Germany PNE’s 2 GW project in Vietnam redefined as 'nearshore' wind power

German renewable energy developer Pure New Energy's (PNE) $4.6 billion Hon Trau wind power project in Vietnam’s south-central province of Binh Dinh is classified as a nearshore wind power project.

Ho Quoc Dung, chief of Binh Dinh's Party Committee, made the statement at a Wednesday meeting with PNE. Binh Dinh province is committed to helping PNE in solving issues and deploying the project, he added.

As the project is now a nearshore wind power project, its feasibility is “very likely” to be endorsed as the Ministry of Industry and Trade will soon allocate wind power quota to Binh Dinh, Dung highlighted.

For his part, Binh Dinh Chairman Pham Anh Tuan clarified that Hon Trau project was originally classified as an offshore wind power project. But the updated legal framework per the Electricity Law 2024 classified it as a nearshore one. This change will speed up the project implementation, he noted.

Binh Dinh had already suggested the trade ministry and the Prime Minister add Hon Trau project’s first phase of 750 MW to the amended Power development plan VIII (PDP VIII). The amendments are subject to approval this month, Tuan affirmed.

In reply, PNE CEO Heiko Wuttke said he expects the wind power quota, to be allocated to Binh Dinh and featuring both nearshore and land-based power, will include a portion for PNE project. PNE strives to cooperate with Binh Dinh authorities to deploy the project “as soon as possible,” he emphasized.

PNE started studying the $4.6 billion Hon Trau offshore wind power project in Vietnam in 2019. In November 2022, the company and the central coastal province of Binh Dinh signed a memorandum of understanding to deploy the project.

According to PNE, the project will be executed on Hon Trau island, 10 kilometers off the coast of De Gi estuary. The project is designed to have a capacity of 2,000 MW and be implemented in three phases. Some 50 turbines are slated to be installed in each phase.