Thermal power is still "carrying" hydropower

SGGPO 08/02/2023 17:41

In the first 7 months of the year, Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) and its units have started 36 more projects and completed, energized, and put into operation 49 power grid projects from 110kV to 500kV to strengthen the national power transmission network. This information was reported by EVN on the afternoon of August 2.

Strengthening the transmission grid to bring electricity to remote areas

According to EVN, in July, EVN ensured sufficient electricity supply for socio -economic development, meeting people's daily needs. In the first 7 months, the total electricity output of the whole system reached 160.58 billion kWh - an increase of 1.9% over the same period in 2022.

In terms of the current structure, the mobilization rate from hydropower still accounts for only 22.9% (the northern lakes continue to have very poor water flow, only reaching 30 - 60% of the average for many years, with almost no floods). Therefore, the mobilization rate from coal-fired thermal power still accounts for 49.8%.

Because there has been no major flood this year, large reservoirs in the North still do not have enough water like last year.

After receiving instructions from the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Industry and Trade , the Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group and the Dong Bac Corporation have delivered an additional amount of coal compared to the contract, ensuring that coal-fired thermal power plants can produce higher electricity output and increase inventory reserves.

In addition, the mobilization rate from gas turbines accounts for 11.2% (the amount of gas supplied is still low compared to the demand for operating gas power plants, due to the decline in gas fields); oil thermal power accounts for 0.8%; renewable energy accounts for 13.8%; imported electricity accounts for 1.4%.

In July, thermal power projects still had to "bear" the output of hydropower.

According to the assessment, in August, there will still be heat waves interspersed with local rain in the North. In the Central region, the heat is likely to last in the first half of the month, with some extremely hot days. The Central Highlands and the South will have many days of showers and thunderstorms.

Therefore, it is expected that in August 2023, the average daily electricity consumption of the entire system will be at 825.8 million kWh/day, an increase of 7.3% over the same period in 2022. However, the electricity supply situation in August is expected to continue to be guaranteed.

In August, EVN will closely monitor the flood situation to smoothly manage storage and discharge, balance hydropower and thermal power, ensure efficient production and reasonable mobilization of power sources.

Accordingly, thermal power will be mobilized in accordance with the water situation in hydroelectric reservoirs during the main flood season, avoiding excess discharge but also preparing coal-fired thermal power plants and gas turbines for high mobilization in case of needing to store water early for the dry season.

Source