Overview of the largest hydropower plant in Southeast Asia in the 20th century, presently invested more than VND 9,000 billion to increase its capacity

Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant is the largest hydropower plant in Southeast Asia in the 20th century. By 2021, after about 30 years of operation, Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant was continued to receive an investment of VND 9,200 billion for its extension.

With the great support and assistance from Soviet Union, the construction of Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant on the Da River started in 1979 and finally completed in 1994.

This hydropower project has the largest capacity in the Southeast Asia in the 20^th century. Apart from its main task of providing power to the national power system, Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant also has the task of flood control for Hanoi and the downstream area, ensuring irrigation water flow for agriculture and life activities in the Northern Delta.

By the end of 2020, i.e. after about 30 years of operation, the Plant had provided the country with a total output of over 250 billion kWh, annually contributing more than VND1,000 billion to the Hoa Binh provincial budget.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Hoa Binh Extension Hydropower Plant Project was held in early 2021 in order to increase the peak capacity of the national power system and create favourable conditions for maximum exploitation of excess water discharged during the annual flood season.

The Hoa Binh Extension Hydropower Plant Project has a total investment of more than VND 9,200 billion, Vietnam Electricity (EVN) plays the Client role.

The project is located on the right bank of damsite of the existing Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant. The Plant is located in Phuong Lam ward, while the Intake and Headrace are located in Thai Binh ward, Hoa Binh city (Hoa Binh province).

The total installed capacity of the project is 480 MW, comprising of two units, each with a capacity of 240 MW. The average annual power output is about 488.3 million kWh/annum providing sufficiently power for the whole country’s consumption during half a peak day (the consumption during the peak time in 2024 is 1.025 billion kWh).

Such extension and construction of two more units with a total capacity of 480 MW will increase the total capacity of Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant up to 2,400 MW, equal to the capacity of Son La Hydropower Plant. Presently, Son La Hydropower Plant, also located on the Da River, is the largest hydropower project in Vietnam and in Southeast Asia.

Simultaneously when it is completed, Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant (2,400 MW) along with 2 other hydropower plants on the Da River, i.e. Son La HPP (2,400 MW) and Lai Chau HPP (1,200 MW), will have a total capacity of 6,000 MW. This is the largest hydropower cascade in the Southeast Asia and contributes 30% of the national power output.

Regarding the project schedule, a lot of workers as well as machines were mobilized at the construction site to speed up the construction. By the end of the second quarter of this year, some project items had been completed and exceeded the targeted requirements, specifically: The volume of concrete construction of the Intake reached 135% of the plan; excavation and reinforcement of the tunnel crown N^o.1 reached 133% of the plan; excavation and reinforcement of the tunnel foundation N^o.2 reached 100% of the plan, etc.

Hoa Binh Extension Hydropower Plant project is expected to generate power its Unit 1 in June 2025 and Unit 2 in July 2025.

When it is completed, the project will not only help increase the peak capacity generation and maximize the exploitation of excess water discharged annually, but also improve the regulation and stabilization of the frequency of the national power system; contributing to reduce costs for the national power system, etc.