation of storm No. 1 in June 2025, the upstream area of the reservoir had heavy rain, the water flow to the reservoir increased, meaning that the plant generated electricity at maximum capacity according to the policy from A0. Accumulated from the beginning of the year to July 20, 2025, the commercial electricity output of Huong Son Hydropower Plant reached over 51.7 million kWh and Huong Son 2 Hydropower Plant reached over 12.8 million kWh with a total revenue of about 105 billion VND.

For Ho Ho Hydropower Plant (belonging to Ho Bon Hydropower Joint Stock Company, Phuc Trach commune), it is also proactively taking operational solutions in the context of being affected by heavy rain due to the circulation of storm No. 3.

Accumulated from the beginning of the year until now, Ho Ho Hydropower Plant has produced nearly 18 million kWh.

Mr. Nguyen Ba Tuan - Deputy Director of Ho Ho Hydropower Plant said: From the end of May 2025 to the beginning of July 2025, the plant generated electricity at maximum capacity due to favorable hydrological conditions and high reservoir water levels. However, from July 10, 2025 until now, the water flow to the reservoir has decreased (currently reaching 60.25m), so the plant generates about 80,000 kWh to the grid every day. Accumulated from the beginning of the year until now, the plant has produced nearly 18 million kWh, with revenue reaching about 35 billion VND.

Operating during natural disasters and storms, Ho Ho Hydropower Plant always complies with technical safety procedures as prescribed. Staff and workers regularly monitor and update information on weather, floods, and water levels at Chu Le hydrological station; proactively monitor rainfall, water levels, and water flow to the reservoir at specific times to operate and regulate the reservoir in accordance with the actual situation. On the basis of strengthening the inspection of construction items, the plant continues to focus on operating equipment in accordance with technical procedures to ensure the safety of construction items, dam safety, and downstream areas.

According to meteorological experts, the hydrological situation of rivers and hydroelectric reservoirs in the third quarter often depends on the development of the rainy season and the amount of rainfall in the area. The third quarter is the transitional season, and there may be heavy rains causing floods. This directly affects the water level in the reservoir, the water flow to the reservoir and the power generation capacity of hydroelectric plants. Accordingly, in a favorable hydrological context, A0 will continue to prioritize power generation at maximum capacity for hydroelectric plants on the basis of strictly following the operating procedures to ensure safety for the project and downstream areas.

Hydropower plants need to focus on operating equipment according to technical procedures to ensure safety of construction items, dam safety and downstream areas.

Experts recommend that to ensure safety and efficiency, monitoring, forecasting and hydrological management of reservoirs in the third quarter is very important. Hydropower plants need to have an operational plan suitable to weather conditions and water flow to ensure stable and safe power supply for the system.

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/cac-nha-may-dien-o-ha-tinh-van-hanh-the-nao-khi-thuy-van-dang-cao-post292211.html