Experts impressed by Vietnam’s renewable energy adoption
The UK’s Financial Times on April 26 ran an article highlighting that the expansion of Vietnam’s wind and solar farms is proving crucial to powering its economic growth.
Hanoi (VNA) – The UK’s Financial Timeson April 26 ran an article highlighting that the expansionof Vietnam’s wind and solar farms is proving crucial to powering its economicgrowth.
According to data from Irena, an inter-governmental renewable energyorganisation, Vietnam’s production from solar and wind increased 237 percentand 60 percent, respectively in 2020, raising the share of these sources to aquarter — almost a decade ahead of schedule, it wrote.
With an average speed of more than 10 metres a second,Vietnam’s territorial waters rank in the top 10 percent of the windiest placeson the planet.
The seas off the provinces of Binh Thuan and Soc Trang wheredevelopers plan to build multibillion-dollar offshore wind farms are alsorelatively shallow, with depths of 20 metres to 50 metres.
The author quoted Thu Vu, anenergy finance analyst at the Ohio-based Institute for Energy Economics andFinancial Analysis as saying that Vietnam’s renewable energy adoption isimpressive. The higher cost of offshore units relative toonshore or nearshore wind, the expert noted.
Ian Hatton, Chair ofEnterprize Energy, a UK-renewable energy company, said in order to reduce cost,Vietnam must improve its infrastructure, build substations, and laycables along the seabed for offshore production, or finding alternativesolutions. Enterprize is experimenting with converting wind energy andseawater to hydrogen.
He also noted an example of the dilemma facing low- andmiddle-income nations such as Vietnam. Accordingly, if they produce enoughenergy to meet demand without improving transmission infrastructure, additionalcapacity could be squandered.
🐓 But William Gaillard, Vice President of wind turbine manufacturer Vestas,believed that Vietnam has “shown a path for others to follow, adding that thecombination of an attractive feed-in-tariff with ambitious installation targetsand a transparent permitting process has been a critical factor in unlockingthis market./.
Vietnam and Sweden have nurtured long-standing energy cooperation and now the scope of cooperation has expanded from hydropower in the past to safe and sustainable energy development at present.
The Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) on April 13 held a press conference to reveal outcomes of a study on hydrogen as an important part of carbon neutrality for ASEAN.
Experts discussed the opportunities and challenges in sustainable energy transition at a Hanoi forum held by Vietnam Energy magazine on April 20, which focused on the development of green, clean, and renewable energy against the backdrop of international capital movement into the country.
Floodwater levels in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta are high and will continue to rise this month, especially in upstream areas, according to the hydraulic works management and construction department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.
Conservation efforts to restore habitat and boost the population of red-crowned cranes in Tram Chim National Park are finally showing progress, with the cranes and many other rare wild birds coming back to the park.
Torrential rains from the night of July 31 to early August 1 triggered flash floods and landslides across several communes in Dien Bien province, leaving at least two people dead and eight others missing.
Transitioning to a circular economy not only offers a sustainable development path for Ho Chi Minh City but also serves as a pivotal step toward establishing a fully green economy.
An exhibition featuring 100 green, recycled, and circular economy models and products from 50 businesses and educational establishments took place in Ho Chi Minh City on July 31, as part of the local green transition forum and recycle day 2025.
Regional solidarity and cooperation are the key factor for the effective implementation of wildlife protection regulations. Only through sustainable cooperation, innovative approaches, and collective action can biodiversity be safeguarded for the present and future generations, an Vietnamese official has said.
Hanoi has approved a comprehensive plan to restore the environmental quality and develop four major urban rivers – the To Lich, Kim Nguu, Lu, and Set reverine environments.
The Javan pangolin is listed in Vietnam’s Red Book as critically endangered and is protected under Group IB – a category reserved for forest species facing an extremely high risk of extinction and requiring strict conservation measures.
As a key member of the core group of 18 countries, initiated by Vanuatu, Vietnam engaged in advocating for the UN General Assembly’s Resolution N.77/276, requesting for the ICJ’s advisory opinion. Following the resolution's adoption, Vietnam fully participated in all procedural steps for the first time, from submitting written proposals to presenting directly at the court’s hearings.
The wild elephant population in Da Nang includes a full developed herb of mature males, females, and calves. To date, the herd has grown to nine individuals.
Conservation efforts here have become a model, helping to save millions of turtle hatchlings and promoting Con Dao as a member of the Indian Ocean-Southeast Asia Turtle Site Network.
As part of its drive to fulfil its net zero emissions commitment by 2050, Vietnam is fast-tracking the development of a legal corridor to launch a pilot carbon market by the end of 2025, according to the Department of Climate Change.
Under the plan, from 2025 to 2026, the city will complete mechanisms and policies to support businesses in switching to green vehicles, expand the electric and green-energy bus network, and build charging stations. The targeted proportion of green buses is set at 10% in 2025 and 20–23% in 2026.
Storm Comay, the fourth in the East Sea this year, was at around 16.7 degrees North and 118.3 degrees East, in the east of the East Sea's northern waters as of 4am on July 24.
The disaster risk warning level for flash floods, landslides, and ground subsidence due to heavy rains and flows is rated at level 1, except in Nghe An, where it is raised to level 2.
Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) 
