Hydroelectric power in Vietnam: An improved situation as the water level is rising
The water level of the hydropower reservoir in the North has increased rapidly, 7-20 m higher than the dead water level.
The Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) has just announced that the water in 7 northern hydropower reservoirs is tens of meters higher than the dead water level, however, currently only two hydropower reservoirs generate electricity.
According to the forecast, the temperature in the last days of June to the middle of July 2023 will not be as extreme as late May and early June 2023, therefore, the demand for domestic electricity may not increase as high as in the past time, with the average daily load in the North about 421.7 million kWh. Currently, the North is in the early flood period, and it is expected that in the coming time, the water flow to the Northern lakes will continue to increase and can ensure electricity supply with an average calculated load of about 421-425 million kWh/day. In addition, while some small, medium, and free-flowing lakes had to regulate flood water, the amount of water in some lakes in the North Central and Southeast regions is low, hence they must regulate water to ensure the minimum flow, generating electricity in moderation to ensure the safety of the unit when operating, and raising the water level for power generation. Currently, there are only 4 lakes at low water level: Thac Ba, Ban Ve, Dong Nai 3, Thac Mo, and hence there are 4 hydropower plants that have to generate electricity in moderation, with low flow, water level, and capacity.
As coal thermal power and hydroelectricity are the two most mobilised sources to ensure electricity and power system safety, with 392.6 million kWh and 191 million kWh respectively, the positive changes of the water levels make a huge difference to the overall situation of the power supply in Vietnam. Hydroelectric power plants must closely follow the changes of the weather in order to have an appropriate operating mode to ensure the required output and capacity. As the current water level of hydropower reservoirs is still low, the available capacity of the unit is still reduced, in the extreme case there is no flood or low flood volume, the Northern region still has can use the remaining water in the lake in combination with the natural water flow to the lakes to meet the load demand. In order to continue to ensure safe, stable and efficient electricity supply from now until the end of the dry season in 2023 and prepare for 2024 in the context that the North's backup power source is still under stress, accompanied by the influence of ElNino, Electricity of Vietnam is concentrating all resources, synchronously implementing solutions to ensure electricity.
Source: the Internet