Solar power panels installed on the rooftop of a hotel in the southern province of Bình Dương. — VNS Photo Ngọc Diệp

HCM CITY — It is necessary to promote close co-operation between research institutions, schools and enterprises to foster skilled human resources for the renewable energy sector, the director of HCM City National University-HCM City has said.

Huỳnh Thành Đạt, speaking at a workshop in HCM City on June 26, said Việt Nam needs to increase the proportion of electricity generated from new and renewable sources and make more efficient use of traditional sources.

“The country has significant advantages in wind and solar power, but these have not been effectively exploited.”

As of last month, the country had 57 solar and wind power plants with a total capacity of 2,800MW.

Under the science and technology development strategy for 2010-20, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) promotes research into hydro-power and thermal power and the use of renewable and other new forms of energy.

In recent years, efficient renewable energy models have been developed but investment remains limited because of lacking co-operation between various stakeholders.

Thus, despite incentives being offered to both domestic and foreign firms in the renewable sector, its output remains modest.

According to the ministry, the main barriers to investment in this sector are electricity prices, high costs and modest local scientific capacity.

“International co-operation is required to enable companies to absorb new technology,” Đạt said.

At the workshop, many local and foreign experts and providers of renewable energy solutions discussed policies to foster renewable energy and application of artificial intelligence and technology to manufacture wind turbines.

Sang Hoon Lee, chairman of the Korea Energy Agency’s Renewable Energy Policy Centre, said Việt Nam has great potential in renewables, especially wind power, and the energy sector should focus on them.

Many countries and territories are focusing on developing technologies for solar and wind power, he said.

“The South Korean government encourages enterprises, organisations and individuals in the renewable energy sector.”

It has rolled out a number of policies to enhance national competitiveness in the renewable sector, he said.

In the first quarter of this year, solar energy output increased by 36 per cent year-on-year, and wind energy output by 15 per cent, he said.

Nguyễn Vĩnh Khương, director of the HCM City-based SolarBK Company’s AI development project, said his company has developed many renewable energy solutions for residences, commercial establishments and industrial parks.

"Our company offers power output guarantees for systems it installs, he said.

“I believe that clean energy companies in Việt Nam can get a foothold in the global market.”

The workshop was held on the sidelines of the 2019 new energy mega trend tech show and exhibition hosted by the ministry’s State Agency for Technological Innovation in collaboration and Korea Energy Agency from June 25 to 27.

The tech show and exhibition is expected to attract around 3,000 visitors this year. — VNS