Ensure adequate electricity supply during hot season

With complex weather and hydrological developments, a high probability of extreme heat waves and a forecast of maximum capacity growth, electricity consumption may be at 12 - 13% compared to 2024. The Ministry of Industry and Trade has been urging and directing the drastic and effective implementation of tasks to ensure electricity supply in the last months of the year, especially during the peak of the hot season.

Ensuring electricity for 8% growth

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade , the total electricity output of the entire national system in the first 6 months of 2025 is estimated at 143.6 billion kWh, 3.03% higher than the same period in 2024, reaching 45% of the 2025 Plan (347.5 billion kWh) approved by the Ministry of Industry and Trade in Decision No. 3300/QD-BCT dated December 15, 2024. In the first 6 months of the year, the actual load increased by only less than 4%, one of the reasons could be due to the relatively mild and cool weather. However, in the first days of June, due to the appearance of severe and extreme heat over a large area, especially in the Northern and Central regions, the maximum load of the power system increased.

Specifically, on June 2, the national power system recorded a record when the maximum capacity reached 51,118 MW - at 13:30, the highest record ever, far exceeding the peak load in 2024 (exceeding 1,757 MW compared to the peak in 2024 - 49,533 MW, 5.7% higher). This capacity exceeding 1,757 MW is equivalent to the total installed capacity of two plants: Lai Chau Hydropower Plant (1,200 MW) and Thai Binh 1 Thermal Power Plant (600 MW).

EVN is ready with solutions to ensure electricity supply for economic development and people's lives.

Along with that, the peak capacity in Hanoi also reached a new record of 5,430 MW, exceeding the peak in 2024 (5,263 MW). The record level was also recorded at the Northern Power Corporation, with the power consumption capacity in 27 provinces/cities in the northern region (from Ha Tinh and beyond, excluding Hanoi) during the peak noon of June 2 reaching 17,400 MW, exceeding 100 MW compared to the peak in 2024 (17,300 MW).

Assessing the electricity supply situation of the national power system in June and the first 6 months of 2025, Mr. Bui Quoc Hung, Deputy Director of the Electricity Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade, said that in the past time, thermal power plants operated stably, there were no incidents affecting the power supply, and the supply of primary fuel for electricity production was not interrupted.

Regarding the dismantling of the embankment of the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant expansion project, according to the report of Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN), on June 15, the construction contractors completed the dismantling of the embankment - one of the important items of the project. Therefore, this work no longer affects the normal operation of Hoa Binh Lake. As of 0:00 on June 18, the water level of Hoa Binh Lake had been raised to 88.26m. The operation of the hydropower reservoir aims to optimize water resources and the plan to store water in hydropower reservoirs to ensure power generation during the peak months of the dry season in 2025.

In general, in the first 6 months of the year, the supply was guaranteed, stable, continuous, serving socio-economic development, meeting the daily needs of the people, even during peak times. With the solutions that have been and are being implemented and a high sense of responsibility, the Ministry of Industry and Trade assesses the possibility of electricity supply in 2025 as positive. However, according to the leader of the Electricity Department, it is still necessary to be vigilant against extreme situations such as sudden load increases, low hydrology or prolonged hot weather, coinciding with the time when some generators have problems. The Ministry of Industry and Trade and related units are developing contingency scenarios to be ready to respond in all situations, to ensure the security and safety of the national power system.

Flexible power supply

In fact, severe heat waves may still occur at many times. This puts pressure on the electricity supply for the electricity industry in the context of less new electricity sources than expected, while the electricity industry must ensure the target of ensuring electricity for 8% growth. Therefore, to ensure stable electricity supply for the whole country, especially during the dry and hot seasons, EVN and related units have proactively developed response scenarios and deployed solutions to ensure energy security. To prevent the risk of local grid overload in some residential and urban areas, as well as ensure safe operation of the electricity system, EVN recommends that customers use electricity safely, economically and effectively, especially during peak hours at noon (13-15h) and in the evening (21-23h). At the same time, use air conditioning reasonably, set the temperature at 27°C or higher, combined with fans to increase cooling efficiency; Limit the use of many high-capacity electrical devices at the same time to avoid the risk of overload, accidents, and fires in households, agencies, and offices.

From a local perspective, Mr. Nguyen Van Quy, Deputy Director of Quang Ninh Electricity Company, said that in order to ensure power supply during the hot season, the electricity sector has proactively and resolutely implemented projects to repair, renovate and upgrade the power grid; swap distribution transformers in areas where the load is forecast to increase rapidly. According to Mr. Quy, from the beginning of 2025, Quang Ninh Electricity Company has also developed and submitted to the Provincial People's Committee for approval a power supply plan in situations of power shortage or the system operating in extreme emergency mode. Accordingly, the company has identified a list of 131 important customers to be prioritized for power supply, including hospitals, national defense and security units, data centers, water pumping stations, water supply and drainage plants, especially underground coal companies.

"Regarding the plan to supply electricity during the hot season, we have built many scenarios based on forecasts of increased load in each area and cases where the power system lacks power at a level of 20-50%. There will be plans to supply electricity in order of priority loads and appropriate reductions for other loads (if required in case of force majeure)," said Mr. Quy.

Regarding solutions to ensure electricity supply for the remaining months of 2025, especially during the peak of the hot season, Mr. Bui Quoc Hung said that the Ministry of Industry and Trade has been urging, directing, inspecting and supervising corporations, general companies and related units to seriously, resolutely and effectively implement the tasks assigned in the Directives and Official Dispatches of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Industry and Trade.

Regarding power sources, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has directed all power plants to proactively maintain and repair machinery, reserve spare parts and equipment to ensure availability, be ready to operate at maximum capacity, and minimize incidents. At the same time, it requires power plants and fuel suppliers such as coal and oil and gas to proactively develop plans, ensure fuel storage in warehouses and in factories, and meet electricity demand, especially during peak periods. The National Power System Control Center is assigned to develop and update power system operation scenarios, flexibly respond to situations of changing loads, hydrology, and weather, from peak to low, ensuring reasonable mobilization of different power sources. Power units continue to promote the promotion of economical and efficient use of electricity in all areas from production, business to daily life, especially during peak hours, to contribute to reducing pressure on the national power system during the hot season.

In addition, urge and promote the progress of completing important power projects in the year. Specifically, the projects: Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant expansion, Nhon Trach 3 and 4 Thermal Power Plant; Unit 1 of Vung Ang 1 Thermal Power Plant; Lao Cai - Vinh Yen 500kV transmission line project and 220kV transmission lines serving electricity import from Laos. In particular, for the Lao Cai - Vinh Yen 500kV transmission line project: Focus on human resources, construction machinery, organize simultaneous construction at all locations where the land has been handed over, complete pole erection in July 2025. For the project of supplying electricity from the national grid to Con Dao district: Continue to urge and speed up the construction progress of all bidding packages and deploy the construction of underground cable laying section 1 (starting from June 9 to July 8, 2025).

Source: https://cand.com.vn/doi-song/dam-bao-cung-ung-du-dien-mua-nang-nong-i772537/