Vietnam Policies Encourage Safe Development of Rooftop Solar Power

Vietnam is a nation of high potential for Rooftop solar power development (RTS), estimated at 48GW. As of now, over 130,000 RTS systems with a total capacity of 9.5GW are operational, and these figures are expected to continue growing in the upcoming years.

However, the development of RTS on a large scale also brings with it hightened requirement for effective RTS monitoring and control to ensure power system reliability and security. Integration of rooftop solar power (RTS), if done without proper control, can pose various risks and challenges to the operation of current power system, some of which include:
• Lack of visibility and controlability: Grid operators often lack real-time visibility and controllability of RTS generation, making it harder to analyze and manage grid behavior.
• Power imbalance – Duck curve: RTS causes changes in load patterns, leading to challenges in power balance, ramp up and ramp down capabilities of conventional power plants.
• Cyber security concerns: Cyberattacks via cloud services of inverter manufacturers that disrupt RTS systems partially or entirely could cause regional or national blackouts.

Recognizing the potential challenges, Vietnam has included tightened requirements for the monitoring and control of these RTS in recent policies encouraging the safe development of Rooftop solar power with regards to power system’s safety and security. Notable policies that RTS investors in 2025 should take note of includes:
• Decree 135/2024/ND-CP on mechanism for RTS development
o Self-generated and self-consumed RTS systems are encouraged.
o Excess power from a RTS can be sold to EVN at no more than 20% of its installed capacity.
o RTS systems ≥ 100kW must be equipped with monitoring and control devices connected to Power Companies’ SCADA.

• Decision 1570/QD-EVN on technical requirements for RTS control and monitoring
o Compliant with requirements for monitoring, control, data list, data exchange functions.
o Communication protocols: Modbus TCP, IEC60870-5-104, IEC62056.
o Telecommunication channels: 3G/4G/5G, Internet, …
o Cyber security: TLS, OpenVPN/IPSec protocols. Prohibiting control access via cloud services.

With over 25 years of experience as a leading developer and provider of solutions for power system in Vietnam, ATS’s Rooftop Solar Power Control & Monitoring solutions are developed with consideration for compatibility with Vietnam’s power system and regulatory compliance. Developed and fine-tuned through 4GW of renewable energy project executed, our comprehensive solution for RTS is not only fully compliant with above-mentioned regulatory requirement but also facilitate optimization of system operation, meeting current operational needs while also ready for future expansion.