Term 2: New era of power sector
Basical settlement of power shortage in the South and Central areas
Mr. Tran Viet Ngai, Chairman of Energy Association, Former Vice Director of Steering Committee for the North-South 500kV transmission line project revealed that it was the 1st time when Vietnam constructed a super high voltage transmission line, with lots of difficulties, challenges, sweat, blood , tear, with high determination by entire political system. The 2 year project implementation was an unmatched feat, while it needs 8 – 10 years as assessed by the world. The 500kV transmission line connected North and South grid officially on May 27th 2014 opened up a new era for transmission system in particular and Vietnam’s power sector in general. The North-South 500kV transmission line (circuit 1) put into operation has basically resolved the power shortage in the South the Central area, contributing to the national economic development. It is a 2-way interconnection transmission line, which increases the security, stability in power supply and facilitates the maximum exploitation of the existing power sources in the system.
Meeting was held under the 500kV transmission line circuit 1
According to Mr. Ngai, the 500kV transmission line circuit 1 is a victory of era, in which many human resources have been mobilized, from the people, military, police to contribute their strength and wisdom, together with rational decisive policies by the Government on compensation, site clearance. This project is of great significance in innovation, application of transmission science, technology, the stable operation mode of the system. Especially, it was the first time we used concrently the technologies of cable, digital devices, protection equipment, etc. Therefore, most of schemes on power supply to the South are in accordance with the reality. That are the technical achievements that the Vietnamese workers and engineers have learnt and maintained to date, including the completion of transmission technology series of 22 substations 500kV which are under operation. This is also considered as the first brick contributing to the goods manufacturing mechanism, attracting foreign investment capital when the rotational power cut-off in Ho Chi Minh city terminated
Both father’s generation and son’s generation
After 20 year operation of the North-South 500kV transmission line, to date, the transmission capacity of 2 circuits has reached 1600-1800MW, with the transmitted energy of over 12 billion kWh/year that is 6 times higher than that specified in the original design in which only circuit 1 is put into service. Quality of transmission line is still ensured, contributing to strengthening the mutual support of nation-wide power sector, increasing the stability, reliability of the whole system.
Admiration of previous generations, at the meetings with transmission units, the successor generations promised to continue bringing into play the gained achievements, overcome difficultiesto complete comprehensively the tasks assigned. There will be many challenges ahead, the impression and proud of 500kV transmission line circuit 1 is an impulse for the next generations to overcome any troubles, implement successfully their glorious missions. Despite the development of transmission grid has not yet in concurrence with that of power generation, some transmission lines and substations are always in full-load or over-load operation, transmission grid has not ensured criteria n-1 but the 500kV transmission line has played an important role in nation-wide power transmission, which make an increase of stability, reliability of the whole system
10 years since the 500kV transmission line circuit 1 connected to the national grid, in 2004, EVN put into operation the 500kV transmission line circuit 2 from Pleiku to Di Linh, Tan Dinh to Phu Lam. Other 10 years later, on April 29th 2014, the 500kV transmission line circuit 3 (Pleiku- My Phuoc – Cau Bong) officially connected to the network, creating a close 500kV ring circuit, which ensures a safe operation of transmission grid from the North to the South.
Discussing the experiences on 500kV transmission line operation at the project site