Vietnam's government has ordered its provinces to introduce support policies for household rooftop solar by the end of December 2026, as part of a push to cut peak electricity demand and strengthen local supply, pv magazine reports. The instruction comes in Government Office Dispatch No. 10790/VPCP-CN, dated October 22, 2026.
What the government ordered
The dispatch followed a government meeting on electricity supply security and the implementation of the revised Power Development Plan VIII. Prime Minister Le Minh Hung called for faster deployment of rooftop solar and battery energy storage systems.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade has until October 30 to propose rooftop solar targets for every province and city, including installation capacities and commissioning schedules. The focus is on the northern provinces, where power supply has been tightest.
Provincial People's Committees must then introduce support policies for households that invest in rooftop solar for self-consumption by the end of December. The legal basis is Article 22 of Vietnam's Electricity Law. The dispatch does not set a national subsidy rate, so each province will design its own support mechanism, with guidance and monitoring from the ministry.
Storage is part of the plan
The ministry, working with the finance and justice ministries and other agencies, must also develop policies to speed up battery storage deployment by December 2026. Rooftop solar paired with storage at industrial parks and clusters, especially in the north, is a particular priority. Progress will be taken into account when ministries and local officials are evaluated.
Where the market stands
According to Vietnam Electricity (EVN), the country had 134,410 rooftop solar installations with a combined capacity of more than 11.45 GW at the end of August 2026.
The new order builds on earlier steps. Directive No. 10/CT-TTg, issued in March, set rooftop solar targets for households, government offices and commercial buildings. Decree No. 243/2026/ND-CP, in force since June 26, raised the standard limit on surplus rooftop solar sales to the grid from 20% to 50% of eligible generation, with higher shares negotiable until the end of 2030 where the local grid allows. Surplus power from batteries charged by rooftop solar can now also be sold to the grid.
Provinces have been slow to act, however. In its September report, the ministry found that only 2 of Vietnam's 34 provinces and municipalities, Bac Ninh and Lai Chau, had adopted the required household support policies.
The targets behind it
The government wants annual electricity savings of at least 3%, a cut of at least 10% in consumption during the peak summer months, and a reduction of at least 3 GW in peak system demand.
What it means
For the Asia-Pacific region, Vietnam is turning rooftop solar into a tool for grid security rather than just a clean energy target. Clear provincial deadlines, the right to sell more surplus power and a push for storage at industrial parks create a sizeable market for distributed solar and batteries. The open question is how generous provincial support will be, since there is no national subsidy rate. Installers and suppliers should watch the first provincial policies due by December, especially in the north.
Source: pv magazine, citing Government Office Dispatch No. 10790/VPCP-CN and EVN data.
