Solutions sped up to beat the heat

As Vietnam faces another intense heatwave, surging electricity demand and rising generation costs are accelerating a shift towards energy-saving measures and rooftop solar power.

- By Thy Nguyet

Last week, temperatures nearing 40 degrees Celsius across many localities pushed electricity consumption to new highs, forcing the power system to mobilise costly oil-fired generation to maintain supply.

According to National System and Electricity Market Operation Company (NSMO), total electricity consumption on May 25 was projected to have reached 1.136 billion kWh, while peak capacity demand climbed to 53,503MW at around 9.30pm. Northern Vietnam alone accounted for nearly 28,000MW of peak demand.

To avoid shortages, NSMO activated several oil-fired power units, highlighting mounting pressure on the electricity system as Vietnam pursues ambitious economic growth targets while demand continues to surge during prolonged heatwaves.

Alongside efforts to maximise available generation, Vietnam Electricity instructed its subsidiaries nationwide to maintain stable electricity supply throughout the heatwave period. The utility also suspended planned maintenance-related outages on days when temperatures exceed 35 degrees Celsius, except in force majeure situations.

With the government targeting ambitious economic growth, electricity demand is expected to continue expanding rapidly, placing additional strain on both the national grid and fuel imports. The mounting pressure on the power system is also prompting the government to accelerate implementation of major energy projects.