As many as 55 provinces and cities want to add new power projects to the Draft Power Development Planning 8, raising the total capacity to more than 440,000 MW. Many domestic and foreign corporations are also eying gas and wind power projects (including offshore wind power).

Regarding gas-fueled electricity, many provinces have proposed adding tens of thousands of MW of gas-fueled power to the plan. For example, the central province of Binh Thuan wants a Ke Ga LNG Power Project (3,200 MW); the northern port city of Hai Phong a number of LNG power projects with at least 1,500 MW each; Thanh Hoa province the Nghi Son LNG Power - Gas Center with a capacity of 9,600 MW, and Thanh Hoa LNG Power Center with a capacity of 9,600; and Thai Binh province the Thai Binh LNG Power - Gas Center Project, with a total capacity of about 4,500 MW. Ninh Thuan Province wants to replace nuclear power with LNG gas power with a capacity of 4,600 MW.

As for offshore wind power, from a plan of having 2,000MW of offshore wind power by 2030, the output has been adjusted to 4,000MW by 2030. However, many organizations still want to increase the capacity to 10,000MW by that year.

Thus, the Ministry of Investment and Trade will have to carefully consider the plan in order to harmonize the interests of the State, people, and investors, and at the same time ensure the goal of combating climate change according to Vietnam's commitments made at COP26.

Hoang Tien Dung, Director of the MoIT’s Department of Electricity and Renewable Energy, told VietNamNet that gas-fired thermal power is cleaner than coal-fired power, with no dust and SoX emission, less NOx, and less greenhouse gas emissions than coal-fired power. Thermal pollution of the cooling water is also less; construction is faster; and capital arrangement is easier than coal power projects.

However, Vietnam’s gas resources are limited and it has to import LNG which is quite expensive, and its price constantly fluctuates, resulting in a high price for electricity. Reliance on imports reduces energy security.

Nguyen Tam Tien, General Director of Trung Nam Group, said that the Draft Power Development Planning 8 must be reviewed after the Government agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at COP26.

Energy development towards a green future

Nguyen Anh Tuan, former Director of the Center for Renewable Energy, said: “We are witnessing an energy transition from fossil energy to green and clean energy. This is the general trend of the world, but the appropriate speed and time have to be considered so as not to affect the economy, and at the same time comply with the rules of the game in the international market.”

Tuan said that renewable energy will account for a high proportion, but Vietnam will have to consider the economic problem. The rate of 70-80% of renewable energy is entirely possible, but what will the price of electricity be?

“In fact, many systems operate with 100% green and clean energy, but the cost and accompanying conditions are to have international links or to use nuclear energy from another country if wind power and solar power is not enough. We must consider the common trend of the world, ensuring greenhouse gas emissions as committed by the Government. Regardless of the solution, I think it is necessary to discuss more about the endurance of the economy, the people, and the price of electricity," he noted.

Dr. Truong Duy Nghia, Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Thermal Science and Technology, mentioned the commitments and conditions set forth by the Government of Vietnam at the COP26.

In order to shift energy to "green - clean" as COP26 called for, Nghia said: “COP26 said that even gas turbine plants must be phased out because this power source also burns fuel and produces CO2. COP26 aims to use only hydrogen fuel. That’s right but the problem is the price of that fuel is extremely expensive. That's why Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that poor countries need electricity for economic development. If cheap energy sources are limited and expensive energy sources are used, poor countries can’t afford it. So rich countries have to help poor countries.”

Developing green energy is a long road in the future. In the short term, the price may be high but when the scale is large, along with the development of science, the cost will drop, and invaluable benefits will occur in terms of the environment, climate and sustainable development.

Luong Bang

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