Vietnam unlikely to have 6 GW offshore wind power by 2030, aims for 2031-2035

Vietnam is unlikely to reach its target of having 6,000 MW of offshore wind power by 2030 and strives to reach the goal in 2031-2035, the Ministry of Industry and Trade said in its draft amendment to the power development plan VIII (PDP VIII).

The ministry attributed the slow progress to challenges in meeting requirements in the maritime spatial planning, the unavailability of the legal framework (such as the piloting scheme, survey, investor selection, and in-principle approval), complicated technology, and huge capital requirements.

The original plan of 6,000 MW of offshore wind power features 2,500 MW in the northern region, 1,000 MW in the southern region, 2,000 MW in the south-central region, and 500 MW in the central-central region.

For 2050, Vietnam targets to have 118,746-138,639 MW of offshore wind power in the latest draft amendment, accounting for 15-16.3% of the country’s total capacity. The figure is higher than 27,247-47,139 MW given in the current PDP VIII.

The ministry also pointed out that due to challenges against coal-fired power and offshore wind power, the country’s top leadership decided to reenact nuclear power. Nuclear power is more likely to become available in Vietnam before offshore wind power and other renewable energy sources, the ministry emphasized.