Delegates at the plant's opening ceremony on Friday. VNA Photo

BÌNH ĐỊNH – The first solar power plant in the central province of Bình Định was inaugurated last week in Phá Cát District. It will generate between 78 and 80 million kWh of electricity per year. 

Invested by French-based Quadran International and Việt Nam's Trường Thành Group, the 60ha Cát Hiệp plant cost more than VNĐ1 trillion (US$44.2 million). 

During its test run starting on May 20, the facility produced more than seven million kWh of electricity, earning more than VNĐ15 billion in revenue.

Addressing the opening ceremony, chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Hồ Quốc Dũng expressed his hope that the plant's operation will lead to the development of similar ones across Bình Định Province.

According to Dũng, solar electricity would help enhance the capacity of the national grid, capitalise on renewable sources of energy, and add to the provincial budget.

The local leader pledged to help investors in the power sector tackle hurdles and implement their projects.

With its many incentives for the development of clean energy, the Government is making solar power projects more attractive than ever.

Almost two years since it was issued, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc’s Decision No 11/2017/QD-TTg on mechanisms to encourage the development of solar power projects in Việt Nam has attracted investors to the field.

As of June 30, as many as 82 solar power plants with a combined capacity of 4,460MW had been connected to the national grid, according to the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN).

By the end of 2019, another 13 solar power plants are scheduled to be connected to the grid with a combined capacity of 630MW, raising the total number of solar power plants in the country to 95. – VNS