Viet Nam : Floating Solar Energy Project

Nonsovereign Project | 51327-001

The project entails the Asian Development Bank (ADB) providing financing to DHD to install 47.5 megawatt peak (MWp) of floating solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation panels, on the man-made reservoir of its existing 175 megawatt (MW) Da Mi hydro power plant.

Project Details

  • Project Officer
    Nath, Kiron
    Private Sector Operations Department
    Request for information
  • Country/Economy
    Viet Nam
  • Sector
    • Energy
Project Name Floating Solar Energy Project
Project Number 51327-001
Borrower / Company Da Nhim - Ham Thuan - Da Mi Hydro Power Joint Stock Company
Country / Economy Viet Nam
Location Ham Thuan Bac District
Type or Modality of Assistance
3723 Loan Ordinary capital resources USD 20.00 million Committed
8349 Loan Canadian Climate Fund for the Private Sector in Asia II (CFPS II) USD 4.00 million Committed
8350 Loan Canadian Climate Fund for the Private Sector in Asia I USD 11.00 million Committed
8351 Loan Leading Asia's Private Infrastructure Fund (LEAP) USD 4.40 million Committed
Strategic Agendas Environmentally sustainable growth
Inclusive economic growth
Drivers of Change Private sector development
Sector / Subsector

Energy / Renewable energy generation - solar

Gender Some gender elements
Responsible ADB Department Private Sector Operations Department
Responsible ADB Division Portfolio Management Division, PSOD
Responsible ADB Officer Nath, Kiron
Project Sponsor(s) Da Nhim - Ham Thuan - Da Mi Hydro Power Joint Stock Company
Description The project entails the Asian Development Bank (ADB) providing financing to DHD to install 47.5 megawatt peak (MWp) of floating solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation panels, on the man-made reservoir of its existing 175 megawatt (MW) Da Mi hydro power plant.
Objectives and Scope Da Mi Ham Thuan Da Nhim Hydro Power (DHD) plans to install 47.5 megawatt peak (MWp) of floating solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation panels, on the man-made reservoir of its existing 175 megawatt (MW) Da Mi hydro power plant. Additional facilities include a floating central inverter, a grounded substation and a new 3.5 kilometer (km) 110 kilovolt (kV) transmission line to connect with the national grid. The average capacity utilization factor of the Da Mi hydropower plant is relatively low at 46% due to low water availability during Viet Nam''s dry season, resulting in intermittent usage of the hydro turbines and the associated grid transmission line. Co-locating solar PV generation will simultaneously increase the installed renewable energy capacity and better utilize the existing hydro plant's transmission line. DHD will enter into a 20-year power purchase agreement with the national utility, Vietnam Electricity (EVN), to sell power generated by the solar facility to the grid using the solar power feed-in tariff (FIT) regime. This project will be one of first, utility-scale floating solar power projects in Viet Nam, and one of the first outside PRC
Status of Operation/Construction Operational
Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy

ADB's Strategy 2030 outlined 7 operational priorities to address the development challenges in Asia and the Pacific. The project supports three of those priorities: (i) accelerating progress in gender equality, (ii) tackling climate change, building climate and disaster resilience, and enhancing environment sustainability, and (iii) making cities more livable. The project is one of the country's first independent power producers (IPPs) in renewable energy infrastructure.

ADB's country partnership strategy for Viet Nam, aims to foster inclusive and environmentally sustainable growth. The project is aligned with two of the three pillars of the strategy: (i) increasing the inclusiveness of infrastructure and service delivery, and (ii) improving environmental sustainability and climate change response. Under the strategy, ADB will increase the focus on renewable energy, including through public-private partnerships (PPP), to promote sustainable growth.

The project aligns with ADB's energy policy, which encourages interventions designed to shift reliance on fossil fuel sources for energy to renewable forms of energy to slow down the growth of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and help countries achieve energy self-sufficiency. The project will increase Viet Nam''s use of renewable energy, reducing reliance on higher emission sources of power such as coal and thereby mitigating GHG emissions. The project is also aligned with Viet Nam''s commitments to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and will contribute to ADB's target of providing $6.0 billion per year in climate finance by 2020.

Safeguard Categories
Environment B
Involuntary Resettlement B
Indigenous Peoples C
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects
Environmental Aspects The project is classified as Category B for environment. The project footprint is not located within national or internationally recognized protected areas and has been confirmed as Modified Habitat through the biodiversity assessment. The potential environmental impacts during construction include dust generation, air emission, noise, waste, water pollution from civil works, reservoir sediment disturbance from deployment of anchor and shore blocks, and occupational and community health and safety for workers and fishing households residing in proximity to the project area, respectively. These impacts are however expected to be short-term and localized. The Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor will be required to adopt the construction phase environmental and social management plan (ESMP) of the Initial Environmental and Social Examination (IESE) as part of its contractual obligations.
Involuntary Resettlement The project is classified as Category B for Involuntary Resettlement. Non-major involuntary economic displacement impacts that will occur along the 3.5 km transmission line alignment are being managed by local government with DHD's support. DHD plans to ensure affected households can maintain their livelihoods through a supplementary livelihood restoration plan (LRP).
Indigenous Peoples The project is classified as Category C for Indigenous Peoples. Of the forty-two households impacted by the transmission line, three are members of the area's dominant ethnic minority Kh'o group, and two are from the Muong group who migrated into the area. Impacts on these households will be managed through the LRP and a community development plan that is part of the IESE.
Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation
Timetable for assistance design, processing and implementation
Concept Clearance 08 May 2018
Credit Committee Meeting 14 Aug 2018
Approval 04 Oct 2018
Last PDS Update 22 Dec 2022

Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.

The Access to Information Policy (AIP) recognizes that transparency and accountability are essential to development effectiveness. It establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced.

The Accountability Mechanism provides a forum where people adversely affected by ADB-assisted projects can voice and seek solutions to their problems and report alleged noncompliance of ADB's operational policies and procedures.

In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of, or reference to, a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.

Title Document Type Document Date
Floating Solar Energy Project: Report and Recommendation of the President Reports and Recommendations of the President Sep 2018
Floating Solar Energy Project: Initial Poverty and Social Analysis Initial Poverty and Social Analysis Sep 2018

Safeguard Documents See also: Safeguards
Safeguard documents provided at the time of project/facility approval may also be found in the list of linked documents provided with the Report and Recommendation of the President.

Title Document Type Document Date
Floating Solar Energy Project: Environment and Social Monitoring Report (June 2019-December 2020) Environmental and Social Monitoring Reports Dec 2020
Floating Solar Energy Project: Environment and Social Monitoring Report (June 2018-June 2019) Environmental and Social Monitoring Reports Sep 2019
Floating Solar Energy Project: Initial Environmental and Social Examination Report Initial Environmental Examination Oct 2018

Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation

None currently available.


Related Publications

None currently available.


The Access to Information Policy (AIP) establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced in its operations to facilitate stakeholder participation in ADB's decision-making. For more information, refer to the Safeguard Policy Statement, Operations Manual F1, and Operations Manual L3.

Requests for information may also be directed to the InfoUnit.