Energy demand in Vietnam is increasing by 10 percent annually, making it critical for the country to use modern, clean energy technologies to sustain its impressive economic growth, protect human health and the environment, and provide electricity services to over 20 million households. Recognizing the importance of green growth, the Government of Vietnam has taken notable steps to enable the deployment of rooftop solar (RTS) energy to help meet this need. On December 14, the USAID Vietnam Urban Energy Security project and Vietnam Electricity (EVN) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize a partnership that will support EVN’s efforts to expand RTS energy generation in Vietnam. Working in collaboration with the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the U.S. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, USAID will provide technical assistance to EVN in: (1) conducting utility financial impact analysis of various RTS deployment scenarios in Danang city to understand short-term impacts in the early phases of their RTS programs; (2) evaluating rooftop solar systems in their electricity distribution network and build their capacity to mitigate adverse impacts to the grid; and (3) designing and implementing innovative communication campaigns to promote RTS system investment and installation.

So What? USAID support will help EVN minimize negative impacts to the power grid, improve reliability and power quality of distribution systems, and understand the benefits of connecting RTS to the electricity distribution network.  It will also improve Vietnam’s energy security, a key priority of the Indo-Pacific Vision’s Asia EDGE* Initiative.

(*Asia EDGE stands for the Asia Enhancing Development and Growth through Energy Initiative.)