Vietnam ranks fourth in the region in terms of wind power potential with 39 percent of Vietnam’s total territorial area having annual average wind speed higher than 6m/s at the height of 65 meters, which means a capacity of 512GW.

Vietnam has committed to reduce emissions to net zero by 2050. As the hydropower potential in Vietnam have been used up, MOIT affirmed that Vietnam needs to develop renewables instead, including offshore wind power.

Under the eighth national power development plan (Plan 8), the offshore wind power capacity to serve domestic demand will be 6GW by 2030 and 70-91.5GW by 2050.

However, MOIT, in its draft plan on piloting wind power, pointed out that Plan 8 doesn’t specify the number of projects, capacity and locations for offshore wind power projects. 

There has been no offshore wind power project licensed so far. Plan 8 just says that the total offshore wind power capacity will be 2.5GW by 2030 in the north, 0.5GW in the central region, 2GW in the south central region and 1GW in the south. 

Vietnam still does not have a complete and accurate database about wind speed and wind potential in each locality and nationwide, or data about topographic status and seabed depth.

Meanwhile, experts have warned that the investment rate for offshore wind power is very high, $2.5-3 billion per GW, and it will take 6-8 years on average to develop the projects. 

“The goal of obtaining the offshore wind power capacity of 6GW by 2030 as shown in Plan 8 may not be feasible in current conditions,” MOIT said.

The compilation of a National Assembly resolution on piloting offshore wind power is necessary to have a foundation for legal provisions in the field.

MOIT said it consulted with ministries and branches about Resolutions 36 and 55 and found that the resolutions don’t clearly stipulate the piloting of offshore wind power. Related laws also don’t mention the piloting of offshore wind power. 

MOIT suggested assigning state-owned economic groups to pilot offshore wind power projects, which could be PetroVietnam, Electricity of Vietnam and units belonging to the Ministry of National Defence.

Tuan Nguyen