Tiếng ViệtVietnam is steadily advancing toward its sustainable development goals by promoting renewable energy within industrial zones (IZs). With electrical infrastructure largely in place and supportive policies being gradually refined, rooftop solar power in industrial zones is entering a new and promising phase of development.
According to Mr. Tran Viet Nguyen, Deputy Head of the Business Department of Vietnam Electricity (EVN), the electrical infrastructure in most industrial zones is now capable of accommodating power generated from rooftop solar systems. The fact that EVN does not require any further grid upgrades demonstrates that the ability to receive and operate distributed power sources has been thoroughly accounted for during the planning stage.
Notably, EVN has issued guidelines for implementing two key Decrees: Decree No. 57/2025/ND-CP on the Direct Power Purchase Agreement (DPPA) mechanism and Decree No. 58/2025/ND-CP, which provides detailed regulations on the Law on Electricity regarding the development of renewable and new energy sources.
Great Potential from Industrial Zones in Vietnam
Vietnam currently hosts over 429 industrial zones (IZs) with a total area of approximately 142,162 hectares – an immense rooftop resource for developing rooftop solar power. These zones typically feature high and stable daytime electricity demand, which aligns perfectly with the optimal power generation period of solar systems. This enables businesses to reduce energy costs, stabilize their electricity supply, and lessen dependence on the traditional power grid.
Supportive Policies for Enterprises
To support enterprises, EVN has announced the applicable cost structure for 2025 under the Direct Power Purchase Agreement (DPPA) mechanism. In parallel, it has rolled out technical procedures, interconnection standards, and monitoring-control guidelines for rooftop solar systems with a capacity of 100 kWp or more. Additionally, under Decree No. 58, rooftop solar systems are permitted to sell up to 20% of their surplus output to the national grid, provided that the system capacity falls within the approved power development plan.
One of the primary concerns today is the potential for grid overload when multiple rooftop solar systems generate power simultaneously. However, according to EVN, the self-consumption model – where no more than 20% of the energy is fed into the grid – will not place excessive pressure on the national grid. Moreover, the distribution-level load dispatching system retains the authority to regulate the amount of electricity injected into the grid during extreme scenarios to ensure overall system safety.
With technical infrastructure ready, policy frameworks progressively taking shape, and strong support from EVN, rooftop solar power is becoming a pivotal solution in the transition toward greener industrial zones in Vietnam. This represents a significant opportunity for businesses to enhance competitiveness and move toward sustainable development in the near future.