Smart grid research to promote renewable energy penetration

ERAV’s deputy director general Tran Tue Quang, SGREEE project director Markus Bissel, and advisor to the DEPP Loui Algren made remarks at the Academy Day

The Electricity Regulatory Authority of Vietnam (ERAV) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the German Development Cooperation Agency (GIZ) co-hosted the “Academy Day 2021” virtually on December 23 from Hanoi.

The Academy Day was part of the Smart Grids for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (SGREEE) project, which is jointly implemented by ERAV and GIZ on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. Within the framework of this year’s workshop, close cooperation with the Danish Energy Agency (DEA) was established to achieve the greatest possible benefit for Vietnam.

During the workshop, the speakers, who were from the National Load Dispatch Centre, national and international companies, and universities, presented their research on smart grids, energy efficiency, and the integration of variable renewable energy in Vietnam, Germany, and Denmark.

The main topics were studies on the operation and control of rooftop solar power systems, voltage regulated distribution transformers, protocols of shared data centres, and Danish experiences with energy communities. Discussions focused on how to create a favourable environment for smart grid research and support the authorities to modernise the power grid when more renewable energy sources will be connected.

Loui Algren, advisor to the Danish Energy Partnership Programme (DEPP)/ DEA said, “I’m happy that Denmark joined the Academy Day this year and hope that the Danish contribution inspired to solutions on how to reach Vietnam’s ambitious target for net-zero emissions in 2050.”

Markus Bissel, SGREEE project director also said, “I’m pleased that our Academy Day is organised annually, so experts and researchers can discuss and study the latest research on smart grids, promoting innovations and applications of the issue in Vietnam. The event is contributing to the country’s modern power grid and the development of its Smart Grid Road Map when Vietnam witnesses a prompt increase of renewable energy penetration into the power network.”