With over 3,000 kilometres of coastline and numerous islands withinits national boundaries, Vietnam has one of the largest wind powerpotentials in Southeast Asia with a total estimated capacity of 24,000megawatts, equal to the combined capacity of all the currently existingthermoelectric plants consuming high levels of imported coals.
Wind power development in Vietnam has been sluggish, in partbecause the sustainable interests of this energy source are not fullyunderstood coupled with limited technology and high costs, according toenergy experts.
Incorporating plans for wind powerdevelopment in the national power planning strategy through 2020 willhelp decision-makers understand potential reductions in CO2 emission andthe other benefits wind power could offer the nation.
To achieve power security and environmental protection, the VietnameseGovernment is focusing on developing clean and renewable energysources.
Vietnamese energy scientists used theLong-range Energy Alternatives Planning System to simulate the nationalenergy system and forecast the country’s 2030 energy demand with windpower replacing thermoelectric plants, generating the resulting CO2emission levels.
If plans for wind powerdevelopment move forward as planned, Vietnam would avoid 10.1million tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2030, with total reductions from 2010to 2030 amounting to 66.6 million tonnes.
Accordingto figures from the Ministry of Industry and Trade , Vietnamcurrently has 48 wind power projects with a combined capacity of 5,000megawatts registered at different stages and mainly located in centraland southern provinces.
Only two wind power projectshave thus far commenced operation; one in Tuy Phong district, BinhThuan with a capacity of 30 megawatts generated from 20 turbines, andthe second in the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu with 10turbines producing 16 megawatts.
According to thenational power plan through 2020, wind power is being prioritised andencouraged to fulfil the target of installing a combined capacity of1,000 megawatts by 2020 and 6,200 megawatts by 2030.-VNA