Vietnam May Let You Sell 50% of Your Solar Back to the Grid

Where Vietnam's Rooftop Solar Policy Stands Today

Vietnam had a highly successful feed in tariff programme for rooftop solar that ran until the end of 2020. During that period, the government paid a fixed rate per kWh for all electricity generated, including surplus. The programme drove rapid installation growth.

Since FIT ended, the policy has shifted to a self consumption model. Under the current rules (formalised in Decree 135/2024/ND-CP and implemented through Decree 58), rooftop solar owners can consume what they generate but the amount they can sell back to EVN is capped. The cap was set at 20% of total system output.

This 20% cap was designed to prevent the grid from receiving too much unplanned rooftop solar generation while encouraging self consumption. In practice, it has been a constraint on the financial return for clients who generate more than they consume, which is common for smaller commercial and residential installations during weekend or holiday periods.

What the Draft Proposes

The January 2026 draft amendment from MOIT proposes raising the surplus sale cap from 20% to 50% of total generation. According to RECS International's Vietnam country profile and confirmed in Vietnamese solar media, the draft was circulated for stakeholder consultation in early 2026. The amendment has not been formally enacted as of the date of this blog.

If the 50% cap is adopted, the financial impact on rooftop solar projects is meaningful. For a 10 kW system in Ho Chi Minh City generating approximately 13,000 to 14,000 kWh per year, the current 20% cap means at most 2,600 to 2,800 kWh can be sold to EVN per year. Under the proposed 50% cap, up to 6,500 to 7,000 kWh could be sold — more than double. At EVN's current avoided cost rate, this additional sold energy represents an additional VND 3 to 5 million per year in income for a residential system, and proportionally more for commercial installations.

Why EPCs Should Pay Attention Even Though It Is a Draft

Vietnam's regulatory environment for rooftop solar has shifted frequently and sometimes quickly. The FIT programme extended several times before ending. Decree 135 and Decree 58 moved from draft to effective within months. The 50% cap proposal is receiving broad support from the solar industry and is consistent with the government's stated priority of expanding rooftop solar adoption under the Prime Minister's directive targeting 10% of households and government buildings with solar by 2026.

For EPCs, the draft creates two immediate opportunities. First, any client who is currently hesitant about rooftop solar because of the 20% sale cap can be engaged with the pending change as a reason to move forward now — so they are installed and benefiting when the new policy takes effect. Second, the draft gives EPCs a talking point that signals they are current and policy aware, which builds confidence in clients who are comparing multiple installers.

The right framing is transparent: "There is a proposed change that may allow you to sell more surplus to EVN. It is not yet official, but it is expected to be adopted. If you install now, you will be positioned to benefit automatically when the rule takes effect."

Action this week: Monitor the MOIT website and Vietnamese solar industry publications for any update on the formal enactment of the 50% cap amendment. When it is officially adopted, send a message to every client you have installed for in the past 3 years explaining what the change means for their system's income. Existing clients who benefit from the change are your best source of referrals to new clients.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. When will the 50% cap amendment be officially enacted?

As of May 2026, the 50% cap proposal is still in the draft and stakeholder consultation stage. No official enactment date has been announced by MOIT. Vietnam's regulatory process for energy policies typically moves from draft to final decree in 2 to 6 months following stakeholder consultation, though timelines can vary. Watch the MOIT website and Vietnamese solar industry publications such as PV Tech and Vietnam Briefing for the formal announcement. When it is enacted, the effective date and any transition provisions for existing installations will be specified in the final decree.

Q2. What price does EVN pay for surplus solar under the current 20% cap?

Under the current rules (Decree 135/2024 and Decree 58), surplus rooftop solar sold to EVN is compensated at the avoided cost rate set by MOIT. As of April 2026, MOIT Circular 12/2026/TT‑BCT set a fixed rate of VND 1,050 per kWh for rooftop solar surplus. This is significantly lower than the retail electricity rate (which ranges from VND 1,950 to 3,610 per kWh under EVN's 2026 tariff schedule). That is why self consumption (avoiding the grid purchase entirely) is more financially valuable than exporting surplus, and why system sizing for self consumption is the core recommendation for Vietnamese rooftop solar clients regardless of the cap level.

Sources

• MOIT Vietnam — moit.gov.vn — Ministry of Industry and Trade draft amendment — surplus sale cap 20% to 50% (January 2026 consultation)
• RECS International — recs.org — Vietnam country profile — rooftop solar regulations, surplus sale provisions, Decree 58 and 135 overview
• Vietnam Briefing — vietnam-briefing.com — Vietnam rooftop solar 2026 — Decree 135, self consumption rules, EVN purchase rates