Norway vows to support Vietnam's energy transition

Norway is committed to supporting Vietnam’s energy transition, Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam Hilde Solbakken said at a technical seminar held in Hanoi on Wednesday.

Speaking at the seminar, entitled “Supporting Vietnam’s Energy Transition Journey,” co-organized by the Electricity Authority under the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Norwegian Embassy, the ambassador said that from Norway's experience, this process requires the participation of all stakeholders, including the private sector.

Tran Hoai Trang, deputy director of the Electricity Authority, said that Vietnam is facing great challenges in energy transition.

However, the country also sees clear opportunities for sustainable development. Accordingly, developing renewable energy including wind and solar power is an inevitable direction to ensure energy security, meet commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and respond to climate change, he said.

Hagsung Kim, executive vice president of business development, digital solutions at Norway's Det Norske Veritas (DNV) that provides safety quality assurance, risk management and services to the industry, said that Vietnam’s energy development program and rapid energy transition are opening up a wide space for innovation and creativity.

DNV will combine its deep technical expertise and advanced digital solutions to accompany the Vietnamese industry, Kim said.

In the renewable energy sector, the firm has supported a series of onshore, nearshore and solar power projects in Vietnam. It joins in technical appraisal, construction supervision, feasibility studies, energy production assessment and measurement campaigns for offshore wind projects. It also acts as a certification and inspection agency for offshore substations built in Vietnam, serving international offshore wind projects.

At the seminar, delegates also provided the latest updates on key technologies such as offshore wind power, hydrogen, carbon capture technology, energy storage and digital risk management from domestic and foreign experts.