MTE Solar Binh Phuoc

1. Introduction
   • Background

With highly power demand from industrial developing, Vietnam government had been developing and updating his Power Master Plan every 5 year for whole country which include all power projects from all kind of source such as Hydro, coal fired, renewable energy, etc….

In 2015, government cancelled the first nuclear power plant in Ninh Thuan province which is not suitable. It lets power demand is more and more critical for country development.

However, hydro & coal fired power which caused many environment issues such as flooding, emission, etc…. Vietnam is focusing on renewable energy. It is the reason Master Plan for Wind & Solar Power is settled.

Vietnam and World Bank has signed off a contract for investigation, consulting and implement Solar Power Master Plant for whole country and found that Vietnam is highly solar power source, especially in some province in Southern (See below direct irradiation map from World Bank Project).

Based on solar source in that project, Vietnam is studying policies & mechanism to motivate solar energy development. Decision 11 was issued on 11/04/2017 by prime minister and Circular 16 dated on 12/9/2017 issue by MOIT is the first big steps on this road.

Following the policies, MTE Corp – with his abilities and good relationship with Binh Phuoc People, a potential solar irradiation area as the map shown – registered 100MW solar farm project in Loc Ninh Commune. Project location has been official surveyed, approved for solar land use.

MTE divided in four projects (30+30+30+50MWp each) and prepared Pre-FS reports has been submitted to MOIT. In which MT1/2 project MPA has been reviewed and final decision from MOIT will be issued on 20 January 2019; MT3/4 will be reviewed after TET holiday.

• • The Advantages of Developing Solar Energy Project in Vietnam

Currently, Solar energy in Vietnam is in the beginning of the dawn, thus it will cause some difficulty for the project which people involve from this aspect from government is not familiar with so they will step by very carefully step. However, it is not much if comparing with advantage such as:

Highly solar power demand so Decision 11 stated to request EVN (Vietnam Electricity) to by all the production with 20 years scheme. The total installed capacity of the country amounted to 38.6GW in 2016. Of course, it is definitely higher than this amount to cope with future development.

The total installed capacity comprises of two major suppliers.  On one hand, the country’s main electricity company, EVN supplies 61% of the energy where as the rest is supplied by a combination of domestic independent power producers (IPPs) and foreign investors on a build-own-transfer (BOT) arrangement. Despite the potential for its application, renewable energy in the country has so far only been installed in negligible sizes.  The installed capacity of solar power in the country only amounted to less than 10 MW.  Furthermore, solar power was only applied for research and rural electrification purposed.

Hight irradiation rates (see PVsyst model)

• Interconnection is not too far (~7.15km). The 110kV Hoa Lu substation will be ready as updated target 6/2019 (this substation will ready on 6/2019).
• Good for tax policies: stated in Decision 11 and its relevant document such as: free land tax, free tax for goods importation, etc…
• Attractive Feed in tariff (First round: 9.35cent/KWh, USD/VND rate 22.316vnd/usd, and second round might be 7.14 to 8.6 cent/kWh)
• Good support from local people who very interested and give many good policy to investor.

2. Project Site Information
   • Location Detailed Information

The Project was determined to invest in Loc Ninh Commune, Binh Phuoc Province

Site boundary (total about 200ha)

• • Geographic Advantages (including sunshine hours).

• SUNSHINE HOUR

According to Binh Phuoc Solar Master Plan Report, sunshine hours @ site is from 2400hrs to 2500hrs. Average sunshine hours per day is 6.2-6.6hrs. Sunshine longest is from Jan to April and shortest is from July to Sept.

• LAND

This location was under Agri. Department Control and used to plant rubber tree. However, it is low efficiency so People of Committee changed to solar farm by Revolution 47-2017 and by Resolution 149/NQ-CP of Prime Ministry Office dated on 13/12/2018.

• ROAD

There are two road can approach the project. The road are good enough to with 6m asphalt which is about 30km from Center of Loc Ninh commune.

From HCMC, there are National road #13 connects to Loc Ninh Commune (about 150km).

It spends about 4hours for truck/container to reach the site thru National road #13.

• POWER GRID

On 10^th May 2018, People of committee has issue letter to MOIT to change Hoa Lu substation schedule to 2016-2020 period instead of 2025. And it has been approved, EVNSPC has decided to invest and bring in to operation before 3/2019 and they proceeding design & investigation. As of 6/1/2019, EVNSPC bidding procedure is ongoing to finalize EPC for this scope.

• GEO-HYDRO-TOPO

Soil is almost was yellow clay mixed with sand and small gravel. Rain level is low and Site is flat in generally with water drain channel (1x1m) which excavated by previous land owner for rubber tree.

Location of Geo Investigation & Pullout Test (1ha / location)

Topo Investigation results