Renewable energy development needs support policy

According to Dr. Tran Quang Minh, Director of the Institute for Northeast Asian Studies under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, a legal framework will lay legal foundations for ministries, sectors and localities at all levels to work together on developing renewable energies in the long run. 

Long- and medium-term plans should also be developed with specific goals for each period of socio-economic development. 

Human resources training, technology transferring and international cooperation should be focused on. 

Incentives are also needed to mobilise resources from the private sector as well as international aid. 

Communications should be enhanced to raise public awareness on using renewable energy and promoting saving energy in society. 

According to the General Department of Energy under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, as of the end of 2013, green energy accounted for 6.3% of Vietnam’s total energy, or a total output of 3,990MW. 

The total capacity of renewable energy is expected to reach 4,200MW by 2020 and 13,799MW by 2030. 

The Vietnamese Government adopted the National Strategy on Energy Development through 2020 with a vision towards 2030 which aims to raise the proportion of renewable energy from 3% of the total power generation output in 2010 to 5% in 2020 and 11% in 2050.

To meet these goals, the Government has outlined various preferential measures to support investors such as tax exemptions for equipment imports and land use for projects in this field.