Building a power generation price framework for energy storage battery systems
In the newly adjusted Power Plan VIII approved by the Ministry of Industry and Trade in May 2025, the total battery storage capacity by 2030 is expected to reach about 10,000-16,300 MW. Developing concentrated solar power must be combined with the installation of storage batteries with a minimum rate of 10% of capacity and charge in 2 hours.
Accordingly, the storage battery system combined with a centralized solar power plant at a capacity of 10% or internal connection of Hai Anh wind power plant (expected 4 MW in the 2025 - 2030 period). The 50 MW battery storage system project for the 2025 - 2030 period (the MWh demand will be specified during the implementation process).
Other storage battery projects (expected to be 138 MW for the 2025 - 2030 period). The total capacity of the Battery Storage System combined with a centralized solar power plant and other storage battery projects is 20,287 MW. Other storage battery systems are installed on the system depending on operating needs.
To implement the above adjusted Power Plan VIII and perform the assigned tasks, the Electricity Department has reported to Minister Nguyen Hong Dien to approve the policy of allowing the development of a draft Circular regulating the method of building a power generation price framework and determining the price of power generation services for independent energy storage battery systems.
This does not include: Power storage battery systems used in combination with renewable energy power plants (consuming electricity output from this power plant itself in the charging cycle) and Power storage battery systems invested by Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) or Power Corporations assigned to invest according to the decision of the competent authority.
Pursuant to Clause 31, Clause 44, Article 2 of the Electricity Law, an energy storage battery system is a type of electricity storage system, when generating electricity, it will produce electricity like a type of power plant. However, Circular 09/2025/TT-BCT has not yet regulated the method of determining the price framework for power generation for energy storage battery systems.
Two-component electricity price mechanism of energy storage batteries
The Minister of Industry and Trade issued Circular No. 12/2025/TT-BCT dated February 1, 2025 stipulating the method of determining power generation service prices; principles for calculating electricity prices to implement power projects; main contents of power purchase and sale contracts. Power generation service prices specified in Circular No. 12/2025/TT-BCT include: fixed price (FF/kWh), converted price (FF/kWh).
However, Circular 12/2025/TT-BCT has not yet regulated a multi-component electricity price mechanism according to the characteristics of power plants in each period as permitted by the Electricity Law. In particular, with the type of energy storage battery system - a type with a special operating mechanism (both generating electricity during the battery discharge cycle and consuming electricity from the grid in the charging cycle to charge the battery) - the operation depends on the needs of the system at each time, leading to uncertainty about the output of electricity generated or taken from the grid, different from traditional power plant types (only generating electricity into the grid).
Therefore, to implement power projects as the Electricity Law stipulates, it is necessary to develop a two-component electricity price mechanism for energy storage battery systems (similar to the type of charging hydropower plant). This includes the price of capacity (not dependent on power generation output, but depends on the tinhable and readiness of the battery storage system) and the price of electricity (depending on actual mobilized power output).
According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the development of a Circular regulating the method of building a power generation price framework, determining the price of power generation services for energy storage battery systems (excluding energy storage battery systems used in combination with renewable energy power plants or invested by EVN, Power Corporations according to the decision of the competent authority) and the main content of the power purchase and sale contract are necessary.
This is to meet the practical requirements of the electricity industry and serve as a basis and driving force for investors to implement energy storage battery system projects in the coming period.
