Abstract
The rapid development of solar power in Vietnam has intensified grid congestion and power curtailment in several regions with high solar irradiance. In this context, battery energy storage systems (BESS) are considered a promising solution for absorbing surplus electricity and improving the utilization efficiency of solar power plants. This study evaluates the role of photovoltaic (PV) systems integrated with BESS in mitigating solar power curtailment under different transmission constraint conditions in Vietnam. Three 40 MWac solar power plants representing the northern, central, and southern regions, located in Lai Chau, Ninh Thuan, and Binh Phuoc, were simulated using the System Advisor Model (SAM). The study examines transmission constraint levels ranging from α = 1.0 to α = 0.6, along with BESS configurations equivalent to 10% and 20% of PV capacity and storage durations of 2 and 4 hours. The results show that the first-year net electricity generation of the solar power plants in Lai Chau, Ninh Thuan, and Binh Phuoc reaches 67.91 million kWh, 83.38 million kWh, and 79.56 million kWh, respectively. When the transmission constraint factor decreases to α = 0.6, the corresponding curtailment rates increase to 11.00%, 16.78%, and 13.34%. The findings indicate that BESS plays a critical role in reducing solar power curtailment and supporting the more effective integration of solar energy into Vietnam’s power system.
