Power consumption rises as economy recovers from pandemic

EVN purchases a total of 8.16 billion kWh of renewable power in the first nine months of this year, of which 7.23 billion kWh, or 88.6 percent, was generated by solar power projects. (Photo: VNA)

Power consumption increased significantly in September as the economy started to find its feet after COVID-19 was successfully contained in Vietnam, according to a recent report by Electricity of Vietnam (EVN).

The report on nine-month power production and consumption showed that EVN's commercial power output was estimated at 19.93 billion kWh in September, representing a rise of 1.05 percent against August and 8.41 percent against the same period last year.

Power for industrial production and construction increased by 7.7 percent, while electricity for daily consumption was up 13.17 percent. Power for services and trade was down 10.99 percent.

The country is undergoing socio-economic recovery after COVID-19 was successfully contained, with no new community transmissions recorded for more than 50 days.

EVN’s total commercial power output for January-September stood at 162.31 billion kWh, a rise of 3.09 percent over the same period last year.

From the beginning of this year, EVN produced and imported a total of 185.37 billion kWh, up by 2.68 percent.

Of the figure, hydroelectricity plants provided 48.38 billion kWN, a drop of 6.93 percent, gas-fired power plants were at 27.42 billion kWN, falling 16.56 percent, coal-fired power plants accounted for 97.29 billion kWh, an increase of 10.5 percent, and oil-fired power produced 1.04 billion kWh, up 33 percent.

Of note, EVN purchased 8.16 billion kWh of renewable power in the first nine months of this year, of which 7.23 billion kWh, or 88.6 percent, was generated by solar power projects.

The nine-month solar power buyback was 2.6 times higher year-on-year.

For rooftop solar power, more than 55,980 projects were put into operation with a total capacity of 1,531 MWp.

In the last quarter of this year, EVN will focus on hastening the progress of power generation projects, including the Thuong Kon Tum hydropower plant and Se San 4 solar power projects.

EVN also plans to start expansions at Hoa Binh hydropower plant and Quang Trach 1 thermoelectricity plant, and build infrastructure for the Dung Quat 1 and 3 gas-fired plants. It has broken ground on 107 power projects this year and put into operation 100 110-500kV transmission lines./.