GE expertise, technology strengthens Vietnam’s electricity backbone

The upgrade marks the latest project milestone for the company, which has continuously been advancing Vietnam’s 500-kilovolt (kV) transmission lines- the “backbone” of Vietnam’s north-to-south power transmission- for four years.

“Increased energy demand is putting increased stress on the grid – both in Vietnam and globally,” said Bob Turko, general manager of GE’s High-Voltage Solutions business.

“By collaborating with local companies and leveraging our history and expertise providing advanced series compensation systems to our customers, we’re able to relieve Vietnam’s grid stress and increase overall reliability, ensuring the well-being of the country’s economy and residents in the process,” Turko added.

In 2011, electricity demand in Vietnam- largely driven by steel and cement industries- was growing at double the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) rate.

With demand expected to escalate an additional 16 per cent over the next four years, electricity shortages were virtually unavoidable.

Understanding the implications to its economy and its 89 million citizens, the country has created a long-term plan to address electricity shortage, centering on Vietnam’s 500-kV transmission lines.

To support necessary growth in the existing transmission system, Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) and the National Power Transmission Corporation (NPT) needed 18 series capacitor banks throughout the country in a tight timeframe. Based on its proven expertise in the design and deployment of Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS) within the region, GE’s Digital Energy business was chosen by EVN and NPT to install and upgrade these capacitor banks.

Key to GE’s success is its focus on localisation. To better understand Vietnam’s electricity issues, GE works closely with a local partner. The company has also hired local Vietnamese engineers and provides regional job opportunities to assist with technical support.

“We take pride in our ability to use local companies and resources,” said Turko. “By combining our knowledge with that of Vietnamese resident experts, we’ve successfully been able to navigate local challenges and strengthen the country’s electricity – together.”

GE shares a long history energising Vietnam. It installed the first GE series capacitor banks in Vietnam in the 1990s.

GE’s Energy Consulting arm, along with the Electricity Regulatory Authority of Vietnam (ERAV) and Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), also recently completed a year-long “renewable energy integration study” aimed at developing wind power as a reliable energy source into the national grid.

The project was funded by the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) under the Grant Agreement between the US government and the ERAV.