Multiple provinces have simultaneously submitted petitions to the Government and the Ministry of Industry and Trade requesting a deadline extension for the fixed feed-in tariff (FIT) mechanism under Decision 39 for ongoing wind power projects whose schedules were impacted by COVID-19.
Localities cited complex COVID-19 pandemic developments as the primary cause disrupting wind turbine supply chains (foreign equipment contractors experiencing delays in home countries, transportation of oversized and overweight components obstructed by social distancing measures), interrupting international expert and worker immigration, blocking freight logistics, and causing abnormal surges in material prices—placing numerous wind power projects across these provinces on the brink of operational delays.
Consequently, local authorities requested the Prime Minister and Ministry of Industry and Trade to review and approve an extension of the FIT mechanism applicability period for ongoing projects within their jurisdictions.
According to Tra Vinh Provincial People's Committee, the province has approved investment policies for 8 wind power projects with a total capacity of 570 MW to date. Among these, 6 projects are receiving provincial support to accelerate construction, including: Tra Vinh – Korea Wind Power (Phase 1, 48 MW), V1-2 Wind Power (48 MW), Wind Power No. 3 at location V1-3 (48 MW), Duyen Hai Wind Power (48 MW), Hiep Thanh Wind Power (78 MW), and Dong Hai 1 Wind Power (100 MW).
Based on field monitoring and investors' self-assessments, many projects risk missing the October 31, 2021 commercial operation deadline. Therefore, Tra Vinh province petitioned the Prime Minister to grant a FIT mechanism extension for local wind power projects until at least the end of April 2022.
In Soc Trang province, 20 wind power projects (total capacity of 1,435 MW) were approved under the local wind power development plan and National Power Development Plan VII. Currently, the province has granted investment approvals for 16 projects (total capacity ~1,095 MW), of which 11 are under active construction.
Faced with COVID-19 impacts causing construction delays and threatening FIT deadline compliance, Soc Trang People's Committee proposed that the Ministry of Industry and Trade submit a request to the Prime Minister to extend the FIT mechanism until March 31, 2022. Eligible projects for this extension include wind power projects currently under construction (with signed power purchase agreements, equipment procurement contracts, feasibility study reports, and technical designs).
Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee also petitioned for a deadline postponement to December 31, 2021. Currently, Gia Lai has approved investment policies for 17 wind power projects (total capacity ~1,242 MW included in power planning).
.jpg)
Wind Power Projects Facing Schedule Risks
According to updated data from
Vietnam Electricity (EVN), as of August 3, 2021, a total of 106 wind power plants had submitted documentation registering for grid connection testing and commercial operation date (COD) recognition. The total registered testing capacity across these 106 wind power plants reached 5,655.5 MW.
However, wind power developers note that registering with EVN represents an administrative step, whereas completing construction on schedule under current conditions remains fraught with difficulty. Among the 106 registered plants, several have yet to finish site clearance. Meanwhile, the preferential FIT window closes in under two months, as wind power FIT rates expire after October 31 under Decision 39.
According to a wind power developer, to meet the trial testing submission deadline prior to requesting COD before October 31, 2021, developers had to submit paperwork to the power buyer (EVN) no later than August 3, 2021. However, actual execution depends heavily on site progress. Investors predict that actual wind power capacity operating before October 31, 2021 will fall short of total registered capacity.
According to the
Institute of Energy (Ministry of Industry and Trade), total approved renewable energy capacity added to power planning through 2025 stands at approximately 25,500 MW (excluding rooftop solar), comprising 13,900 MW of utility-scale solar farms and 11,500 MW of wind power.
This leaves approximately 5,000 MW of solar power and 6,144 MW of wind power approved in power planning that cannot reach operational status within 2021. With no specific post-October 2021 renewable energy incentive mechanisms announced, wind power projects face significant financial risks if they fail to achieve commercial operation before November 2021.
According to EVN's updated power supply-demand balance report for 2021–2025, if power generation projects face delays and renewable energy development halts after October 2021, the power system will experience a severe supply deficit. Generation shortages could reach up to 27.7 billion kWh of electricity by 2025.