Nearly 200 international and local delegates, including 30 industry and government speakers, are gathering in Hanoi today [June 11] for the seconnd Vietnam Wind Power Conference 2019. 
Vietnam Wind Power 2019 conference in Hanoi. Photo: Mainstream Renewable Power
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This year's event marks an increase in the number of delegates and speakers compared with the first last year. The conference’s goal is to share the views and experiences from both international and national stakeholders, including an open dialogue with the public sector's representatives.
Why Vietnam?
Vietnam is one of the most exciting wind power markets in Southeast Asia as the country has developed into a hotspot of development for both onshore and offshore wind, Ben Backwell, CEO of GWEC.
Ben said there are compelling reasons why wind power makes sense for Vietnam. First of all, wind is a clean and competitive technology representing the best option for quick replacement of coal in mainstream generation sources. Secondly, wind power acts as a catalyst for investment and growth in high tech industries as leading companies look to respond to demand from their consumers with clean power-used goods and services.
The government of Vietnam has made efforts for the revision of the wind power specific-Feed-in Tariff to adapt regulations for large-scale integration of volatile renewable energies, said Tobias Cossen, project director of GIZ Energy Support Program.
Meanwhile, Ambassador of Ireland to Vietnam Cáit Moran said Vietnam has great potential for renewable energy, especially offshore wind power. The development of renewable energy is important for the future of Vietnam to ensure energy security and to meet the growing power demand in a sustainable and responsbile way.
Ensuring sustainable supply of clean and green energy is also in line with international commitments made in the Paris Climate Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals which Vietnam is pursuing for, the ambassador noted.
Vietnam’s potential
Vietnam has set a target for wind development at 800 MW by 2020, 2,000 MW by 2025, and at 6,000 MW by 2030. Currently, about 228 megawatts of wind capacity has been installed across the country.
To encourage the development of wind power, Vietnam set up the Feed-in-Tariff in September 2018 to create renewed momentum for the country’s wind market and attracted a rush of development projects.
However, there remain a number of regulatory challenges for project developers to be able create power purchase agreement (PPAs) from the point of view of international project finance.
In addition, long term potential and system impact of renewables has yet to be fully recognised in the long term planning.
Experts from the international and national wind industry, financial institutions, high level representatives from the government will set the scene for a discussion on what needs to be achieved to smooth the way for further development.
