Vietnam launches design for clean energy future
The design of a clean energy future in Vietnam was announced at a conference held in Hanoi on June 5.
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| The Dam Nai wind power project |
With criteria focusing on health benefit, feasible cost, and national energy security, the research showed Vietnam might not need to build coal-fired thermal power plants but still archive energy security at affordable prices.
Nghiem Vu Khai, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA), said green energy is a smart move for Vietnam in response to climate change, as the country hold potential in solar and wind power.
Dao Trong Tu, deputy head of the Centre for Sustainable Development of Water Resources and Climate Change Adaptation, highlighted a number of benefits brought about by the design.
According to him, the design will help ensure energy security in the country via reducing coal imports and avoid the construction of about 25 coal-fired thermal power plants by 2030, thus cutting the pressure of mobilising 60 billion USD for the building.
As a result, the country will not have to burn approximately 70 million tonnes of coal per year, which also means Vietnam will save about US$7 billion a year from cutting coal imports. The volume of CO2 emissions will drop by about 116 million tonnes annually, while the air and water will become less polluted. The design is estimated to help prevent 7,600 early deaths per year by 2030.
Participants showed their approval of the design, stating that the study put forth a safe and suitable option in meeting Vietnam’s future demand for energy.
The design presents a country adequate energy with the environment and human health protected, said Nguyen Trong An, Deputy Director of the Research and Training Centre for Community Development.
