World Bank Group have launched the Offshore Wind Roadmap for Vietnam. The roadmap provides strategic analysis of the offshore wind development potential in Vietnam It was prepared, under contract to the World Bank, by BVG Associates in association with Atkins, Frontier Economics, Sterling Technical Services (Vietnam) and Mr. Du Van Toan.
Vietnam has an energetic and abundant offshore wind resource that is located close to demand centres and in relatively shallow water—although this roadmap focuses on areas further offshore which have higher wind speeds and energy yields. The roadmap shows how offshore wind could play a significant role in sustainably meeting Vietnam’s rapidly growing electricity demand and has the potential to supply 12 percent of Vietnam’s electricity by 2035. By replacing coal-fired generation, this could help to avoid over 200 million metric tons of CO2 emissions and add at least US$50 billion to Vietnam’s economy by stimulating the growth of a strong, local supply chain, creating thousands of skilled jobs, and exporting to other offshore wind markets globally.
“Vietnam’s economy and carbon emissions will benefit significantly from the development of an offshore wind sector,” said Neil Douglas, Director at BVG Associates. “Our experience in developed offshore wind markets is that ambitious, long-term targets serve as cornerstones for cost reduction and industry development.”
The roadmap analyses two possible growth scenarios for Vietnam’s offshore wind industry. The ‘low growth’ scenario with moderate expansion of offshore wind, resulting in offshore wind supplying 5 percent of Vietnam’s electricity needs by 2035. The ‘high growth’ scenario has significant expansion of offshore wind, resulting in offshore wind supplying 12 percent of Vietnam’s electricity needs by 2035.
