To ensure energy security for sustainable development and build green, environmentally friendly industries, as well as to reduce the production cost and enhance the competitiveness of businesses to build a green economy, Vietnam is promoting renewable energy development, energy efficiency and conservation.
Dr. Hoang Tien Dung, the director of the Institute of Energy under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said that developing renewable energy is vital. Developing renewable energy is developing the infrastructure and generating employment for workers to secure sustainable development, ensure energy security and minimize the impact of climate change. Vietnam has great potential for the development of renewable energy resources such as wind power, solar power, geothermal power, biogas, and biomass energy.
Under its Electricity Development Plan to 2015 with a vision towards 2020 which was approved recently by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ho Chi Minh City will promote the development of renewable energy resources from garbage, wind and solar energy. This plan is simultaneously aimed at producing electricity and protecting the environment.
The Strategy for Renewable Energy Development in Vietnam to 2030 with a vision towards 2050 which has been submitted to the Government for approval indicates the need to develop and utilize independent renewable energy resources to realize electrification targets; invest in the construction of renewable energy power plants which are connected to the national power grid; encourage the utilization of renewable energy resources to generate thermal energy; promote the development and utilization of bio-fuels; develop the renewable energy market and the manufacturing of machinery and equipment; improve the capability to research, develop, transfer and apply technologies related to renewable energy, especially new energy resources. The National Electricity Development Plan for 2011-2020 with a vision towards 2030 and the plan for power development from renewable energy resources are aimed at increasing the percentage of renewable power to 4.5 percent of the total electricity output by 2020 and six percent by 2030. Renewable energy power plants are expected to account for 5.6 percent of total capacity of all power plants nationwide by 2020 and 9.4 percent by 2030.
Many companies have expressed their interest in the Vietnamese renewable energy market, especially in the field of wind power. Nguyen Xuan Thang, the country manager of GE Energy Vietnam, said that compared with other countries in Southeast Asia, Vietnam offers the most favorable condition to develop wind power, especially in the coastal areas of the central region. GE Energy wishes to utilize these favorable conditions to invest in wind power development projects in Vietnam and supply equipment for wind power projects in the country.
To obtain sustainable development and enhance the competitiveness of businesses in particular and the whole economy in general, Vietnam must learn the experience of other countries in utilizing renewable energy resources. Nguyen Duc Vinh, a Swedish CENTEC Vietnam official, said that Vietnam must learn from Swedish experiences in the construction of the sustainable, environmentally friendly Symbio City. Swedish CENTEC Vietnam so far has developed this model in some Vietnamese provinces and cities such as Hanoi and Thai Nguyen and will continue to develop it in other localities such as Binh Dinh, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City and Vung Tau. If this model is developed successfully in Vietnam, it will contribute to promoting sustainable development of Vietnamese cities through the use of clean, renewable energy, thus improving the competitive advantages of Vietnam so that it can boost economic growth in a sustainable manner.
The Prime Minister has promulgated Decision 37/2011/QD-TTg dated June 29, 2011 introducing a support mechanism for wind power development in Vietnam. This is considered a legal basis for wind power development in the country.
In the opinion of experts, to develop renewable energy effectively, Vietnam must have highly qualified human resources and adequate equipment as well as technology. In addition, the Government must have appropriate support policies and create a favorable environment to attract investment into the new, renewable energy market./.
By LMy
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