Nghe An sets target for 50% of government offices to use rooftop solar power by 2030

The Nghe An Department of Industry and Trade is drafting a plan to implement the rooftop solar power installation program at government agencies, offices, schools, and hospitals.

Set specific targets

Ms. Le Thi Thu Huong, Head of the Energy Management Department at the Nghe An Department of Industry and Trade, stated that in order to operationalize the policies, orientations, and tasks of the Government and the Prime Minister regarding the development of self-generated, self-consumed rooftop solar power, the Nghe An Department of Industry and Trade is drafting a plan to implement the installation of rooftop solar power systems in government buildings, offices, schools, hospitals, and public institutions across the province for the 2026–2030 period. The draft is currently awaiting feedback from various departments, agencies, and localities for further refinement before being submitted to the Provincial People's Committee for review.

The draft is based on the implementation of Directive No. 10/CT-TTg dated March 30, 2026, issued by the Prime Minister on strengthening the development of self-generated, self-consumed rooftop solar power, and Plan No. 315/KH-UBND dated April 24, 2026, issued by the Nghe An Provincial People's Committee.

Notably, the draft not only encourages agencies and units to install rooftop solar power systems but also proposes specific targets, roadmaps, and indicators for each group of structures. It also defines the responsibilities of departments, agencies, localities, and the management and user units of public structures in the implementation process.

In line with the proposed target, Nghe An aims to have 50% of government office buildings across the province utilizing self-generated, self-consumed rooftop solar power by 2030. Specifically, an average of approximately 10% of government agencies and offices are expected to install and commission such systems each year.

This is regarded as a cross-cutting indicator of the program, serving as the basis for departments, agencies, and sectoral bodies, as well as commune-level authorities, to develop plans, allocate resources, and organize implementation in a manner consistent with actual conditions. The breakdown of targets by building category is also intended to establish a specific roadmap, preventing a scattered, unfocused rollout or the failure to clearly define the responsibilities of each unit.

Notably, for the headquarters of provincial-level government agencies, the draft proposes a target of achieving 100% installation of self-generated, self-consumed rooftop solar power systems by 2027. This category of buildings is expected to be prioritized for early implementation, laying the groundwork for expanding the program to subordinate units and public institutions across the province.

For the headquarters of agencies and units under the direct management of provincial-level departments, agencies, and sectoral bodies, the draft proposes an annual installation rate of 10%, with the goal of completing 50% of the facilities within their jurisdiction by 2030.

At the commune level, the People's Councils of communes and wards are expected to be tasked with organizing the installation of rooftop solar power systems for agencies and units under their jurisdiction. The scope of implementation extends beyond the headquarters of commune-level People's Councils to include the headquarters of commune-level Party Committees, schools, health stations, and other public institutions. The proposed implementation rate is 10% per year, with a target of reaching 50% by 2030.

In addition to the indicators regarding the proportion of facilities to be equipped, the draft also addresses the target for the development of rooftop solar power capacity for the 2026–2030 period, as detailed in the accompanying appendix. Based on this target, agencies, units, and localities will conduct reviews and categorize investment lists, identify priority projects and appropriate installation scales, thereby contributing to the achievement of the program's overall objectives.

Another notable aspect of the draft is the proposal to incorporate the results of rooftop solar power installation into the criteria for evaluating the performance of heads of agencies and units in fulfilling their duties. If approved, this will serve as a basis for enhancing the accountability of all levels and sectors in proactively implementing the program, rather than merely engaging in advocacy and encouragement.

Proactive implementation

To realize the projected targets, the draft plan identifies the review of facilities, the development of an investment portfolio, and the proactive allocation of resources as the top-priority solutions.

Accordingly, every year, before and during the process of preparing the state budget estimate for the following year, agencies, units, and localities will, based on their functions, duties, the current status of facilities, electricity demand, actual conditions, and assigned indicators, review the facilities under their jurisdiction.

Based on this review, each unit will determine the priority order, the estimated scale of installation, and the funding requirements. The selection of facilities must ensure alignment with actual conditions, avoiding inefficient investments or systems whose capacity is disproportionate to electricity demand.

For agencies and units under the direct management of provincial-level departments, agencies, and the People's Committees at the commune level, the draft proposes proactively developing investment plans, identifying funding sources, and allocating budgets in accordance with decentralization, authority, and legal regulations.

The resources required for implementation are expected to be mobilized from multiple channels, including the self-financing budgets of public service units and other legal sources. Diversifying funding sources is anticipated to create additional conditions for public institutions to deploy the systems, while simultaneously reducing the burden on the state budget.

The draft plan also clearly defines the responsibilities of relevant departments and localities to ensure effective implementation. Specifically, the Nghe An Department of Industry and Trade is proposed to serve as the lead coordinating agency for executing the plan once it is approved by the competent authority. It will coordinate with relevant units to monitor and urge progress, compile results, and evaluate the achievement of set targets.

According to the Head of the Energy Management Division of the Nghe An Department of Industry and Trade, the draft is currently undergoing a consultation process with various departments, agencies, and localities. The feedback received will continue to be reviewed and refined before being submitted to the Provincial People's Committee for consideration and decision.

If approved, the program is expected to create additional momentum for the development of rooftop solar power in the public sector, contributing to the reduction of electricity costs from the state budget, alleviating pressure on the power grid, and effectively utilizing local renewable energy resources. Through this, government agencies, offices, schools, hospitals, and public institutions can become pioneers in practicing electricity conservation and efficient energy use, thereby promoting the transition to green energy and ensuring energy security in the province in the coming years.