Vietnam needs to modify policies to foster offshore wind power

According to Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) deputy general director Nguyen Tai Anh, "It will be crucial to implement a swift legal framework on investment, building, and operating offshore wind power projects while simultaneously drawing in investment and enhancing the existing transportation system."

"The urgent need is to alter the policy framework as well as regulations to effectively accomplish the defined goals," added Tai Anh, speaking at a conference hosted by EVN on June 1.

According to international practice, bringing an offshore wind power project into action requires about 8–9 years of planning and execution. Some analysts predict that Vietnam will require a vigorous preparatory process with suitable regulations to expedite the implementation time to meet the target of 7GW of power from offshore wind by 2030.

The German Development Agency's Energy Support Programme and Vietnam Energy Partnership Group (VEPG) gathered specialists to share their international knowledge with EVN in this field. Sven Ernedal, Chief of the Offshore Wind Power Task Force, Vietnam Energy Partnership Group, said, "Vietnam is a nation with tremendous opportunities for offshore wind power expansion. However, the discipline to do so is still novel to Vietnam."

At COP26, the government of Vietnam made a significant pledge to be carbon-neutral by 2050. In 2017, the government, along with several foreign development agencies, formally launched VEPG, with the goal of strengthening partnerships, communication, and knowledge sharing and expertise in the energy sector.

Energinet has a strong background in pushing the effective adoption of offshore wind power in its native Denmark, and its specialists happily provided additional information about their offshore wind energy expansion model from the early stages of diplomatic agreement formulation to the completion of the project.

The Danish experts shared common obstacles to large-scale projects such permits at the state and local levels, ambiguity about timelines, as well as the danger of delays and adjustments.

Vietnam’s offshore wind realm remains in a muddle The strategy for renewable energy development being in limbo is holding back offshore wind power prospects in Vietnam.

Temporary prices set for two transitional wind power projects Vietnam Electricity (EVN) recently approved temporary electricity prices for two wind power plants among 31 applications.

Deputy PM urges acceleration of electricity licensing for finished wind, solar power projects Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has requested the Ministry of Industry and Trade to accelerate the process of issuing electricity licenses for wind and solar power projects that have been completed but have not yet been put into operation.