HANOI: Vietnam faces the challenge of securing a reliable and affordable energy supply to sustain faster economic growth while cutting emissions and reducing exposure to global market disruptions.
As electricity demand rises and manufacturers face growing pressure to decarbonise, the country needs to look beyond expanding generation capacity, with greater emphasis on energy efficiency, renewable sources and a more flexible power system.
Nguyen Thi Thu Hien from the Institute of Energy under the Industry and Trade Ministry said Vietnam needed to balance energy security, industrial development and environmental goals as it entered a new stage of growth.
In her presentation at the forum Clean Energy for Growth, she said final energy demand was projected to reach 110 to 122 million tonnes of oil equivalent by 2030 and 186 to 207 million tonnes by 2050.
Electricity demand was expected to grow by 10% to 12% annually through 2030.
Electricity generation increased from 181 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) in 2015 to 325 billion kWh in 2025, reflecting the country’s growing need for power.
But future demand will also be shaped by new types of electricity consumers.
Data centres are expected to become a particularly significant source of demand.
Their combined power load in Vietnam currently stands at just over 100 megawatts (MW), but could rise to around 4,000MW by 2030, about 40 times the current level, according to Hien’s presentation.
Much of this demand is expected to be concentrated in northern Vietnam and the South-East region.
Electricity consumption by transport remains relatively small, she said, but is expected to increase as electric vehicles become more common and urban rail systems expand.
These emerging sources of demand will need to be considered in the adjustment of the national power development plan.
At the same time, Vietnam faces pressure to reduce emissions from industry as it integrates further into global markets.
The European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism entered into force its full phase in 2026, putting greater pressure on exporters to reduce emissions associated with goods exported to the bloc.
Hien said Vietnam needed to prioritise energy supply for socio-economic development, accelerate renewable energy while improving power system flexibility, and reduce industrial emissions through energy efficiency and low-emission technologies. — Viet Nam News/ANN
