Ninh Thuan aims to become renewable energy centre

Ninh Thuan (VNA) – Boasting huge potential for renewable power development, the south central coastal province of Ninh Thuan is working to lure investments in the sector, aiming to become Vietnam’s clean energy centre.

The province is relatively safe from storm while boasting good wind resources with wind speed of between 6.4-9.6 metres per second for 10 months a year, which is a favourable condition for developing wind energy.

Surveys show 14 wind potential areas of about 8,000 hectares, mainly in three districts of Ninh Phuoc, Thuan Nam and Thuan Bac.

Besides, the locality also holds good solar energy potential as it has average sunshine hours of 2,600-2,800 per year, with solar radiation at 320 kcal/cm2 per year.

Ninh Thuan already has its local master plan on wind power development from 2011-2020 with a vision to 2030 approved by the Minister of Industry and Trade, which designates five potential zones with total area of 21,432 ha for wind power with projected total capacity of 1,429 MW and solar projects with total capacity of 4,848 MW by 2030.

The province is finalizing a master plan for solar energy from 2016 to 2020 with a vision to 2030, which aims to generate around 2,000MW of electricity by 2020.

Incentives in terms of corporate income tax and land use fees have been taken by the province to lure investments.

Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Pham Van Hau said that the province always encourages and creates favourable conditions for investors to carry out renewable energy projects in the locality.

The province has so far granted investment licences to eight wind power projects valued at more than 19.7 trillion VND (867.3 million USD). Construction is underway at four projects with total capacity of 208 MW.

Late this year and on the outset of 2018, construction will begin on six solar energy projects, including 50MW Thien Tan plant, 50 MW My Son plant, Bau Ngu Lake solar power farm, 168 MW CMX Renewable Vietnam Plant, 50 MW Phuoc Huu plant and 50 MW SP Infra 1 plant.

Once becoming operational, the projects will make significant to ensuring national power security, reducing negative impacts on the environment while creating jobs for local labourers.-VNA