New proposal on subjects eligible to participate in direct electricity trading

The Ministry of Industry and Trade is seeking comments on the draft Decree amending Decree 57/2025 regulating the mechanism for direct electricity purchase and sale between renewable energy generators and large electricity users and Decree 58/2025 on the development of renewable energy and new energy.

Regarding the direct power purchase agreement (DDPA) mechanism between renewable energy generators and large electricity users, the Ministry proposed expanding the subjects eligible to participate in the direct power purchase agreement.

The drafting agency proposed to expand the subjects participating in the DDPA mechanism to include data centers - a very large group of electricity consumers, and charging service providers. Electricity retailers in industrial parks, export processing zones, and high-tech zones are also allowed to directly buy and sell renewable electricity.

Notably, the electricity selling price is negotiated and agreed upon by the electricity seller and the electricity buyer instead of being bound by the electricity generation price frame as before. With rooftop solar power, the surplus electricity sold to EVN does not exceed 50% of the actual output, the price is calculated based on the average market electricity price of the previous year.

The draft also adds detailed formulas for system service costs and offsets, providing greater transparency in payments.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade proposed specific regulations on conditions for participating in the DPPA mechanism, requiring customers to reach a minimum threshold of electricity consumption, calculated on average over the last 12 months.

In case of new operations, the expected output will be considered for replacement. In addition, customers need to maintain stable consumption levels over the years to ensure efficiency and fairness when participating in the competitive electricity market.

In the draft submission, the Ministry of Industry and Trade said it had recorded the opinions of many units and independent consultants reflecting a number of difficulties in implementing the DPPA mechanism.

Notable issues include the framework for electricity prices through the private grid, the cost of clearing the difference (CCL) in the DPPA mechanism through the national grid, the certificate of registration for rooftop solar power development, and the expansion of applicable subjects.

The Ministry believes that if regulations on price frameworks or regulations on rooftop solar power certificates are not promptly amended and supplemented, there will not be enough legal basis for units to implement the DPPA mechanism, affecting the development of renewable energy, especially rooftop solar power.

Regarding CCL costs, the Ministry has asked EVN to assess in detail the impact of the proposal to eliminate this cost. On that basis, the Ministry will synthesize and report to the Government for consideration and adjustment in accordance with legal regulations and reality.

Regarding the proposal to expand the scope of application, the Ministry of Industry and Trade said it will review and evaluate the scale of large customers participating in the DPPA mechanism, and at the same time study the expansion to other groups if the electricity infrastructure and market meet the conditions.

Regarding the contents currently regulated in the Electricity Law 2024, the Ministry has reported to the Government and proposed applying a shortened procedure in drafting the National Assembly Resolution on mechanisms and policies to remove difficulties and promote national energy development in the 2026-2030 period.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/kinh-doanh/de-xuat-moi-ve-doi-tuong-duoc-tham-gia-mua-ban-dien-truc-tiep-20251022181311357.htm