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Sep 17, 2019 / 12:36

Vietnam Renewable Energy Week 2019: electricity transition in spotlight

The energy transition enables Vietnam to move toward a greener country as the country pursues sustainable development.

Vietnam Renewable Energy Week 2019, the annual event was kicked off on September 17 and will run until September 20, will focus on energy transition in the context that Vietnam is developing different types of energy to diversify its power mix to feed the double-digit annual demand. 
 
Vietnam Renewable Energy Week 2019 takes place on September 17-20 in Hanoi and An Giang.
Vietnam Renewable Energy Week 2019 takes place on September 17-20 in Hanoi and An Giang
In reality, this rapid development is posing new challenges for the power grid, namely land use, electricity pricing mechanism, human resources/employment, and finance resources. 

Recommendations from policymakers, local governments and communities, businesses, organizations, and funders are necessary to ensure the transition process to bring greatest benefits to sustainable development in Vietnam. 

 
Pham Ngoc Linh, head of Department of Science and Technology under the Central Commission for Propaganda
Pham Ngoc Linh, deputy head of Department of Science and Technology under the Central Commission for Propaganda. Photo:GreenID
Drastic measures will be discussed at the event which is held by the Vietnam Sustainable Energy Alliance (VSEA), Vietnam Climate Action Alliance (VCCA), and the Working Group on Climate Change (CCWG). 

Stakeholders at the event will update the current status of Vietnam’s electricity system with an aim to seize opportunities from the energy transition trend thanks to successful international experience in the transition.

 
Antoine Vander Elst, program manager, European Union Delegation in Vietnam. Photo: GreenID
Antoine Vander Elst, program manager, European Union Delegation to Vietnam. Photo:GreenID

Speaking at the opening day, experts said that the energy transition process will be a golden opportunity to attract investment in the course that the government is calling for capital diversification in the energy sector. 

Increasing the ratio of renewable energy (RE) in the Power Development Plan by 2020 and vision to 2030 (Power Plan VII) requires solutions for the four aforementioned issues namely land use, electricity pricing mechanism, human resources, and finance resources.
 
Do Duc Quan, deputy head of Electricity and Renewable Energy Authority (EREA) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Photo: GreenID
Do Duc Quan, deputy head of Electricity and Renewable Energy Authority (EREA) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Photo:GreenID

In terms of job creation, the revised RE ratio of from 6% to 10.7% in the plan might offer additional 315,000 jobs in the electricity sector each year. This prompts significant changes in the training and vocational sector to mobilize co-benefits of climate change reducing solutions from renewable energy.

In terms of land use, stakeholders will seek measures for land tenure in RE projects, especially solar farms, and the possibility of co-possession between land title owners and power developers.
 
Le Hai Dang from Vietnam Electricity (EVN)
Le Hai Dang from Vietnam Electricity (EVN). Photo:GreenID
Electricity pricing mechanism is in line with the government’s planning on energy sector, especially RE. Experts at the event said that it’s better to apply Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) mechanism for solar and wind power projects and regulations to encourage the development of rooftop solar power. 

Financial resources remain one of the biggest issues in Vietnam’s energy development process. Indeed, law has ruled out the participation of private sector in power transmission. For that reason, the experts will seek green finance for RE in Vietnam.

 
Nguyen Dang Nguyen, head of office, Bac Lieu Party's Committee. Photo: GreenID
Nguyen Dang Nguyen, head of office, Bac Lieu Party's Committee. Photo:GreenID

“As a country with diversified and abundant renewable energy potential, Vietnam will gain many benefits if accelerating early shifting to clean energy development, said Nguy Thi Khanh, director of Green Innovation and Development Centre (GreenID) and VSEA coordinator organization.

 
Nguy Thi Khanh, director of Green Innovation and Development Centre (GreenID)
Nguy Thi Khanh, director of Green Innovation and Development Centre (GreenID). Photo:GreenID
Prioritizing efficient use of energy and promoting the development of renewable energy will help ensure energy security, reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels, reduce pollution, mitigate climate change, protect public health, enhance access to energy among the poor, create jobs, and attract investment, she added. 

This is the fourth time Vietnam Renewable Energy Week is held in the country.