Vietnam is rapidly advancing its clean energy ambitions with a comprehensive reevaluation of its Power Development Plan VIII (PDP VIII), underscoring floating solar and waste-to-energy (WtE) projects as critical components.
At a pivotal online conference with representatives from 63 provinces on December 31, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) committed to integrating these innovative solutions into the nation’s energy strategy, targeting sustainable economic growth and a low-carbon future.
📈 Key Numbers and Proposals
— Floating Solar Projects: Provinces like Lâm Đồng highlighted the vast potential of untapped reservoir surfaces, proposing integration into the PDP VIII.
— Thái Nguyên, leveraging its industrial rooftops and expansive water bodies, advocated for 200 MW of additional solar capacity.
🙌 Waste-to-Energy Expansion:
Vietnam currently operates WtE plants like:
— Sóc Sơn, Hanoi: Processes 4,000 tons of waste daily, generating 75 MW.
— Vĩnh Tân, Bình Thuận: 600 tons/day, producing 30 MW.
— Củ Chi, HCMC: Each plant processes 1,000 tons/day, delivering 50 MW.
Provinces such as Kiên Giang and Thái Nguyên proposed adding 20 MW and 10 MW of waste-to-energy capacity, respectively, emphasizing the alignment with local resource availability.
⛽ Wind and LNG Developments:
— Quảng Ninh pushed for a 50% increase in wind capacity to 600 MW, citing extensive surveys.
— The province’s LNG project, with a capacity of 1,500 MW, awaits final regulatory clarifications.
⚡ National Updates: Recent adjustments to PDP VIII include:
— 7,697.9 MW from 123 new wind projects.
— 1,484.58 MW from 138 small hydropower projects.
— 621.1 MW from 34 waste-to-energy projects.
📜 Strategic Policy Updates
Deputy Minister Long Nguyen Hoang, PhD emphasized streamlined regulatory frameworks to expedite LNG and solar projects, including rooftop and floating installations in industrial zones and reservoirs. Recent decrees, such as Decree 135/2024, encourage self-consumption solar systems, signaling Vietnam’s support for decentralized and green energy models.
☀️ Strategic Implications
Vietnam’s focus on floating solar and WtE projects represents a critical step in its energy transition.
With a growing number of solar initiatives and 34 WtE plants planned, the key challenge lies in integrating these projects into the existing grid infrastructure while addressing implementation complexities.
Priorities include upgrading grid capacity, fostering provincial-level expertise, and ensuring alignment with Vietnam’s environmental and economic objectives.
As provinces like Quảng Ninh and Kiên Giang advance ambitious plans, their success will play a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s sustainable energy future.
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