Vietnam plans 270MW floating solar across hydropower reservoirs

Vietnam’s state-owned power producer EVNGENCO1 has proposed adding 270MW of floating solar capacity across three hydropower reservoirs in southern Vietnam, as the country pushes ahead with renewable energy expansion.

According to PV Tech, the projects, located in Lam Dong province, include the 96MW Dai Ninh Lake scheme, the 100MW Ham Thuan Lake project and a 70MW installation at Da Mi Lake. Together, they are expected to require investment of around VND4.4 trillion ($116.9mn).

According to EVNGENCO1, Lam Dong’s extensive hydropower reservoir network makes the province highly suitable for floating solar development. Nguyen Tien Khoa, chairman of the utility’s board, described the region as having strong potential for the technology.

The proposal aligns with Vietnam’s revised Power Development Plan VIII, which prioritises renewable energy growth and aims to strengthen the reliability of the national power supply.

EVNGENCO1 said floating solar systems offer several advantages, including better use of existing reservoirs while avoiding the need to convert additional land for energy projects.

The company also pointed to the success of the 49MW Da Mi floating solar plant, launched in 2019 by another Vietnam Electricity subsidiary, as evidence supporting larger-scale developments.

Floating solar has become increasingly popular across Southeast Asia, where limited land availability has encouraged countries to explore alternative renewable energy solutions. Research firm Rystad Energy has previously forecast that floating PV technology would play a major role in the region’s solar expansion.

Elsewhere in the region, construction began earlier this year on Malaysia’s largest floating solar project, a 300MW facility in Batang Berjuntai being developed by EDRA Global Energy, a subsidiary of China General Nuclear Power Corporation.

Meanwhile, Norwegian consultancy DNV recently issued new technical standards and operational guidelines for floating solar projects, covering areas such as system design, maintenance and mooring technology.