A wind farm in Việt Nam.— VNA/VNS Illustrative Photo

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam Wind Power 2021, an annual event since 2018, was launched in Hà Nội on Wednesday.

The two-day event takes place on the sidelines of the Việt Nam Energy and Technology Forum organised by the State Agency for Technology Innovation.

The event was co-sponsored by the Norwegian Embassy and its Commercial Section - Innovation Norway, in collaboration with the Embassy of Denmark, Embassy of Germany, the German Agency for International Co-operation and the British Embassy.

The event, believed to be the largest event of the wind power industry in the country, provides an opportunity for participants to share, connect and discuss new opportunities for the renewable energy industry in Việt Nam.

It also brings together Việt Nam’s leading policy makers, wind industry leaders, investors and other key stakeholders locally and internationally.

Four Norwegian companies -- Equinor, Mainstream Renewable Power, DNV and Scatec -- will participate in different panels to share their insights and experiences on different topics, including auctions, project finance and asset management; mergers and acquisitions, investment and capital raising; and certification, standardisation and human capital development and optimisation of electricity production.

Like Việt Nam, Norway is a coastal nation with abundant offshore wind resources, and a well-established oil and gas industry. It is also vulnerable to climate change.

Thanks to its maritime and offshore expertise, Norway is in a unique position to contribute to the growing market for offshore wind.

Norwegian companies are ready to work with local partners by sharing expertise and technology to help Việt Nam in its energy transition process, to fulfil its climate commitments under the Paris Agreement and COP26, and contribute to Việt Nam’s sustainable economic growth, said Director of Innovation Norway Hà Nội, Commercial Counsellor Arne-Kjetil Lian.

Norwegian Ambassador to Việt Nam Grete Lochen said the conference would contribute to accelerating much-needed energy transformation to ensure sustainable economic growth.

A multi­ stakeholder approach is key and will give input to policymakers of predictable and more effective policy solutions, she said.

Offshore wind power in Việt Nam was expected to reach 10GW by 2030.

The Global Wind Energy Council calculated that the first 4-5GW of offshore wind power in Việt Nam will require an investment of between US$10 billion and 12 billion, however as it is an inexhaustible resource that reduces the need to spend money to import fuels such as coal power and gas. After all, it could help reduce the cost of fuel by $650-800 million.

Partnership for a circular economy

At an event on Tuesday afternoon in Hà Nội, Norwegian Embassy, international donors, academia and the private sector showed their commitment to supporting the Government of Việt Nam in building a successful circular economy for plastics to help Việt Nam fulfil its environmental commitments and ensure sustainable and greener economic growth.

The event was co-held by the Việt Nam Environment Administration and the Norwegian Embassy.

At the event, the Cities Development Initiative for Asia committed to provide technical assistance to Vũng Tàu City. The initiative will prepare a holistic solid waste management investment programme for the city that includes waste disposal, collection, sorting, recycling and treatment, as well as final disposal.

It will first prepare a feasibility study exploring priority plastic waste project components in partnership with the Alliance to End Plastic Waste.

The project aims to build a strong stakeholder network among international and local organisations, research institutes, businesses, and State agencies to manage solid waste across the value chain and catalyse investment to help minimise plastic waste leakage into nature.

Asian Development Bank Country Director Andrew Jeffries said the Vũng Tàu Solid Waste Management Project Preparation Study was one of the pathways by which ADB was supporting the Government of Việt Nam toward a green recovery post-COVID and a low-carbon growth strategy.

"The pandemic offers an opportunity to rebuild our communities using more sustainable models to create a better, greener future for all. And one approach is by transitioning to a circular economy," he said.

Speaking at the event, Nguyễn Hưng Thịnh, deputy director of the Việt Nam Environment Administration, said Việt Nam was among the global pioneers in adopting system changes to accommodate the building of a circular economy for plastics.

He called research agencies and people to implement policies on promoting sustainable practices for production, business and consumption; waste management towards treating waste as a resource; expanding producer responsibility for waste recycling and treatment; as well as promoting reuse and recycling of plastic waste in tandem with limiting single-use non-biodegradable plastic packages. — VNS