Many industrial enterprises are ready to embark on their green transition. However, turning this ambition into reality remains challenging. Companies continue to face a range of barriers, from developing technical solutions tailored to existing production facilities, proposing business plans that can secure management approval, to selecting qualified service providers, complying with increasingly stringent requirements on energy efficiency, emissions reduction and carbon markets, and accessing green finance.
This is the insight shared by representatives from heavy industry, processing, and manufacturing companies during the July regular meetings of the Energy Efficiency and Climate Action Club (EEC) in Thai Nguyen and Ho Chi Minh City. The meetings were organised by GIZ under the framework of the Vietnamese-German Energy Partnership and the Sustainable Transformation of Investment in Green Transition (SHIFT) project, commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) and the Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) through its International Climate Initiative (IKI).
Photo by GIZ.
One of the key financial challenges is transforming standalone energy efficiency initiatives into bankable green investment projects, supported by sufficient data and evidence to meet the requirements of financial institutions.
In addition, participating companies shared technical challenges and lessons learned related to rooftop solar installation, energy metering and digital energy management, the limited availability of primary and secondary data for greenhouse gas inventories, the classification of energy efficiency measures, and the optimisation of pumping systems, compressed air systems, motors, and transport operations.
Photo by GIZ.
In 2025, the EECs also achieved several notable milestones:
- Completed energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions baselines for member companies.
- Identified annual energy-saving potential of 22.9 GWh and GHG emissions reduction potential of 14,921 tCO₂/year for the Thai Nguyen EEC; and 38.28 GWh/year and 28,618 tCO₂/year, respectively, for the Ho Chi Minh City EEC.
- Established emissions reduction targets for the 2026–2030 period.
The achievements made in 2025, together with the feedback and recommendations from member companies, will provide an important foundation for GIZ and its partners to develop more practical support measures and design future capacity-building activities tailored to the needs of EEC members.
Photo by GIZ.
As the final year of the pilot phase, 2026 will see the EEC continue its regular meetings, deliver training on green finance, energy efficiency, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction, as well as provide on-site technical support to member companies.
With the aim of sustaining the EEC model beyond the pilot phase, GIZ will consolidate key lessons learned and develop recommendations for EEC members and relevant stakeholders to consider when determining the Club’s future direction and operations in the years ahead.
The meetings brought together 14 member companies from the Thai Nguyen, Dong Nai, and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as representatives from the Thai Nguyen Department of Industry and Trade, GIZ experts, national and international consulting firms including VETS, ENERTEAM, T&C Consulting, and Envidatec, as well as German companies such as Bosch and Siemens. The event provided a platform for participants to exchange experiences and promote practical solutions for energy efficiency and green transition in the industrial sector.
