Energy forum proposes solutions

Energy is increasingly rare. Therefore, the long-term use of energy sources is an urgent requirement for not only the country but also the whole world. Vietnam needs to pay attention to reasonable management, development and exploitation of energy sources. In particular, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will focus on directing the energy sector as a key role in the economy, contributing to promoting socioeconomic development and serving the people’s life.

Policies on energy efficiency should be more emphasized in the Vietnam National Energy Development Strategy by 2030, with a vision to 2050 that will be approved in 2017 by the prime minister.

The Vietnamese manufacturing and processing industry has only seen growth of 1.6 percent after 30 years of development and two percent of businesses have participated in high-tech. With a low technological level, many industries have consumed lots of energy. For example, in the agricultural sector, the country is driving towards an increase in productivity instead of the value, leading to huge consumption of energy in the production process.

In the long term, Vietnam should focus on technological innovation and promote restructuring towards a new growth model.

The Vietnam National Energy Development Strategy by 2020, with a vision to 2030 sets a target to ensure sufficient supplies of energy for socioeconomic development needs. To achieve the goal, the country needs to make further efforts, especially paying more attention to increasing the proportion of clean energy sources and renewable energy, while strengthening energy efficiency solutions.

Vietnam should set out the renewable energy development strategy by raising all resources, while reducing dependence on fossil fuels in order to ensure energy security, driving towards climate change mitigation, protecting the environment and promoting socioeconomic development.

Vietnam has many kinds of power plants including hydroelectric power, thermal power by coal, oil and gas. However, power supplies have not met requirements. The southern region has large demand on using electricity, but major power sources with cheap prices have concentrated mainly in the north. The south has always faced power shortages since 2010. Therefore, power transmission lines have to operate at a high capacity, leading to the instability of power system.

Therefore, the Electricity of Vietnam has promoted cooperation with international large power companies and applied advanced technologies to ensure safe operations of the power system.

Researches show that grid-tied solar power can ensure 40-80 percent of electricity demand for the majority of households and commercial buildings with numerous advantages. Hundreds of grid-tied solar power works have been currently installed in houses, schools, offices and commercial buildings in Vietnam.

Many countries have set a target of developing grid-tied solar power in the construction of smart homes and cities. Solar power is considered green energy on the global scale. Solar power will play a key role by 2050 and provide third quarters of electricity demand of the mankind by 2100.

Vietnam’s grid-tied solar power projects generate the highest capacity from 9.00am to 15.00pm, coinciding with the peak hours required for the Vietnamese power system. Therefore, the using of solar power will benefit more if electricity prices are based on the time.

Electricity using per capita has increased rapidly in recent years in Vietnam and is assessed to strongly increase in the coming time.

Energy waste in the industrial sector remains available such as 50 percent in cement, 35 percent in ceramics, 30 percent in garment and textile, 25 percent in thermal power, 20 percent in steel and food. Electricity demand in Vietnam in the next few decades is forecasted to be huge, while domestic energy resources are not abundant.

Energy-saving will help businesses reduce input costs and increase competitive advantage of their products at home and abroad, contributing to promoting sustainable development of businesses, reducing pressures on the development of new energy resources and meeting socioeconomic development requirements. 

Hoang Chau & Lan Anh