Next wave of energy transition
Vietnam Economic Times / VnEconomy gathered the thoughts of EU and global partners on how Vietnam can turn its natural advantages into large-scale renewable investment and energy security.
Mr. Tibor Stelbaczky, Ambassador-at-Large, Principle Adviser on Energy Diplomacy at European External Action Service
I would like to mention three additional perspectives at the policy level regarding the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).
Firstly, the JETP is built upon the shared goals of Vietnam and the International Partners Group (IPG), which is to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, implementing the Paris Agreement and working toward this goal. Based on that shared goal, this is the best way to realize the principle of shared but differentiated responsibilities in implementing the Paris Agreement. This is a commitment from the IPG and the G7 to support Vietnam, and also a commitment from Vietnam to move toward net-zero emissions. Clearly, this is in the common interest of all participating parties, and we are very much looking forward to continuing cooperation to promote the meaningful and effective implementation of the JETP.
The second is that the “P” in JETP stands for “Partnership”. This signifies close cooperation between us and Vietnamese authorities, government, companies, and stakeholders. I think it is very important to gain experience from each other. Vietnam’s economic growth is remarkable - even fantastic. However, IPG countries also have a lot of experience in energy transition, and we are ready to share this experience and lessons with Vietnam. More importantly, it is not just about sharing experience, but also about being ready to invest and provide concrete support, from financial to technical assistance, to achieve tangible results in the implementation of the JETP.
Thirdly, in the past few years, especially since the signing of the Political Declaration in 2022 and the development of the Resource Mobilization Plan, as well as initial projects in place, the JETP has always been seen as an opportunity for Vietnam to leverage support from the IPG. However, in the current volatile context, this is no longer just an opportunity but a pressing need not only in Vietnam but also in many other countries, including IPG countries.
As the global energy market undergoes significant changes, shifting toward domestic energy sources such as renewable energy, while investing in energy storage, batteries, and grid development, becomes a necessary direction. This is not only a way to ensure the necessary energy supply to support economic growth, but also to ensure energy security and reduce external dependence. This is a common challenge for both Europe and Vietnam.
Therefore, we believe that moving toward greater renewable energy deployment and all investments in this sector, such as storage and grid development, as well as related regulatory measures and reforms, is the best way to ensure energy security, sustain impressive economic growth, and support Vietnam’s catch-up process - a mutual goal of both the IPG and Vietnam.
Mr. Alessandro Antonioli, Vietnam Country Manager at Copenhagen Offshore Partners
Vietnam is extremely competitive when it comes to the use of natural resources for renewables, because it is blessed with good wind and good solar radiation.
We expect the cost of renewable energy to progressively decrease, and Vietnam is very well positioned to capture a huge amount of these resources. This is the real “oil” of Vietnam, and is where the country should invest more in terms of cost competitiveness. It is a very fortunate coincidence that you have a well-established industry, especially in offshore engineering. This leads me to think that Vietnam is going to be, in the near term, if things go well, a regional power when it comes to offshore wind, because it can capture most of the benefit not just from generating power, but also from manufacturing the components in the country. So there is a double benefit in growing a local supply chain and also managing to get clean, affordable, and available power from resources.
The domestic market was relying on local loans to finance small-scale renewable energy projects. Now, as the technology becomes more complex and requires more capital, this is not enough to scale up the renewable energy system. So Vietnam needs to attract more international capital, about $130 billion by 2030, 90 per cent of which has to come from private capital.
To do that, Vietnam needs to provide guarantees to international investors: that they can invest safely, extract dividends, receive fair tax treatment, and resolve disputes in international forums. It is also important to ensure an appropriate level of returns for investors who take risks in a still immature regulatory framework for large-scale renewable energy.
Grid infrastructure remains a constraint on renewable energy expansion to the extent that there are physical bottlenecks. There needs to be more capacity and more battery storage, and this requires the right policies and incentives for both infrastructure and generating assets. We expect upcoming policies to provide more clarity.
Another important element is pricing mechanisms. This is still at an early stage, and the right mechanisms for renewable energy are not yet fully developed. We have seen what happened in the past with feed-in tariffs. The hope is to learn from that and move toward more dynamic and risk-mitigated pricing mechanisms.
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners has been here for many years, and this point in time feels like a moment of truth. There is a new government, new ambition, and some policy development over the last year.
If Vietnam maintains the pace and keeps the focus on shifting the energy system from carbon-based and hydrocarbon-based sources to renewable energy with battery storage, then it will see a completely different future in the near term.
Mr. Nguyen Phan Dinh, Vietnam Market Director at EDP Global, Head of EuroCham’s Energy Working Group
European businesses can make significant contributions to Vietnam’s energy transition in three main areas. First, their experience in policy and legal frameworks. With over 30 years of renewable energy development, Europe has accumulated a solid foundation, from establishing grid standards and carbon pricing mechanisms to liberalizing the electricity market. Through organizations like EuroCham, the European business community also contributes ideas, promotes reforms, and improves the investment environment.
Second, their system integration capabilities and technical expertise. European countries have extensive experience operating energy systems with a high proportion of renewable energy, particularly in managing the intermittent nature of power sources such as wind and solar. These are practical capabilities that European businesses can transfer to and support Vietnam with.
Third, their abundant green capital. When projects achieve financial viability, European banks and financial institutions are ready to provide significant funding to the Vietnamese market.
A prerequisite for attracting this capital flow is policy consistency and the stability of the legal framework. Changes that could reverse previous commitments, such as retroactive collection mechanisms, will directly affect investor confidence. Meanwhile, confidence is a key factor, especially since renewable energy projects typically have a lifespan of 10-20 years.
In the current context, Vietnam identifies renewable energy as a strategic direction to ensure energy security. However, to realize this goal, in addition to technological investment, building a stable and predictable long-term legal framework is crucial to strengthening confidence and attracting large-scale investment.
Ms. Anna Gibson, Climate Counsellor at the British Embassy in Vietnam
We saw the signing of a credit agreement for grid transmission infrastructure, aimed at enhancing transmission capacity and integrating renewable energy. Alongside this were a loan agreement for a hydropower expansion project and the breaking-ground ceremony for the Bac Ai pumped-storage hydropower project. These are all significant milestones. These advances demonstrate how international public financing can be used to drive the next wave of energy transition projects in Vietnam, while also paving the way and facilitating deeper private capital participation in the market.
Alongside these asset projects, we also witnessed the signing of financing agreements within the framework of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) over the past year. These include green financing packages, such as a $200 million grant for energy transition between the European Investment Bank (EIB) and Techcombank, as well as a $350 million green investment package from VPBank with support from development finance institutions within the International Partners Group (IPG), including the UK, Canada, and Japan.
Clearly, there has been progress and momentum for the JETP, but much remains to be done. Many agreements are underway, and technical assistance is in the works. A crucial part of the JETP is how to effectively combine tools - from technical assistance, development finance, public finance to private finance - to create synergistic, catalytic impacts and drive a substantive transformation of Vietnam’s green, clean, and sustainable energy system.
Source: Vietnam Economic Times
