State-owned Vietnam Electricity (EVN) has launched Phase 2 of the Bac Ai pumped storage hydropower plant in Ninh Thuan Province. With a total installed capacity of 1,200 MW, the facility comprises four 300 MW turbine-generator units and represents a major step in Vietnam’s renewable energy strategy. The project, valued at VND21.1 trillion, is financed through a combination of loans and EVN’s capital.
The first generating unit is set to begin operation in December 2029, with full completion expected by May 2031. The plant will stabilize the national grid by storing excess energy during off-peak hours and generating electricity during peak demand periods. Phase 1, which involved constructing spillway structures in the Song Cai hydropower reservoir, was completed in March 2021.
The Bac Ai project is seen as a key component in balancing Vietnam’s growing renewable energy mix, particularly wind and solar power. Alongside the planned Ninh Thuan nuclear power project, it aims to position the province as a major clean energy hub in Southeast Asia.