Focusing on repairing the power grid, ready for operation year 2026

Faced with major challenges in power system supply and operation in 2025 and forecasted difficulties in 2026, the National Power System and Electricity Market Operation Company Limited (NSMO) has closely coordinated with Vietnam Electricity (EVN), the National Power Transmission Corporation (EVNNPT), power corporations and related units to accelerate the maintenance, repair and upgrading of the power grid.

The goal is to ensure safe operation by the end of 2025 and create a reliable foundation for 2026, especially in the North and areas that play a role in increasing electricity imports.

Staff and engineers of Hai Phong Electricity Company check equipment before energizing. Photo: Manh Tu/VNA

2025 will see many records for load and extreme weather. The North will experience severe heat waves with load up to about 30,000 MW, causing the 500-220kV grid to be constantly stressed, at risk of local overload, unable to arrange power cuts during the months of May-August. In the Central region, historic storms and floods will disrupt operations and cause many tasks to be postponed to serve natural disaster prevention.

It is forecasted that in 2026, the demand for electricity security will continue to increase, especially during the 14th Party Congress and Tet holidays, requiring absolute system security. Recognizing the challenges, since November 2025, NSMO has proactively reviewed, urged and agreed with relevant units on the most optimal power outage schedule, accepting short-term difficulties to ensure long-term safety for the grid.

In the last two months of the year - the period considered the "golden time" for repairing and investing in the power grid, NSMO has organized the construction of a series of items that are decisive for operation in 2026. In the Northwest, the work of increasing the capacity of two transformers AT1, AT2 Lai Chau to 2x900 MVA and maintaining the 500kV Son La - Hoa Binh and Son La - Viet Tri lines was reasonably arranged to optimize the release of more than 10,000 MW of hydropower capacity. At Hoa Binh station, increasing the capacity of transformer AT2 to 900 MVA contributed to reducing the load on key 500kV stations in the North such as Tay Ha Noi, Thuong Tin, Nho Quan, Dong Anh, Viet Tri, ensuring grid stability in the extreme heat conditions expected in the summer of 2026.

Many complex tasks related to closing the loop and strengthening grid connectivity were also carefully calculated by NSMO, such as simultaneously cutting off power to the two 500kV lines Son La - Hiep Hoa and Hiep Hoa - Viet Tri to connect the branch of the 500kV Vinh Yen station; renovating the 500kV lines Nho Quan - Phu Ly - Thuong Tin, Nho Quan - Nghi Son; completing the construction of the 220kV Son La - Huoi Quang - Nghia Lo - Viet Tri connection line; especially cutting off power for 20 days on the 220kV Bac Giang - Lang Son line to construct circuit 2, ensuring safe power supply for Lang Son province and the northern region during important political events in early 2026.

At the same time, the ability to import electricity from Laos is enhanced through the energization of the Do Luong - Tuong Duong - Hung Dong lines, preparation for the operation of the Quang Tri 500kV station and the increase of the capacity of AT2 Pleiku 2 to 900 MVA. In the Southwest region, the construction of the O Mon - Thot Not 500kV line and station will help improve the ability to connect to the Cambodian grid.

The "problem" of high voltage after the 500kV line 3 circuit is put into operation is also coordinated by NSMO to handle by closing 500kV shunt compensation reactors at Pleiku 2, Thanh Hoa and soon at Di Linh, Thanh My, Doc Soi, Da Nang, Son La to keep the voltage within safe limits, serving operations during the holidays and Tet. Incident response work is also urgently deployed, such as the case of the 110kV underground cable incident Ha Tien - Phu Quoc on November 29, when the Southern Power System Control Center (SSO) and related units quickly handled, restoring power to Phu Quoc on the evening of December 5.

The amount of work to be done in a short period of time is enormous: in just the last 10 days of November, 24 key items were completed; on November 23 alone, the North simultaneously cut off power to 3 power lines and 4 500kV transformers. Due to limited power availability in the North, some major tasks had to be arranged in turn and may be moved to early 2026.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has issued the 2026 Power System Operation Method, which serves as a basis for units to synchronously deploy tasks: completing water storage in hydropower reservoirs, repairing dry-season generators, accelerating transmission grid renovation, implementing investment in BESS energy storage systems in the North, preparing coal and gas sources and developing a 2026 electricity market plan.

With early, far-reaching preparation and a high sense of responsibility, NSMO affirms its determination to complete the operational targets by the end of 2025 and 2026, ensuring the national power system is safe, reliable and ready to serve socio-economic development as well as important events of the country.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/don-luc-sua-chua-luoi-dien-san-sang-cho-nam-van-hanh-2026-20251209155508960.htm