Safe reservoir operation solution honored at Viet Nam Digital Awards 2025

At the Viet Nam Digital Awards 2025 ceremony, organized by the Viet Nam Digital Communications Association on October 8, the HNT Reservoir Operation Support System was honored in the category of “Outstanding digital products, services, and solutions,” recognizing its remarkable contributions in applying technology to enhance safe operations, effective water resource management, and hydropower operation.

This achievement not only highlights the success of a pioneering digital initiative but also affirms Viet Nam’s strong commitment to promoting technology-driven solutions in climate adaptation and sustainable energy development, contributing to the country’s broader digital transformation roadmap.

Technological solution for safe hydropower operation

The HNT Reservoir Operation Support System, developed by WeatherPlus in collaboration with Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc. (Japan), is one of the few platforms in Viet Nam that integrates AI, Big Data, simulation, and real-time computing technologies in reservoir management. The system collects input data from rainfall, flow, and water level monitoring networks, combining numerical models and advanced technologies to produce reliable real-time forecasts.

The key advantage of the HNT system lies in its ability to forecast rainfall and inflow to reservoirs up to 72 hours in advance, while simulating multiple operational scenarios that help operators assess flood risks and safe regulation plans. The entire analysis and recommendation process is handled and displayed in real time, enabling operators to make quick decisions in response to flow fluctuations. The system has been implemented at more than 50 hydropower plants in Viet Nam and is expected to expand to Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, and other countries.

Ha Ngoc Tuan, chief system engineer of the HNT project, shared: “In recent years, weather patterns have become increasingly extreme and unpredictable, requiring innovative operational methods to adapt to natural disasters. Real-time decision support systems are the tools that empower hydropower plants to proactively respond and operate safely and efficiently under any abnormal weather conditions.”

Impressive performance during the 2025 storm season

During this year’s storm season, strong storms such as Wipha, Kajiki, Bualoi, and Matmo successively made landfall, causing widespread heavy rainfall across northern and north-central Viet Nam. The HNT system demonstrated outstanding performance by providing timely forecasts and operational recommendations at “golden moments,” helping hydropower plants release floods safely.

Ban Ve Hydropower Plant, with a design capacity of 320 MW, the largest hydropower project in Nghe An province and the north-central region, operated with absolute safety during the historic flood caused by Typhoon Wipha, a once-in-5,000-year event. During this event, the HNT system provided 72-hour rainfall forecasts and 24-hour inflow projections, enabling the plant to proactively develop response scenarios and lower reservoir levels in time to increase flood storage capacity. As a result, Ban Ve not only ensured structural safety but also significantly mitigated downstream flooding, minimized damage, and particularly safeguarded the Nam Non Hydropower Plant.

WeatherPlus - Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc. joint venture pioneers ClimateTech in Viet Nam

Viet Nam is among the five countries most heavily affected by climate change, making the development of climate technology (ClimateTech) an essential direction for adapting to extreme weather and managing water and energy resources efficiently.

The Viet Nam Digital Awards 2025 recognition for the HNT system is a clear testament to the continuous efforts of the WeatherPlus - Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc. (Japan) joint venture in applying cutting-edge technologies to address weather challenges in the hydropower sector - an industry that demands high levels of precision and safety.

This achievement not only reflects serious research and innovation but also serves as a strong motivation for the HNT system to continue enhancing its capabilities, contributing to digital transformation in the energy sector, and promoting safe and sustainable water resource management in the future.

The Vietnam Digital Awards 2025 is one of the country’s most prestigious awards, organized by the Vietnam Digital Communications Association to recognize organizations and enterprises that have made outstanding contributions to national digital transformation. The recognition of the HNT Reservoir Operation Support System in the “Outstanding digital products, services, and solutions” category not only acknowledges an innovative technology but also marks a milestone showing that the hydropower industry is being reshaped by data and advanced technology.