Vietnam and Australia share experience in green energy production

Leading experts in the energy transition in Australia and Vietnam are collaborating to share expertise and experience to boost green energy production.

Việt Nam và Australia chia sẻ kinh nghiệm sản xuất năng lượng xanh

Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski delivered the opening speech at the Policy Dialogue "The Future of Vietnam's Electricity Sector". (Source: Australian Embassy in Vietnam)

Launched by the Australian Government with support from the Central Economic Commission (CEC) on June 5, the Future of Electricity in Vietnam (FE-V) initiative will strengthen links between the two countries’ energy and climate agencies, and focus on improving expertise and efficiency in power generation, fuels for power generation, grids, electricity markets and electricity demand.

The event took place right after the successful official visit of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, with one of the key topics being the energy transition in Vietnam and Australia.

FE-V will be a bridge for Australia to build a more long-term and reliable cooperative relationship in the energy sector with Vietnam in the coming time.

Notably, on June 4, during his official visit to Vietnam, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a 105 million AUD aid package to support Vietnam's sustainable economic growth, with energy transition being a key area.

In his opening remarks at the first FE-V policy dialogue forum, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski welcomed the two countries’ growing partnership to accelerate the energy transition.

Ambassador Goledzinowski said Australia shares the same challenges and aspirations as Vietnam in ensuring sustainable, safe and equitable electricity services to facilitate prosperity and economic growth.

Both countries are accelerating their energy transition aspirations. Australia has set a target of 80% renewable energy in its electricity mix by 2030, and we are investing heavily to upgrade our grid and better coordinate market reforms across the country. Meanwhile, Vietnam has also set out a number of green and sustainable development targets in its Power Development Plan 8 (PDP8) in line with its COP26 commitments, making it easier for the international community to support the transition.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Hien, Deputy Head of the Central Economic Commission, spoke at the dialogue. (Source: Australian Embassy in Vietnam)

Like Australia, Vietnam has ambitious plans to reduce its dependence on coal, with the 8th National Power Development Plan aiming to phase out coal-fired power generation by 2050 in parallel with a shift to wind and solar power.

Ambassador Goledzinowski said Australia is also on this journey and has much to share with Vietnam.

“In the last three months of 2022, renewable energy production reached a record high as a proportion of Australia’s total electricity generation capacity, providing more than 40% of the country’s main grid electricity. Vietnam’s PDP8 sets a target of 75% renewable energy and storage in its total electricity mix by 2050, and Australia is ready to support Vietnam in rapidly exploiting its great potential for solar and wind power development,” Ambassador Goledzinowski emphasized.

Delegates attended and discussed sharing experiences in green energy transition. (Source: Australian Embassy in Vietnam)

The dialogue forum will be followed by a roundtable discussion on 6 June for Australian and Vietnamese government agencies and research institutes to discuss power system transformation, electricity markets, and how the private sector and state-owned enterprises can better support Vietnam’s energy transition.

The FE-V initiative was initiated by the Australian Embassy and the Central Economic Commission and implemented through the Australian Infrastructure Partnership program with the participation of AMPERES, the Australian National University (ANU) and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) of Australia.