Norway Stands Ready to Help Vietnam Unlock Wind Power Potential: Ambassador

Ambassador of Norway to Vietnam Hilde Solbakken speaks at the conference. Photo: The Embassy of Norway

The two-day event was co-organised by the Norwegian Embassy in Hanoi and its Commercial Section – Innovation Norway, the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), and other partners including the Power Engineering Consulting Joint Stock Company (PECC4), VOV reported.

Vietnam Wind Power provides a platform for the government and the industry to discuss pressing issues around the development of wind energy in Vietnam.

Ambassador Solbakken emphasized that like Vietnam, Norway is in the process of developing the offshore wind industry.

“We have much to gain from sharing our experiences on developing enabling domestic policies that spur on new knowledge, technical advances, and investments in offshore wind. Bringing all relevant stakeholders into this work, across economic sectors and geographies, can help us find the best way forward”, she added.

Vietnam Wind Power 2022 offers a great forum for all stakeholders to discuss these matters as well as challenges. The Norwegian Embassy and Innovation Norway, along with the Norwegian energy companies in Vietnam stand ready to contribute to unlocking the full potential of wind power in Vietnam.”

Vietnam boasts substantial potential for wind power, particularly offshore wind power. Photo: VNA

“We are pleased to have the Norwegian leading companies in wind power being active in VWP22 today. All of them have established commercial presence in Vietnam and have extensive experience to share in developing, managing and operating wind power projects. When it comes to the offshore wind, Norway has a lot to share. Norway continues to drive innovation in floating offshore wind, building an industry that is scalable, cost competitive and nature friendly. Now Norway is operating the world’s largest floating offshore wind farm, Hywind Tampen. This industry milestone is a natural outcome of Norway’s decades of offshore experience in harsh conditions and an unrivalled Norwegian supply industry”, says Commercial Counsellor Arne-Kjetil Lian.

Regional Director Asia & Middle East at Innovation Norway Ole Henæs stressed that Vietnam is considered to have the best wind resources in Southeast Asia with a long coastline, shallow water depths and high consistent wind speeds.

“To unblock this immense potential, Vietnam needs a strong local supply chain and good technologies and expertise, in addition to a stable and enabling regulatory framework. This is what Norwegian business community in Vietnam and the region is ready to share”, the director noted.

“With the very impressive GDP growth rates over the past two years, Vietnam has a very promising future for wind power and has ample opportunities for business cooperation. Innovation Norway in the region will do our best to facilitate this”, he concluded.

In his remarks, Pham Nguyen Hung, Deputy Director of the General Electricity and Renewable Energy Authority at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said the Vietnamese Government has adopted various policies and mechanisms to facilitate renewable energy development, according to VietnamPlus.

Vietnam Wind Power provides a platform for the government and the industry to discuss pressing issues around the development of wind energy in Vietnam. Photo: The Embassy of Norway

As of the end of 2021, Vietnam’s total capacity of renewables reached 20.7 GW, accounting for over 27% of the accumulative installed capacity of the electricity system, making Vietnam a leading country in this regard. The percentage is expected to hit 59% by 2050.

Renewable power, especially wind power, both onshore and offshore, is forecast to grow strongly, serving as a foundation to ensure national energy security in the long term, Hung said.

He stressed that developing wind power, particularly offshore wind power, and gradually forming the domestic renewable energy industry specializing in installation, construction and manufacturing to improve the country’s self-reliance and reduce production costs are major orientations set out by the Vietnamese Government for the coming years.

The official also pointed to challenges to these efforts such as high construction costs, explaining that offshore wind power development requires synchronous infrastructure and better personnel quality.

Sharing Hung’s view, Director of the Centre for Energy and Green Growth Research Ha Dang Son noted Vietnam’s weak financial capacity, suggesting the country put forth a suitable wind power development roadmap along with mechanisms and policies to attract private investment.