VinEnergo pours VND 2.6 trillion into Gia Lai wind farms as Vietnam weighs solar‑storage price rules

VinEnergo, the renewable‑energy arm founded by Phạm Nhật Vượng, received approval to invest more than VND 2.6 trillion in two wind‑power projects in Gia Lai province. The Thăng Hưng and Thăng Hưng‑Phase 2 farms will together deliver 80 MW of capacity, with the company contributing 20 % of the equity and the remainder sourced from other lawful capital. Construction is slated to begin in December 2026 with commercial operation expected by March 2028. The projects add to VinEnergo’s expanding portfolio that already includes large wind and solar installations across Vietnam and a stated goal of developing 100 GW of renewable capacity globally, with agreements in Denmark, Sweden and the Philippines.

Separately, Vietnam Electricity (EVN) highlighted that many newly installed solar plants lack battery energy storage systems (BESS) because the current price framework makes such integration unattractive. EVN proposed new tariff bands of VND 1,104‑1,550 per kWh for ground‑mounted solar with BESS and VND 1,299‑1,823 per kWh for floating solar with BESS, roughly 11‑14 % higher than for projects without storage. The utility called for clearer rules on ownership, operation and cost‑recovery of BESS, and for an assessment of the overall investment efficiency. Experts noted that while BESS raises project costs, it can lower system‑wide operating expenses and improve renewable‑energy integration.