Thai Nguyen is developing a plan to implement Directive No. 10/CT-TTg of the Prime Minister, setting a target of approximately 10% of government offices and 10% of households installing self-production, self-consumption rooftop solar systems each year

Against the backdrop of rising electricity demand and increasingly stringent sustainable development requirements, Thai Nguyen province is actively advancing energy security solutions. Implementing Resolution 70, the province has issued numerous specific programs and plans to promote the development of renewable energy sources, including rooftop solar power. Under the adjusted National Power Development Plan VIII, Thai Nguyen has been assigned a target of developing 1,070 MW of rooftop solar capacity. This provides an important basis for enterprises and citizens to participate in investment, generating and consuming electricity simultaneously, thereby reducing the load on the national power grid. In parallel, the Department of Industry and Trade is developing a plan to implement Directive No. 10/CT-TTg of the Prime Minister, setting a target of approximately 10% of government offices and 10% of households installing self-production, self-consumption rooftop solar systems each year.

As one of the pioneering enterprises, Prime Pho Yen Joint Stock Company moved early to implement electricity-saving measures and invest in a rooftop solar power system. With an annual output of approximately 60 million square meters of tiles and floor coverings, the company consumes an average of around 26 million kWh of electricity. Hoang Viet Hung, Head of the Technical Services Department, stated: “High electricity demand requires an absolutely stable supply. Our production operations run continuously 24/7. Even a brief power interruption can affect the entire production line and product quality”.

Faced with cost pressures and the requirement for a stable power supply, the company has implemented a range of measures including the use of high-efficiency equipment, installation of variable-frequency drives and load adjustment during peak hours. Notably, in 2025, the company completed a rooftop solar power system with a capacity of 1.8 MWp. The system has yielded clear benefits both economically and environmentally.

“Each month we save approximately VND 200 million on electricity costs, while also reducing emissions by around 560 tons of CO₂ annually. This is a very meaningful figure in the context of the company’s commitment to sustainable development,” Hung emphasized.

According to him, while solar radiation conditions in the North are not particularly favorable, solar power still delivers results, especially during the hot season. “In summer, when electricity demand rises, the system operates at nearly full capacity, significantly reducing the company’s electricity cost burden,” Hung noted.

Beyond investing in power generation, the company has also stepped up internal energy-saving measures. Transitioning forklifts from fossil fuels to electric forklifts powered by lithium batteries is among the most noteworthy steps taken.

Faced with cost pressures and the requirement for a stable power supply, the company has implemented measures including high-efficiency equipment, variable-frequency drives and peak-hour load adjustment

At Song Cong Diesel Company Limited, the energy challenge has also become pressing amid rising production costs. With annual consumption of nearly 3 million kWh, the company has implemented numerous measures to optimize electricity use. Pham Ngoc Son, Deputy Director, noted that adjusting the production schedule is one of the most effective solutions. The company proactively schedules rest breaks and meal shifts to coincide with peak hours, while transferring high-energy-consumption stages – such as heat treatment – to off-peak hours or weekends. The energy management system has been strengthened through the installation of load meters at each workshop, enabling detailed monitoring of electricity consumption. Additionally, the company has established performance metrics such as kWh per product unit and electricity cost per unit, which are incorporated into competitive criteria. The company is currently investing in a rooftop solar system with a capacity of nearly 2 MWp, expected to be operational from mid-2026.

From a management perspective, a representative of Thai Nguyen Power Company indicated that the electricity load in the province is expected to increase by more than 10% in 2026, while the industrial sector accounts for approximately 76% of total commercial electricity output. Ninh Van Phong, Deputy Director of the company, noted that the pressure on electricity supply in the coming time will be considerable. The rapid expansion of industrial parks, particularly in the Yen Binh area, is driving fast-growing electricity demand and increasingly stringent power quality requirements.

To meet this demand, the power sector is not only investing in grid upgrades but also promoting distributed energy solutions. The company is currently deploying rooftop solar power at its subsidiary units, while piloting a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to improve load regulation capacity. In addition, the company has built a team of more than 100 specialized staff to advise and support customers in installing solar systems. In 2026, the province is expected to develop approximately 1,000 customers with a total rooftop solar capacity of around 50 MW.

Although solar radiation conditions in the North are not particularly favorable, solar power still delivers results, especially during the hot season

It is evident that industrial enterprises in Thai Nguyen proactively investing in rooftop solar power not only yields economic benefits but also contributes to meeting emission reduction targets and protecting the environment. In the context of ever-increasing electricity demand and growing pressure on the national power system, on-site energy solutions such as rooftop solar power are becoming an inevitable trend. With the coordinated engagement of government authorities, the power sector and the business community, Thai Nguyen is steadily realizing its sustainable energy development goals, contributing to the long-term assurance of national energy security.