Integration of Renewable Power Sources into the Vietnamese Power System

TL;DR

This paper analyzes how to optimally expand renewable energy and transmission infrastructure in Vietnam, demonstrating cost reductions and optimal placement of wind and solar PV capacities.

Contribution

It presents a joint optimization approach for renewable expansion and grid development in Vietnam, highlighting cost benefits and strategic capacity placement.

Findings

Wind capacities are best installed in southern Vietnam.

Solar PV is most effective in central Vietnam.

Transmission upgrades can reduce electricity costs by about 10%.

Abstract

The Vietnamese Power system is expected to expand considerably in upcoming decades. However, pathways towards higher shares of renewables ought to be investigated. In this work, we investigate a highly renewable Vietnamese power system by jointly optimising the expansion of renewable generation facilities and the transmission grid. We show that in the cost-optimal case, highest amounts of wind capacities are installed in southern Vietnam and solar photovoltaics (PV) in central Vietnam. In addition, we show that transmission has the potential to reduce levelised cost of electricity by approximately 10%.