IPC achieves FIT deadline with five wind power EPC contracts

Wind turbine erection at the 155MW Cho Long wind power plant in Gia Lai

According to the Scientific Council of Vietnam Energy Magazine, 68/106 Wind power Plant with a total capacity of 3,605MW has been recognised to had reached commercial operations date (COD) before November 1, 2021 to be eligible for a preferential fixed feed-in tariff (FIT).

For more than a year, wind power projects have been under extremly difficult conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While ensuring safety against the epidemic, they had to race against the clock to secure the FIT by the last day of October.

Facing "double" difficulties, the contractor's capacity and determination are key to success. IPC E&C JSC (a subsidiary of IPC Group) has successfully taken the hurdles as one of the largest EPC contractors for large-scale wind power projects, drawing applause from investors, consultants, and partners.

Specifically, the IPC E&C contractor has five projects that have been recognised for commercial operation before October 31, 2021, in time to enjoy the preferential FIT.

These are all large-scale wind power projects running along the Central Highlands to the Mekong Delta: Cho Long Wind Power Plant (155MW) and Cuu An Power Plant (46MW) in Gia Lai, and Hoa Dong 2 Wind Power Plant (72MW) in Soc Trang. In Ninh Thuan, there are Adani Phuoc Minh wind power plants (27MW) and Phuoc Huu-Duyen Hai 1 (30MW).

Wind turbine foundation construction at the 72MW Hoa Dong 2 wind power plant in Soc Trang

Overcoming many difficulties, IPC E&C is gradually asserting itself as a pioneer in Vietnam in the field of EPC industrial plants, especially energy plants. Up to date, IPC E&C has been the EPC general contractor for more than 1GW of renewable energy projects: 650MWp of farm solar, 50MWp of rooftop solar, and 650MW of wind farm energy. With average annual sales of over VND12 trillion ($521.74 million), IPC is one of the largest construction groups in Vietnam. It ranked 82nd among the Top 500 Largest Private Enterprises (VNR 500).

The preparation and field survey are the foundation of a successful project. For wind power, the transportation and installation of super-heavy equipment are two key factors that need to be prepared, invested, and reserved in advance.

With that vision, IPC E&C has boldly invested more than VND400 billion ($17.4 million) in procurement and equipped with four complete crane groups and a team of skilled crane operators to accelerate the construction speed of the projects while minimising the impact of rising crane prices and the serious shortage of subcontractors to erect turbines. At Phuoc Huu Duyen Hai 1 wind power plant (Ninh Thuan), one of the projects with the longest turbine blades in Vietnam (77m), the contractor has completed the entire process of transportation and erection for turbine in just two months.

The completed 30MW Phuoc Huu-Duyen Hai 1 wind power plant in Ninh Thuan

Researching and applying advanced construction methods along with modern equipment in pouring foundation pits, installing infrastructure are the keys to speeding up construction. For example, the Cho Long wind power plant project (Gia Lai), the IPC contractor have made a new record in Vietnam by filling in a turbine foundation in just two days on average. The total time to complete the installation, operation, and COD testing for one turbine took only seven days.

Moreover, for projects with rugged terrain, hills, and electric wires like Gia Lai, the contractor must build a special transport plan: using the first modern specialised equipment in Vietnam includes a transport vehicle complex fitted with a Blade Adapter to be able to safely transport super-heavy goods to the construction site.

The contractor must also have the experience and strategy to coordinate personnel so as not to interrupt the construction progress when the project area is isolated or blocked. When the whole country was under pandemic restrictions, Soc Trang was in isolated under Directive 16, with heavy movement restrictions blocking entry and exit.

The transportation and construction work of Hoa Dong 2 Wind Power Plant Project in the province had experienced periods of delay, seriously affecting progress. However, the contractor and its staff worked days and nights and overtime to energise and connect the project to the grid, test, and qualify for commercial operation before October 31, 2021.

"Thus, to be able to complete wind power projects with safety, progress and quality, the contractor must possess strong financial potential and have modern equipment, a team of experienced and brave construction workers, and the ability to adopt new installation technology, to successfully finish a project," said Tran Duc Trung, CEO of IPC E&C.