Vietnam has huge potential to develop renewable energy

26 Jun 2019 2104 | Business & Trade Fairs

Vietnam has set lofty goals for renewable energy, targeting raising total production from 58 billion kWh in 2015 to 101 billion kWh next year, 186 billion kWh in 2030 and 452 billion kWh in 2050.

Under the country’s renewable energy development strategy, which was approved by the government in 2015, Vietnam is aiming to increase the ratio of electricity from renewable sources from 35 per cent of total output in 2015 to 38 per cent next year and 43 per cent in 2050.

According to Vietnam Energy Association vice-chairman Nguyen Van Vy, Vietnam has abundant potential for renewable energy thanks to a long coastline and weather conditions favourable for the development of hydro, wind, solar, biomass and geothermal power, as well as bio-fuel.

Research shows that Vietnam could be in line to generate about 8,000MW from small-scale hydropower plants, 200MW of wind power, 3,000MW of biomass power and 35,000MW of solar power in 2030. As of the end of last year, Vietnam had 285 small hydropower plants with total output of 3,322MW, along with eight solar power plants (243MW) and 10 biomass power plants (212MW).

Vietnam Electricity has signed power purchase agreements (PPAs) with more than 100 solar power projects, two of which have become operational with a combined capacity of 86MW.

So far, electricity generation from renewable sources, excluding medium- and large-scale hydropower plants, has accounted for 2.1 per cent of the country’s electricity output.

Do Duc Quan, deputy director-general of the Electricity and Renewable Energy Authority under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said to encourage renewable energy development, the ministry has submitted to the government proposals on various mechanisms such as a Feed-in-Tariff mechanism, as well as incentives for investors in access to credit, corporate income tax, land use and PPAs.

Experts have suggested Vietnam create a transparent investment environment and a clear policy roadmap to help investors make decisions on long-term investments, he said.