EVN, Jera ink Vietnam-Japan cooperation in decarbonization

State utility Vietnam Electricity (EVN) and Japanese energy company Jera signed a memorandum of understanding Thursday on cooperation in strategic decarbonization.

The cooperation will focus on decarbonization at coal-fired power plants, technology for using hydrogen and ammonia as fuels for coal-fired power plants, EVN’s decarbonization progress and other related areas.

In line with its commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 made at the COP 26, Vietnam has come up with the national power development plan VIII (PDP VIII) to reduce carbon emissions from electricity generation.

The PDP VIII will increase the portion of renewable energy (including hydropower) and halt the construction of new coal-fired power factories until 2045. However, challenges will remain as thermal power plants of 30 GW capacity and LNG-fired power plants of 39 GW capacity will continue operations, EVN said.

To meet its targets, EVN will strive to improve efficiency and reduce carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants, transition to the use of biomass and ammonia as fuels, and study carbon storage and capture technology, the national utility’s CEO Tran Dinh Nhan said at the signing ceremony.

As Vietnam’s technological and financial capabilities to execute these tasks are limited, the country seeks cooperation with foreign partners, especially Japan, the executive added.

Jera, a joint venture between Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) and Chubu Electric Power Company (Chubu), is the owner of thermal power plants with a total capacity of 70 GW, the highest in Japan. The firm also operates LNG terminals accounting for half of thermal power generation in the country.

In the first nine months of 2023, Vietnam's total power generation reached 209.9 billion kWh, up 3.1% year-on-year, EVN reported.

Coal-fired power accounted for 97.2 billion kWh, or 46.3% of the total, also the biggest portion. At 58.05 billion kWh, hydropower was the second-biggest source with 27.7% of the total. Renewable energy made up 29.13 billion kWh, or 13.9%, the third-biggest portion. Other sources were gas-fired power with 20.82 billion kWh, or 9.9%; oil-fired power with 1.23 billion kWh, or 0.6%; and imported electricity with 3.1 billion kWh, or 1.5%.

EVN and its units generated 87.79 billion kWh in the nine-month period, or 41.83% of the total.