The eventwas attended by USAID Deputy Administrator Bonnie Glick, USAID/Vietnam MissionDirector Michael Greene, leaders of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT)’sElectricity and Renewable Energy Authority, and HCM City’s Department ofIndustry and Trade.
USAIDVietnam Urban Energy Security is a 14 million USD project that willpromote the deployment of advanced, distributed energy solutions in selecturban areas in Vietnam from 2019 to 2023, including HCM City.
It willaddress Vietnam’s rapidly growing energy demand and air pollution in urbanareas by working with city governments and creating business opportunities forentrepreneurs.
Theproject will support deployment of advanced distributed energy solutions suchas household rooftop solar technology, next-generation battery storagetechnology, and cleaner forms of transportation.
Energydemand in Vietnam is increasing by 10 percent annually, making it criticalfor the country to use modern, clean energy technologies to sustain itsimpressive economic growth and protect human health and the environment.
Since2017, USAID and MOIT have worked together to modernise national energypolicies, including the introduction of a Direct Power Purchase Agreement andexpansion of renewable energy and natural gas utilization under the eighthPower Development Plan.
At theevent, USAID Deputy Administrator Glick donated PLEXOS software and associatedhardware to MOIT. These state-of-the-art tools will allow MOIT to simulateelectrical utility operations over a multi-year period to set optimalgeneration and transmission targets.
Businessleaders have also expressed their desire to work with USAID and the VietnameseGovernment to generate increased private sector investment in the energy sectorand assist the country to meet its energy security goals./.