Northern Vietnam Sees Accelerated Rooftop Solar Adoption by Businesses and Households

The adoption of rooftop solar power systems is seeing a significant surge among businesses and households in Northern Vietnam. At the FLAT Vietnam company in the DEEP C Industrial Park in the North, a rooftop solar power system with a capacity of approximately 9 MWp is contributing to daily electricity cost savings of around 100 million VND, meeting about one-third of the factory's peak electricity demand. The company views this system as an integral part of its production line and is considering further expansion. Across the entire DEEP C Industrial Park, which had about 5.38 MWp of rooftop solar power operational before 2025, an additional 6.2 MWp is expected to be added this year alone, marking an increase of over 70% in total solar capacity within just three months (April-June). Businesses are increasingly viewing solar power not only as a solution for reducing electricity bills but also as a means to meet the emission reduction requirements of global supply chains. This trend is not confined to industrial parks. According to the Northern Power Corporation (EVNNPC), approximately 8,500 new customers adopted rooftop solar power systems in the first half of this year, with a total capacity of nearly 395 MW, significantly exceeding initial plans. The scope of adoption has also broadened from primarily large corporations to include general households, schools, medical facilities, and public administrative offices. Hai Phong City, a leading region for rooftop solar adoption in the North, had 967 customers with a total capacity of about 60 MW by the end of June, aiming for 110 MW within the year. In the Hai Ha area of Quang Ninh province, installations are being tailored to the needs of residents, schools, and health centers. EVNNPC attributes the market growth to several factors: clearer legal frameworks following the issuance of Decree 58/2025 on self-produced, self-consumed rooftop solar power and the Prime Minister's directives on electricity conservation and solar power development. Other contributing factors include declining equipment costs, improved technology, and increased awareness among businesses and the public regarding the benefits of solar power. Furthermore, local governments are playing a more active role. All provinces under EVNNPC's management have plans or directives for rooftop solar development, with 15 provinces setting specific targets for public facilities and households. Some localities are exploring support mechanisms such as green credit, investment procedure simplification, and shortened processing times. However, experts point out that rooftop solar power cannot entirely replace the grid as its generation is weather-dependent and primarily meets daytime demand. The national power grid remains the primary source for night-time or low-sunlight days. Therefore, accurately calculating the investment scale and electricity consumption needs of each customer is crucial for economic efficiency. Additionally, the expansion of this model requires simplification of procedures related to construction and fire safety, as well as addressing the operational challenges of the power system.