Northern Vietnam faces electricity supply pressure amid rising demand

Northern Vietnam is facing significant electricity supply pressure due to rising demand and delays in new power generation projects. According to Nguyen Quoc Trung of the National Load Dispatch Center (NSMO), the region is a hotspot for supply concerns as internal generation projects face delays and 500 kV transmission lines are operating near their safety limits.

Electricity demand in the North is highly sensitive to temperature, with peak consumption often occurring between 21:00 and 23:00, a time when solar power production has ceased. To meet the goals of Power Development Plan VIII, the system must add nearly 90,000 MW of new capacity by 2030. However, large-scale LNG and thermal power projects are facing hurdles related to investment mechanisms, contract negotiations, and capital arrangement.

In response to these pressures, the Northern Power Corporation (EVNNPC) is deploying Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to stabilize the grid. In Bac Ninh, a major industrial hub, BESS is being utilized to store energy during low-demand periods and discharge it during peak hours. This technology aims to mitigate peak load, improve grid reliability, and manage the mismatch between renewable energy production and consumer demand.