A wind farm in Việt Nam.

— VNA/VNS Illustrative Photo

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam Wind Power 2021, an annual event since 2018, was
launched in Hà Nội on Wednesday.
The two-day event takes place on the sidelines of the Việt Nam Energy and
Technology Forum organised by the State Agency for Technology Innovation.
The event was co-sponsored by the Norwegian Embassy and its Commercial
Section - Innovation Norway, in collaboration with the Embassy of Denmark,
Embassy of Germany, the German Agency for International Co-operation and
the British Embassy.
The event, believed to be the largest event of the wind power industry in the
country, provides an opportunity for participants to share, connect and discuss
new opportunities for the renewable energy industry in Việt Nam.
It also brings together Việt Nam’s leading policy makers, wind industry leaders,
investors and other key stakeholders locally and internationally.
Four Norwegian companies -- Equinor, Mainstream Renewable Power, DNV
and Scatec -- will participate in different panels to share their insights and
experiences on different topics, including auctions, project finance and asset
management; mergers and acquisitions, investment and capital raising; and
certification, standardisation and human capital development and optimisation
of electricity production.
Like Việt Nam, Norway is a coastal nation with abundant offshore wind
resources, and a well-established oil and gas industry. It is also vulnerable to
climate change.
Thanks to its maritime and offshore expertise, Norway is in a unique position to
contribute to the growing market for offshore wind.
Norwegian companies are ready to work with local partners by sharing
expertise and technology to help Việt Nam in its energy transition process, to
fulfil its climate commitments under the Paris Agreement and COP26, and
contribute to Việt Nam’s sustainable economic growth, said Director of
Innovation Norway Hà Nội, Commercial Counsellor Arne-Kjetil Lian.
Norwegian Ambassador to Việt Nam Grete Lochen said the conference
would contribute to accelerating much-needed energy transformation to ensure
sustainable economic growth.
A multi stakeholder approach is key and will give input to policymakers of
predictable and more effective policy solutions, she said.
Offshore wind power in Việt Nam was expected to reach 10GW by 2030.
The Global Wind Energy Council calculated that the first 4-5GW of offshore
wind power in Việt Nam will require an investment of between US$10 billion
and 12 billion, however as it is an inexhaustible resource that reduces the need
to spend money to import fuels such as coal power and gas. After all, it could
help reduce the cost of fuel by $650-800 million.
Partnership for a circular economy
At an event on Tuesday afternoon in Hà Nội, Norwegian Embassy, international
donors, academia and the private sector showed their commitment to supporting
the Government of Việt Nam in building a successful circular economy for
plastics to help Việt Nam fulfil its environmental commitments and
ensure sustainable and greener economic growth.
The event was co-held by the Việt Nam Environment Administration and the
Norwegian Embassy.
At the event, the Cities Development Initiative for Asia committed to provide
technical assistance to Vũng Tàu City. The initiative will prepare a holistic solid
waste management investment programme for the city that includes waste
disposal, collection, sorting, recycling and treatment, as well as final disposal.
It will first prepare a feasibility study exploring priority plastic waste project
components in partnership with the Alliance to End Plastic Waste.
The project aims to build a strong stakeholder network among international and
local organisations, research institutes, businesses, and State agencies to manage
solid waste across the value chain and catalyse investment to help minimise
plastic waste leakage into nature.
Asian Development Bank Country Director Andrew Jeffries said the Vũng Tàu
Solid Waste Management Project Preparation Study was one of the pathways by
which ADB was supporting the Government of Việt Nam toward a green
recovery post-COVID and a low-carbon growth strategy.
"The pandemic offers an opportunity to rebuild our communities deputy using
more sustainable models to create a better, greener future for all. And one
approach is by transitioning to a circular economy," he said.
Speaking at the event, Nguyễn Hưng Thịnh, deputy director of the Việt Nam
Environment Administration, said Việt Nam was among the global pioneers in
adopting system changes to accommodate the building of a circular economy
for plastics.
He called research agencies and people to implement policies on promoting
sustainable practices for production, business and consumption; waste
management towards treating waste as a resource; expanding
producer responsibility for waste recycling and treatment; as well as promoting
reuse and recycling of plastic waste in tandem with limiting single-use non-
biodegradable plastic packages. — VNS