Initial results
Faced with the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, develop a low-carbon economy and ensure national energy security, the transition to clean and renewable energy sources is becoming an inevitable trend globally. Vietnam, with its commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 at the COP26 Conference, is taking concrete steps to realize this goal.
In particular, Nghe An has very favorable natural conditions for developing renewable energy types. With an average of 1,800 - 2,000 hours of sunshine per year, especially in areas of old coastal districts and towns such as Quynh Luu, Dien Chau, Nghi Loc, Hoang Mai, it is very suitable for developing solar power projects. Some areas in the locality with mountainous terrain, wide valleys and coastal areas with stable wind also open up investment opportunities for wind power projects. Not only that, Nghe An has a long river system, notably the Ca River, Hieu River... with a dense stream system, so it is possible to exploit small hydropower sources effectively with little impact on the environment.
In addition, with its strengths in agricultural and forestry production, the province also has great potential in developing biomass energy, electricity from waste and other forms of bioenergy.
With that potential, in recent times, Nghe An has actively attracted investment in input material production projects as a foundation for developing biomass power sources in the coming time. In Yen Xuan commune, KA-Grimex Green Energy Joint Stock Company - a unit of Nghe An Agricultural Materials Corporation is implementing the construction of a biomass pellet production plant using advanced technology from Germany.
Expected to be operational from the third quarter of 2025, the plant, with an investment of more than VND400 billion and European technology, will utilize planted forests to produce wood pellets, providing fuel for domestic and foreign biomass plants in the future. This is not only an effective solution to replace coal in thermal power plants, but also contributes to increasing the value of the local forestry industry.
Biomass Fuel Vietnam Co., Ltd. (BMFV), a Japanese investor in VSIP Nghe An Industrial Park, specializes in producing biomass wood pellets - clean and environmentally friendly fuel. The enterprise was established in 2016 and started operating in 2018 with an investment capital of about 24.4 million USD on an area of 5 hectares. The factory currently has a capacity of 160,000 tons of pellets per year, using about 320,000 tons of raw materials from planted forests and wood by-products. BMFV is cooperating with the USAID-funded Sustainable Forest Management Project to implement dual certification of FSC FM and PEFC FM for forest growers in Nghe An in the period of 2021-2025. The company's biomass pellets are of high quality and are exported to Japan, Korea and the EU.
Provincial leaders highly appreciated the Japanese investor for this project and wished to attract more high-tech, environmentally friendly industrial projects. BMFV's project clearly demonstrates the direction of green, sustainable investment, contributing positively to local economic development.
Another unit is Thanh Chuong Wood Production and Trading Joint Stock Company located in Hoa Quan commune (formerly Thanh Chuong district), specializing in producing biomass pellets from wood by-products and planted forests. The factory has a capacity of about 150,000 tons/year, applying modern European technology, supported by the province in technological innovation. Products are mainly exported to Korea, aiming to expand the Japanese and European markets. The project contributes to the development of clean energy, increasing the economic value of forests and creating jobs for local workers.
Another project is the High-Efficiency Solar Panel Manufacturing Plant of Hainan Drinda New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (China), with a total investment of up to 450 million USD, preparing to be built in Hoang Mai II Industrial Park.
Nghe An province is gradually diversifying its energy sources. In addition to hydropower development, which is a potential area for the province, the province has paid attention to proposing investment in developing LNG, wind, solar, and biomass power sources towards developing local energy sources in a sustainable manner. Implementing the proposal to plan power sources from renewable energy and new energy (hydropower, wind, solar, biomass) to meet the criteria in Resolution No. 55-NQ/TW dated February 11, 2020 of the Politburo on the orientation of Vietnam's National Energy Development Strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2045.
Currently, the People's Committee of Nghe An province is directing the review of investment procedures for two floating solar power projects: Vuc Mau Lake with a total designed capacity of 160MW and Khe Go Lake with a capacity of 200MW, and surveying the implementation of the Nam Dan Wind Power Plant project with a capacity of 200MW and Quynh Lap Wind Power Plant with a capacity of 70MW. The projects coming into operation will contribute to providing clean and stable electricity for the region.
One direction that Nghe An is focusing on is developing rooftop solar power, especially at production facilities, businesses, and households with high electricity demand during the day. Self-production and self-consumption of solar power not only helps people save on electricity costs, but also contributes to reducing the load on the national grid, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting green transformation, increasing the demand of the international market, creating a competitive advantage when exporting. in the community.
In addition to solar power and biomass, a major strategic project that is expected to contribute to the energy transition in Nghe An is the Quynh Lap LNG Power Plant Project. This is one of the key power source projects, included in the priority list for implementation according to the National Power Development Plan for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050 (Power Plan VIII), approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 500/QD-TTg dated May 15, 2023 and the Implementation Plan according to Decision No. 262/QD-TTg dated April 1, 2024. The project has a designed capacity of 1,500 MW, a total investment of about 2.15 billion USD, and is being implemented in Tan Mai ward (belonging to the old Hoang Mai town).
When completed, the plant will use approximately 1.15 million tons of LNG per year and is expected to be commercially operational by 2030. Although LNG is still a fossil fuel, compared to coal, it has lower CO₂ emissions, making it a necessary transitional option in the energy transition. Developing LNG power sources is a necessary transitional option in the energy transition and is in line with the Implementation Plan for the Global Declaration on the Transition of Coal Power to Clean Energy under Decision No. 266/QD-TTg dated February 12, 2025 of the Prime Minister.
On February 19, 2025, the Provincial People's Committee issued Document No. 1157/UBND-CN, assigning the Department of Industry and Trade to preside over and coordinate with relevant agencies and units to implement the Plan to implement the Global Declaration on converting coal power to clean energy according to Decision No. 266/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister.
In the roadmap to realize the above goals, Nghe An clearly identifies the roles of businesses, communities and social organizations. The province is encouraging the development of community solar power models, supporting businesses to switch to clean energy, while promoting communication activities to raise awareness of environmental protection and efficient electricity use. The energy database system, power transmission and distribution planning are also being reviewed and updated to meet the requirements of synchronous clean energy development.
Need clearer solutions
Mr. Pham Van Hoa - Director of Nghe An Department of Industry and Trade said: To promote the development of clean energy sources, renewable energy and green energy development, in the coming time, the Department of Industry and Trade will continue to focus on planning work, prioritizing the proposal of clean energy and renewable energy projects suitable to the province's advantages; speeding up the implementation of investment and construction of projects that have been approved for planning; creating all conditions for investors to access projects to facilitate the implementation process; closely coordinating with departments, branches and localities to advise the Provincial People's Committee during the implementation process to ensure sufficient conditions for project implementation to meet the planning schedule.
However, for clean energy to truly become a pillar in the province’s energy structure, Nghe An still has many challenges to overcome. These include difficulties in site clearance and lack of technical human resources specialized in clean energy. On the other hand, the development of separate incentive policies for clean energy projects also needs to be resolved synchronously.
However, with high political determination, dynamism in local government management and participation of enterprises, Nghe An is gradually affirming its position as an attractive destination on the national clean energy map. The energy transition process in Nghe An is not only to respond to global trends, but also to ensure energy security, serve investors, protect the environment and develop a green economy.
Source: https://baonghean.vn/nghe-an-va-tiem-nang-san-xuat-nang-luong-sach-10303563.html
Comment (0)