Solar plant to generate over 480,000 MWh annually
Authorities have approved Vinenergo as the investor of the Dien Bien 1 solar power plant.
The project will span more than 509 hectares across Dien Bien Phu Ward and the communes of Na Son, Muong Lan and Pu Nhi. Around 320 hectares will be used for solar panels and transformer stations.
With a designed capacity of 300 MW, the plant is expected to produce approximately 482,411 MWh of electricity per year.
It also includes a 25.65 km 220kV double-circuit transmission line connecting the plant to the Dien Bien substation.
Total investment is estimated at over VND 5.371 trillion (USD 206.57 million), with 30 per cent funded by the investor and the remainder mobilised. Construction is scheduled to begin by the fourth quarter of 2026, with operations targeted for late 2027. The project will operate for 50 years.
Foreign-backed wind farm worth USD 165 million
Meanwhile, Dien Bien has approved a foreign-invested wind power project led by a consortium including TPDB Wind Power Investment and Beijing Weineng Investment.
The Envision Nam Po wind farm will be developed across communes in Dien Bien and neighbouring Lai Chau Province.
The project will install 25 wind turbines, each with a capacity of 5 MW, bringing total capacity to 125 MW. Annual output is at around 383 GWh.
Covering about 60.5 hectares, the project has a total investment of more than USD 165 million, with 20 per cent equity and 80 per cent financed.
Construction is expected to start in late 2026 and be completed by the third quarter of 2027, with a 50-year operating term.
Push for diversified energy mix
Dien Bien authorities are prioritising renewable energy development alongside hydropower, aiming to diversify the province’s energy mix.
Under Vietnam’s national power development plan, the province is targeting nearly 3,000 MW in total power capacity by 2030, including significant contributions from solar and wind energy.
Local officials have pledged to fast-track procedures for such projects, placing them under a “green channel” to accelerate investment and implementation.