HÀ NỘI — Lâm Đồng Province has approved investment policies for two solar power projects worth a combined VNĐ5.7 trillion (US$217 million), which are expected to add 280MW of renewable energy capacity to the national grid and generate more than 540 million kWh of electricity annually.

The larger project, a 240MW floating solar power plant on the Đồng Nai 2 hydropower reservoir, will be developed by Trung Nam Hydropower Joint Stock Company with an investment of more than VNĐ4.9 trillion.

Expected to generate about 464.2 million kWh of electricity a year, the plant will cover around 355ha of the reservoir to make use of existing water surface and transmission infrastructure, while minimising the use of agricultural land.

The second project, the 40MW Ea Pô 1 Solar Power Plant, will be built in Đắk Wil Commune with an investment of nearly VNĐ790 billion.

It will include a battery energy storage system with a capacity of 4MW and storage capacity of 8MWh to help improve grid stability, and is expected to generate around 76.5 million kWh of electricity in its first year of operation.

Nguyễn Bá Út, director of Lâm Đồng's Department of Industry and Trade, said the projects were in line with the revised eighth power development plan (PDP8), and would help expand clean energy supply while supporting the province's transition towards a more sustainable economic structure.

Aside from these two new projects, two others have completed investor selection, 14 are under appraisal and 12 are undergoing planning reviews before implementation.

Lâm Đồng is also calling for investment in 30 power generation projects in the province.

The province is also accelerating investment in transmission infrastructure, including 500kV transmission lines and 220kV and 110kV substations and transmission lines, to ensure the grid can accommodate new generating capacity.

Under the revised PDP8, Lâm Đồng plans to develop nearly 15,000MW of electricity generation capacity by 2035 to become a major renewable energy hub in the Central Highlands region, while supporting growth in industry, trade, services and logistics. — VNS