Nghe An: Demand for solar power is increasing sharply.

Demandrapid increase

Mr. Le Khac Binh, Director of Greentech Central Vietnam JSC, a company specializing in the installation of large-scale rooftop solar power projects in Nghe An province, shared his joy: "Since Decree 58/2025/ND-CP came into effect, and especially since the beginning of 2026, contracts for rooftop solar power installation have increased, ranging from small-scale 3-5 kWp systems for households to medium and large-scale systems for factories, industrial zones, and clusters, from 50 kWp to 100 kWp and up to 1 MWp. The demand for solar power installation is high, with 1-2 contracts per day, and exceptionally, on March 25th, we received 5 installation orders. As summer approaches, the demand increases even more, so the company has dozens of workers working continuously and is recruiting more workers to serve customers."

Representatives from this unit also stated that, compared to the past, the cost of installing rooftop solar power has decreased by almost half. Depending on the electricity needs of each household and a few other factors, some households install small systems of 4-5 kWp, while larger systems of around 25-30 kWp cost between 70 and 200 million VND. The installation cost also depends on the battery storage system; if only the panels and inverter are installed, it costs about 6 million VND per kWp; if both panels and a battery storage system are installed, the cost doubles. For example, installing an 8 kWp panel system with a 6 kW battery storage system would cost a total of 100 million VND.

Similarly, according to Mr. Luu Duc, a consultant for rooftop solar power installation in northern Nghe An province, previously, installing solar panels was expensive, so many people were hesitant, but now that the price is lower, families with electricity bills exceeding 5 million VND are very interested. In reality, solar power is most effective for families running grocery stores, restaurants, or cold storage facilities.

Regarding his coffee shop and mini-supermarket business, Mr. Tran Son, residing at 63 Dinh Le Street (Truong Vinh Ward), said: "Nghe An's summers are quite hot. Previously, we paid 15-16 million VND per month for electricity from the grid. In mid-2025, we happened to receive advice from a consulting firm, so my wife and I invested 180 million VND to install a 30 kWp rooftop solar power system. Since installation, our monthly electricity bill is around 5 million VND, and we have plenty of electricity to serve our customers. During the recent storm, because of careful installation, the system was not damaged and is still working well."

With clear benefits, more and more families are proactively researching the capacity, investment efficiency, payback period, and related technical factors. Before installation, many households also consult various sources, compare different suppliers, and pay attention to warranty and equipment lifespan.

Mr. Tran Ngoc Cuong from Quynh Phu commune, who recently invested nearly 200 million VND in installing a 16 kWp rooftop solar power system and a 32 kWh battery storage unit, said: "Before investing, I carefully considered it. My house has multiple generations living together and uses many electrical appliances, so as soon as I decided to build the house, I hired technicians to install the solar power system. It's been 5 months since the solar power system was installed, and my family has been able to use electricity comfortably."

Not only households with monthly electricity consumption of 10 million VND or more should install rooftop solar power, but recently, to reduce production costs and ensure a reliable power source, many factories in industrial zones and clusters have also utilized the rooftops of their workshops to install solar power systems for production and daily life. Minh Anh Kim Lien Garment Corporation is a prime example, having invested tens of billions of VND in the past two years to install solar power systems at its factories in Minh Anh Kim Lien (Bac Vinh Industrial Park), Minh Anh Do Luong, and most recently, Minh Anh Tan Ky. Mr. Tran Van Thanh, Production Director of Minh Anh Kim Lien Factory, shared: "Investing in rooftop solar power helps the company achieve a double benefit: economically, it saves costs; at the same time, the self-produced electricity helps the business be more proactive in its production activities, especially during peak periods of hot weather that cause overload and power shortages."

One advantage is that manufacturing plants in industrial parks operate mostly during the hot, sunny daytime, making solar power systems most effective. Factories can maximize the use of this energy source for production without having to invest in large, expensive uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems.

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Textile and garment businesses prioritize investment in renewable energy because it offers opportunities to take advantage of incentives from the Vietnam-EU New Generation Trade Agreement (EVWTA), as major export markets such as Europe and the US always prioritize products from countries that practice green growth and utilize renewable energy.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hiep - Head of the Trade Management Department, Department of Industry and Trade

Upon investigation, it was found that, in order to maximize factory space and reduce costs, some FDI enterprises in VSIP and WHA industrial parks have invested in installing solar power systems on their factory roofs. According to preliminary statistics from the infrastructure investors of the two industrial parks, the total capacity of renewable energy projects in these industrial parks is estimated at nearly 5MW.

Cgradually shifting towards green and clean production.

About five years ago, investing in an 8-10 kWp solar power system for a family cost between 130-150 million VND. Now, that investment has almost halved. With increasingly reasonable and transparent information on material and equipment prices, and a more professional and competitive construction consulting team, people feel more confident in installing solar power systems.

The Department of Industry and Trade also advises people to choose reputable businesses and units with technical capabilities, transparent pricing, and clear warranties, as these are key factors in ensuring safety during operation. Furthermore, after installation, users should receive thorough training on how to operate, clean, and maintain the system to maximize its long-lasting power storage efficiency.

From a business perspective, investing in solar power is not just about cost reduction; it's also a trend for businesses in the era of globalization.

Currently, businesses wishing to participate deeply in the global production and supply chain are forced to develop investment plans for clean energy, aiming for green and sustainable production. According to experts, in Nghe An, due to its location in a region frequently affected by storms, the construction and installation of solar power systems should have a design plan from the outset, be securely installed, and be reinforced during storms to minimize damage to the solar panels.

Ms. Le Thi Thu Huong, Head of the Energy Management Department of the Department of Industry and Trade, stated: Since the issuance of Decree 58/2025/ND-CP, the number of rooftop solar power installation projects has increased significantly. However, compared to other localities, the number of businesses investing in renewable energy in Nghe An is still relatively small, and the scale of the projects is not yet substantial. According to preliminary statistics, in 2025 and 2026, 16 FDI projects and businesses in industrial parks will install rooftop solar power with a total capacity of over 63,000 kWp and a 4,500 kWh storage system; the total for the entire province is approximately 80 MWp. In the context of sharply rising gasoline and oil prices, which increase input costs for production and business, the investment in switching to renewable energy is a significant advantage for businesses and households seeking to reduce costs.

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According to Government Decree No. 58/2025/ND-CP guiding the implementation of the Electricity Law, households and small businesses installing self-consumption solar power systems with a capacity of less than 100 kWp are not required to register. In case of surplus, they may sell up to 20% of their capacity back to the grid. Similarly, administrative and public service units that allocate budget for the installation of self-consumption solar power systems only need to notify and register with the local electricity company; they do not need to apply for permits or wait for approval.