VEPG Workshop on “Grid connection, operational management and technical aspects of Offshore Wind”

Hanoi,-June-1,-2023.

Within-the-framework-of-the-Vietnam-Energy-Partnership-Group-(VEPG),-the-VEPG-Offshore-Wind-Task-Force-in-cooperation-with-the-Electricity-of-Vietnam-(EVN)-held-a-Workshop-on-“Grid-connection,-operational-management-and-technical-aspects-of-Offshore-Wind”-in-Hanoi.

The-workshop-was-chaired-by-Mr.-Nguyen-Tai-Anh,-Deputy-General-Director-of-EVN,-and-Mr.-Sven-Ernedal,-Head-of-VEPG-Offshore-Wind-Task-Force-within-the-framework-of-the-VEPG.-The-Workshop-was-attended-by-nearly-100-delegates,-who-are-leaders-and-officials-from-the-units-under-the-Ministry-of-Industry-and-Trade-(MOIT)-and-EVN;-Embassies-of-Denmark,-the-United-Kingdom,-Australia;-representatives-and-energy-experts-from-international-organizations,-as-well-as-domestic-and-foreign-associations-and-enterprises.

The-Workshop-focused-on-the-potential-of-Offshore-Wind-(OSW)-development-in-Viet-Nam,-as-well-as-the-status-and-challenges-for-OSW-operation-and-grid-connection.-According-to-the-National-Power-Plan-for-the-period-of-2021-2030,-with-a-vision-to-2050,-Viet-Nam-has-set-the-target-for-OSW-installed-capacity-nationwide-of-06-GW-by-2030,-and-70-91-GW-by-2050.-This-goal-is-to-ensure-national-energy-security,-as-well-as-meet-the-increasing-demand-for-energy-across-the-country,-keeping-pace-with-socio-economic-development.-According-to-international-practice,-to-put-an-Offshore-Wind-project-into-operation,-it-takes-8-to-9-years-to-prepare-and-implement-the-investment.-Therefore,-EVN-recommends-that-it-is-necessary-to-finalize-the-legal-regulations-on-investment,-construction-and-operation-of-OSW-projects,-and-attract-investment-and-upgrade-infrastructure-to-meet-development-requirements.

As-the-unit-supporting-the-MOIT-in-implementing-the-“Marine-Spatial-Planning”-project-sponsored-by-the-World-Bank,-the-representative-of-BVG-Associates-shared-that-the-establishment-of-clear-policies-and-targets-will-enable-long-term-investment,-thereby-reducing-the-cost-of-energy-from-OSW.-This-also-helps-to-minimize-risks-and-attract-low-cost-finance-for-project-developers,-enabling-bankable-project-delivery.

International-experts-also-shared-experiences-and-perspectives-while-developing-the-Europen-OSW-market.-The-EU-aims-at-integrating-300-GW-of-OSW-by-2050.-To-realize-that-goal,-it-is-necessary-for-EU-to-shift-from-point-to-point-to-hybrid-and-meshed-offshore-transmission-infrastructure.-This-will-help-optimize-infrastructure-build-out-and-on-land-beach-crossings,-increasing-infrastructure-utilization-rates-and-improving-the-ability-of-power-systems-to-match-supply-–-demand.-This-will-also-increase-flexibility-and-reduce-need-for-re-dispatch.

Sharing-from-the-Danish-successful-experience-on-OSW-grid-connection,-the-expert-from-Energinet-also-shared-about-the-Offshore-Wind-development-model-in-this-country-from-the-stage-of-political-agreement-to-operation.-During-this-process,-it-is-necessary-to-settle-responsibility-for-grid-connection-planning,-investment-and-financing,-grid-planning-location,-choice-of-technology,-as-well-as-technical-and-operational-standards.-It-is-also-said-that-the-common-challenges-for-large-infrastructure-projects-are-approvals-on-state-and-local-levels,-timeplan-uncertainties,-as-well-as-risks-for-delays-and-changes-in-projects.

At-the-workshop,-the-VEPG-Offshore-Wind-Task-Force-was-also-introduced.-The-task-force-plays-the-role-of-facilitating-the-dialogue-between-Viet-Nam-and-international-development-organizations-on-OSW-to-identify-examples-of-best-practice-and-provide-recommendations-for-key-issues-in-Viet-Nam.-The-task-force-is-led-by-experts-from-the-GIZ-Energy-Support-Programme-(ESP),-with-the-participation-of-members-who-are-representatives-from-the-World-Bank,-the-Embassy-of-Denmark,-United-Kingdom,-?-Norwegian,-??etc.,-and-energy-experts-from-other-countries-and-international-organizations.

Speaking-at-the-Workshop,-Mr.-Sven-Ernedal-–-Head-of-the-Task-Force-raised-five-reflections-in-the-OSW-development-for-consideration,-including:

(1)-What-policy-measures-or-incentives-can-be-established-to-encourage-investment-in-grid-infrastructure-for-offshore-wind-power-in-Vietnam,-and-what-are-the-most-successful-models-from-other-countries-that-may-be-adopted-for-the-Vietnamese-context;

(2)-It-is-essential-that-the-development-and-approval-of-the-Marine-Spatial-Plan,-as-well-as-the-determination-of-the-sites-for-offshore-wind-power-development,-is-done-transparently;

(3)-It-is-strongly-recommended-that-to-support/invest-in-basic-survey-for-first-projects-(pilots),-including-windspeed-measurements,-geophysical-surveys-and-Environmental-and-Social-Impact-Assessment-(ESIA);

(4)-A-Transition-mechanism,-for-the-development-of-the-first-6-GW-by-2030-as-outlined-in-PDP8;

(5)-One-major-challenge-is-the-lack-of-clear-guidelines-and-regulations-pertaining-to-offshore-wind-energy-necessary-to-enable-the-investment-of-offshore-wind-to-meet-the-goals-in-the-PDP8.

The-Offshore-Wind-Task-forces-was-established-in-December-2022-and-under-the-Technical-Working-Group-2-on-Renewable-Energy-within-the-framework-of-the-Vietnam-Energy-Partnership-Group-(VEPG).-The-task-force-aims-to-ensure-an-open-exchange-among-Task-Force-Members-to-optimize-the-use-of-available-Technical-Assistance-activities,-ensure-prompt-and-transparent-dissemination-of-information-on-related-topics?,-and-propose-focused,-specific-and-cost-effective-solutions-to-OSW-related-challenges-and-barriers.-The-Task-Force-holds-monthly-meetings-to-update-on-the-progress-of-studies-and-relate-issues-to-the-OSW-topics.?