Green Energy from Bỉm Sơn – A Sustainable Step by Leading Star

On September 19, 2025, at Bỉm Sơn Industrial Park, Quang Trung Ward, Bỉm Sơn Town, Thanh Hóa Province, Leading Star Vietnam Garment Co., Ltd officially put into commercial operation a rooftop solar power system with a capacity of 999.9 kWp. This is SolarBK’s first project in Thanh Hóa, marking an important beginning for the trend of applying renewable energy in local industrial production.

The project started on June 25, 2025, and was completed on September 16, 2025, in less than three months. Meeting the schedule under increasingly strict requirements for precision and transparency demonstrates the management and technical capabilities of the implementation unit. Textile and Garment Industry under Green Transition Pressure

Leading Star Thanh Hóa is located in Bỉm Sơn Industrial Park – the northern gateway and industrial hub of Thanh Hóa Province. In the context of Bỉm Sơn attracting strong investment and promoting green development, the rooftop solar project is considered a milestone in the company’s sustainability strategy: saving energy costs, reducing CO₂ emissions, meeting ESG standards, and gaining access to tariff incentives in many markets.

At the same time, the system helps reduce reliance on conventional power sources in industrial parks with private grids, enabling peak-load shaving during hot summer days, increasing electricity reliability, and meeting increasingly stringent global supply chain requirements. Solar Power from Bỉm Sơn’s Natural Advantages

Bỉm Sơn – the northern gateway of Thanh Hóa – not only has advantages for industry and logistics but also enjoys an average solar radiation of 3.9 kWh/m²/day. The climate features two distinct seasons: a humid season ensuring stable solar irradiation, and a dry season that boosts peak output. These natural conditions create favorable opportunities for stable operation, optimized costs, and minimized risks for solar power systems.

Installed on 8,118 m² of rooftop space, of which 6,700 m² are utilized, the system includes 1,818 Irex IRM72H3-550Wp solar panels, eight inverters (six of 110 kW, one of 80 kW, one of 60 kW), switchboards, cables, and a zero-export mechanism. This ensures that all generated power serves the factory directly, without feeding back into the grid, maximizing clean energy use while complying with regulations.

At the Leading Star factory, solar modules convert radiation into direct current (DC), which is then optimized by inverters using the MPPT algorithm to maximize output before being integrated into the internal alternating current (AC) grid. The system operates under a self-consumption/Zero Export mechanism: power is measured at the low-voltage side of two transformers, and the solar output is automatically adjusted to match demand, ensuring no reverse flow to the grid – a critical requirement under EVN’s interconnection regulations. At the same time, the anti-islanding mechanism allows the system to disconnect automatically in case of grid failure, protecting both infrastructure and personnel.
A key highlight of the project is the ERIS smart monitoring platform developed by SolarBK, built on a centralized data management system. ERIS enables real-time monitoring of operating parameters (power, irradiation, temperature, yield…), with connectivity via Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or 3G/4G, and ensures data storage and synchronization even during outages. The system provides analytics, periodic reporting, and API integration with other management platforms. With these features, the project not only complies fully with EVN’s technical standards but also ensures transparent data for internal management and international partners – a crucial element as ESG requirements become increasingly stringent. Environmental and Social Benefits

The system is expected to reduce about 769 tons of CO₂ emissions annually, contributing to Vietnam’s carbon neutrality goal. Operations generate no industrial wastewater; panel cleaning uses only clean water without chemicals; solid waste is minimal and properly managed. These factors exempt the project from environmental impact assessments and related permits, shortening preparation time while ensuring compliance.

Beyond economic benefits, the system improves workplace conditions and serves as a model for regional enterprises adopting clean energy, reducing grid dependence, and conserving finite conventional resources. It also aligns with Thanh Hóa’s program for efficient energy use.
At a policy level, the project complies with Power Development Plan VIII and Vietnam’s national goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. In a global supply chain context emphasizing ESG, Leading Star’s solar system not only ensures economic efficiency but also enhances international competitiveness. A Pioneering Step in Thanh Hóa’s Energy Transition

At the commercial operation ceremony, stakeholders highly valued the project’s significance. According to Leading Star Thanh Hóa, the 999.9 kWp system not only reduces hundreds of tons of CO₂ annually but also improves workplace conditions, reinforcing the company’s sustainable development and social responsibility commitments.

From an infrastructure perspective, Mr. Đoàn Văn Sâm – General Director of Ánh Sáng Power Development JSC, operator of the local private grid – emphasized that the project not only benefits the enterprise but also enhances the image of Bỉm Sơn Industrial Park as modern and sustainable. He noted that adopting clean energy will strengthen the park’s attractiveness to international investors in an ESG-driven era.
From a global cooperation viewpoint, INTCO Recycling Vietnam highlighted the project as an example of integrating production with environmental responsibility, while opening opportunities for circular economy collaboration and carbon reduction.

In the long run, the project helps Leading Star reduce costs and emissions, reflecting how the textile sector is adapting to evolving supply chain requirements. The rooftop solar power system represents a pioneering step in Thanh Hóa’s energy transition, contributing to sustainable development in Bỉm Sơn Industrial Park and the province as a whole.