Momentum from Wind Power

Binh Thuan Department of Industry and Trade said that with the ideal natural conditions: strong winds all year round, low storm frequency, many areas of high hills, wind speeds up to 7m/ s, Binh Thuan has great potential for developing wind power, which is very suitable for the construction of wind power plant with high capacity. In addition, in the southeast of the province, there is coastal sand dune of more than 50,000 hectares left unused. According to the survey, in the current conditions in the area, the average wind speed is greater than 6 m / s, the total area of ​​the region with the potential to develop wind power in Binh Thuan province reaches more than 75,400 hectares; capacity corresponding wind power potential is estimated at over 5,000 MW and the ability to efficiently exploit within the current conditions is about 1,500 MW. With this advantage, Binh Thuan is leading the country in the field of wind power and the province is planning to develop into a centre of "clean energy" in the country.

 

Pioneering for the development of wind power in Binh Thuan province, there includes Tuy Phong wind power plant project invested by Vietnam Renewable Energy Joint Stock Company create Vietnam (REVN) with a total investment capital of VND2,000 billion. This is the first wind power project in Vietnam having the largest area in Southeast Asia. This project consists of two phases with a total capacity of 120 MW, of which the first phase has a capacity of 30 MW (completed in the first half of 2011). The first 20 wind turbines were completed installation operation; the capacity of each turbine is 1.5 MW. The investor also has prepared procedures to implement the second phase with a capacity of 90 MW, so that by mid-2012 they can complete the entire project (120 MW).

 

The second typical project is a wind power project in Long Hai and Ngu Phung communes in Phu Quy Island invested by MTV Co. Ltd–Petro Vietnam Power Corporation (PV-Power). By design, the plant has a capacity of 6MW, including three 2MW head turbines, the average power of annual production is about 25.4 million kw / h, connected to the 22 kV line and operating in sync with the Diesel factory on the island. The project covers an area of ​​about 1 ha, with a total investment capital of about VND 335 billion; it was deployed from the fourth quarter of 2010 and until now has completed and put into use in the Lunar New Year of 2012.

 

In recent years, many domestic and foreign investors have come to Binh Thuan to learn, study, and research on wind power development. Binh Thuan has 12 domestic and foreign investors implementing 16 wind power projects (having the most projects in the country), registering implementation with a total installed capacity of about 1,370 MW; combined capacity of more than 2,000MW with a land area of ​​about 15,000 ha, of which an area of ​​land used permanently is about 700 ha (land remaining can be used for 50 years). There are also a lot of other investors looking forward to venue layout surveys, research on the development of wind power which are considered by the Provincial People’s Committee. To accelerate the deployment of wind power projects in a positive direction, in the recent times, Binh Thuan has paid great attention to addressing and solving difficulties for investors. Besides accepting extension of the progress for a number of projects, currently, overlapping titanium planning for wind power is gradually resolved. In addition, the government issues mechanisms to support the development of wind power projects in Vietnam and officially entered into force on 20 August 2011. As the price of electricity for the power grid project supported by the State for the purchaser to ensure the entire output. In addition, the province implemented many preferential policies to attract investment in wind power such as: support for land, tax, and other incentives.

 

With advantage mechanisms and interest from the local authority, the wind power projects in Binh Thuan are implemented favorably. So we can see that generating electricity from wind power with industrial-scale and desire of Binh Thuan to become the centre of "clean energy" in the country are gradually becoming a reality. Binh Thuan is the leader in implementing wind power projects with an industrial scale and actually has the first electricity production produced from wind power used in national grid.

 

First of all, Binh Thuan has completed the planning for wind power development in the province for 2010-2015, orientation until 2020. This plan approval will help the wind power investors in Binh Thuan simplify investment procedures in the process. It is expected that by 2020, the installed capacity of wind power in Binh Thuan province is about 2,000 MW, generating industrial production value of more than 7,000 billion; including the period 2011 - 2015 is 850 MW, and 2016-2020 1150 MW. By 2030, the installed capacity is about 2.500MW, creating industrial production value of VND 8,700 billion.

 

Binh Thuan Province People's Committee has also issued State administration regulations on "survey, research and investment in wind power" to uniformly apply in the province. This is the basis for the local government agencies in solving administrative procedures, disputes and complaints happened to special projects such as wind power. In 2010, the Binh Thuan Wind Power Association was established. Initially, the association gathered 16 members, including wind power investment firms, specialized construction consulting, and other management units to share experiences and exchange information; support techniques; search and introduce joint venture partners, look for investment capital and solve the problems of administrative procedures...

 

Mr Dinh Huy Hiep, Deputy Director of the Binh Thuan Department of Trade and Industry said in the registration process, the implementation of wind power projects in Binh Thuan, the investors also received support and favorable conditions from the government and the central agencies. However, this is a new area of ​​investment and there are many issues beyond the jurisdiction of the provinces, therefore, to exploit the potential of wind power (not only in Binh Thuan province), the central authority should early complete the legal framework and issue mechanisms and policies to attract investors in clean energy production.