Charging stations and data centers can buy green electricity directly without going through EVN

According to Decree 243/2026 amending Decree 57 and 58 on renewable energy development, the Government expands the scope of application of the direct power purchase and sale mechanism (DPPA). In addition to customers using large electricity for production, this mechanism is also applied to data centers and businesses providing charging and battery exchange services for electric vehicles.

This is the first time these two new groups are participating in the DPPA mechanism. The addition takes place in the context that electricity demand from data centers and electric vehicle charging infrastructure is forecast to increase rapidly with the process of digital transformation and transportation electrification. The Decree also adds electricity retailers in model areas and clusters (except urban areas and free trade zones) to participate in the DPPA mechanism. Accordingly, electricity retailers in industrial, economic, export processing zones, industrial clusters, and high-tech agriculture can buy electricity directly from renewable energy generators and re-supply it to large electricity users in the zone or cluster. They can also invest in renewable energy sources to sell directly to large electricity users in the area or cluster.

The DPPA mechanism will be issued by the Government from 2025 to allow large customers to buy directly from renewable power plants instead of just buying all through EVN. The goal is to create conditions for businesses to access green electricity sources, meet emission reduction requirements in the global supply chain and promote the development of renewable energy according to market mechanisms.

Currently, Samsung Thai Nguyen (SEVT) and TTC Duc Hue 2 Solar Power Plant are the first units to complete technical and legal procedures to officially operate under the direct power purchase and sale mechanism (DPPA). In particular, SEVT plays the role of buyer, while TTC Duc Hue 2 is the seller of electricity.

According to a survey at the end of 2023 by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, about 20 large enterprises want to buy electricity directly, with a total demand of nearly 1,000 MW. Along with that, there are 24 renewable energy projects with a capacity of 1,773 MW that want to sell electricity through the DPPA mechanism, 17 projects with a capacity of 2,836 MW are considering participating.