Vietnam has dual opportunity from offshore wind power: Danish Ambassador

Bac Lieu wind power (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Developing offshore wind power is a great dualopportunity for Vietnam, Danish Ambassador to Vietnam Nicolai Prytz told aseminar themed “Promoting Vietnam’s offshore wind power development:International practices and policy recommendations” in Hanoi on March 16.

This is an opportunity to provide a green and cost-effectivesource of energy for the country's strong economic development; and at the sametime, support it to achieve its commitment to net zero emissions by 2050, madeat the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), hestressed.

As one of the countries that strongly support Vietnam's greenand sustainable energy transition, Denmark expects the Vietnamese Government tosoon issue a clear and consistent legal framework, which is essential for thedevelopment of the offshore wind industry, added the diplomat.

Nguyen Duc Hien, deputy head of the Party Central Committee’s EconomicCommission, said that Vietnam holds great potential and advantages for windenergy development.

By the end of 2021, the total registered capacity of offshorewind power investment in Vietnam had been around 154 GW, Hien said, adding thatthe draft eighth Power Master Plan sets a target to develop about 16.12 GW ofonshore and nearshore wind power and about 7 GW of offshore wind power by 2030,and 64.5 GW of this source of energy by 2045.

An overview of the seminar (Photo: VNA)

Mark Hutchinson, Chair of the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC)Southeast Asia Task Force, said that there are many solutions for Vietnam toachieve the target of 7 GW of offshore wind power by 2030, such as a rapiddevelopment mechanism, a bidding mechanism, incentives through pricing.

The building of related policies and mechanisms needs a longroadmap, while the development of offshore wind power projects takes more time,he emphasised, proposing the Vietnamese Government pilot 2-3 GW of offshorewind through mixed finance sources to reduce costs.

If implemented under the bidding mechanism, it will take atleast two years to remove legal barriers and enact policy measures. Therefore,the consideration and proposal of a mechanism for rapid development andimplementation of pilot projects is very urgent in the Government'sdecision-making stage, and this mechanism should be considered and supported bythe Government, stated Mark Hutchinson.

At the event, foreign experts and representatives fromforeign energy groups said that as investors need certainty for large-scaleoffshore wind power projects, the Vietnamese Government should soon allow themto make surveys and ensure transparency in selecting them./.

VNA