Rooftop solar helps companies’ lower energy bills, reduce reliance on peak-hour grid supply and relieve pressure on the city’s transmission system. — VNA/VNS Photo Huy Hùng

HÀ NỘI — Rooftop solar power in industrial parks is emerging as a key solution for Hà Nội’s green growth ambitions as the capital faces surging electricity demand and tighter emissions targets, experts have said.

According to Lê Xuân Rao, President of the Hà Nội Union of Science and Technology Associations, rooftop solar delivers power “at the right place, at the right time, for the right demand,” helping businesses cut costs while easing strain on the grid.

Rooftop solar helps companies lower energy bills, reduce reliance on peak-hour grid supply and relieve pressure on the city’s transmission system, he said. In addition, solar panels help lower factory temperatures by 3-5 degrees Celsius to create more comfortable working conditions and boost productivity.

However, the development of rooftop solar in Hà Nội’s industrial parks remains well below potential.

Đặng Đình Thống, Director of the Centre for New Energy, said total rooftop solar capacity reached just around 102.0MWp as of the end of 2024, accounting for only 3.2 per cent of the country’s total. While Hà Nội receives lower solar irradiation than other regions, the high demand for clean electricity in industrial parks continues to drive interest in rooftop solar.

Legal bottlenecks remain the main obstacles, Nguyễn Khải Văn, Deputy Head of the Energy Management Department under the municipal Department of Industry and Trade, said.

He pointed out that most self-consumption projects are not allowed to sell surplus power to the grid while direct power purchase agreements require a minimum electricity consumption of 200,000 kWh per month, a threshold many firms fail to meet.

Quang Minh 1 Industrial Park, Hà Nội. The development of rooftop solar in industrial parks in Hà Nội remains below potential. — VNA/VNS Photo

Văn said that only around 113 enterprises are eligible to participate in direct power purchase agreements in Hà Nội. Notably, none of the capital city’s rooftop solar projects have reached the scale of 10 MWp required to qualify for the mechanism.

There is also a lack of clear guidance for investment cooperation in rooftop solar or rooftop leasing, he added.

Trần Anh Tuấn, deputy head of the Hà Nội High-Tech and Industrial Parks management board, said companies still face difficulties related to construction permits, fire safety requirements, grid connection procedures and technical standards.

These problems highlight the need to improve the legal framework and infrastructure to enable solar power to become momentum for energy transition in the capital city, experts said.

Văn said the Ministry of Industry and Trade is considering allowing large electricity users with consumption from 100,000 kWh per month, down from the current 200,000 kWh, to participate in direct power purchase agreements.

A draft resolution for the 2026-30 period on removing difficulties for energy development also proposes granting provincial authorities more power to adjust electricity planning, which could shorten approval times, he added.

There are currently nine industrial parks in operation in Hà Nội and three under construction, offering large rooftop areas for solar power installation.

Hà Nội Department of Industry and Trade has proposed the Ministry of Industry and Trade revise regulations and set clearer technical standards as well as encourage energy storage systems to better manage demand and ease pressure on the grid.

According to Tô Duy Phương, President of the Hà Nội Foundry and Metallurgy Association, rooftop solar could supply around 16 per cent of electricity demand in industrial parks in Hà Nội if properly deployed.

While electricity prices keep rising annually, rooftop solar is emerging as an economically efficient solution, he said, urging enterprises to invest in smart monitoring systems and storage solutions.

Former vice president of Hà Nội University of Science and Technology Trần Văn Tớp said Việt Nam could reach the goal of 15,000 MWp of rooftop solar capacity in industrial zones by 2030 if there is a decree to provide a stable and long-term legal framework.

Hà Nội Department of Finance will work on developing policies and financial mechanisms to attract investment in renewable energy and realise the capital city’s sustainable growth and green transition targets.

Under the national power development plan, Hà Nội is tasked with developing an additional 894 MWp of rooftop solar capacity by 2030.

Promoting solar power projects and synchronised deployment of rooftop solar systems at industrial parks, high-tech zones, industrial clusters, government office buildings, apartment complexes, high-rise buildings, commercial and service centres and private households has been recognised as a focus of Hà Nội’s plan to implement the Politburo’s Resolution No 70 on ensuring national energy security to 2030 with a vision to 2045 issued recently. — VNS