Improving policies for offshore green energy.

Onshore wind power plant in Gia Lai . (Photo: T. THAO)

Bottlenecks in the development of offshore green energy

Currently, in Vietnam, offshore wind power is mainly in the research, proposal, and survey licensing stages. The implementation process is facing many obstacles due to incomplete mechanisms, policies, and related procedures.

Dr. Du Van Toan (Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology, Environment and Marine Sciences - Ministry of Agriculture and Environment ) pointed out the "barriers" in the process of licensing offshore wind power surveys. These include the multi-stage application and approval process involving many agencies; the marine spatial planning approved by the National Assembly in Resolution No. 139/2024/QH15 dated June 28, 2024, does not yet have specific regulations for offshore wind power; and the survey standards regarding marine spatial area are not yet standardized.

Dr. Du Van Toan argues that bottlenecks in administrative procedures prevent consulting and surveying units from accessing the field to fully survey and assess the potential of offshore wind power. To date, Vietnam has granted a total of 16 permits for marine surveys to support feasibility studies of offshore wind power projects, but some permits have expired. Meanwhile, survey activities have only progressed to measuring wind speed and exploring geological conditions at a few locations.

From a consulting perspective, Mr. Le Quang Huy from the Power Construction Consulting Joint Stock Company (EVNPCC1) also believes that more research is needed to "decode" the overall picture of the marine environment. This is to provide a complete layer of data and information for the entire process, from surveying to design, construction, and operation. Incomplete information can lead to conflicts, affecting the progress and costs for investors.

According to Mr. Huy, when conducting surveys, several issues need to be clarified, such as: the area of ​​sea surface licensed for investment and the distance between wind farms; the "collision" between shipping lanes and landing points for large cargo ships; the turbine layout problem (arranging the position of wind turbines to optimize production and investment costs); gaps in the design basis and the order of applying standards; the impact of field conditions; the lifespan of the structure and design responsibility; the legal, technical, and financial basis; grid stability; and operation and maintenance (O&M) costs…

According to Dr. Mai Duy Thien, Chairman of the Vietnam Clean Energy Association (VCEA), in the past five years, Vietnam has issued many policies aimed at developing green energy sources. Specifically, these include: Decision No. 165/QD-TTg dated February 7, 2024, approving the Hydrogen Energy Strategy; Decision No. 768/QD-TTg dated April 15, 2024, approving the Adjustment of the National Power Development Plan; Decision No. 363/QD-BCT dated February 28, 2026, of the Minister of Industry and Trade approving the Adjustment of the National Energy Master Plan… Based on these, functional units have researched and developed a report proposing policies to support the development of the green hydrogen sector; established a Technology and Energy implementation group to support the implementation of the Joint Declaration on the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), thereby seeking international cooperation in the hydrogen sector; Researching the transition of industrial fuels to green energy; developing technical regulations on safety and related technical requirements…

Although many policies aim to exploit green energy, there is a lack of concrete implementation framework. This is one of the "barriers" that keeps us lagging behind other countries in exploiting green energy sources to serve socio -economic development and move towards the Net Zero goal.

The "barriers" need to be removed soon.

Experience from many countries around the world that have been developing green energy strongly, such as China, Canada, France, Japan, and the United States, shows that they not only have open policy systems but also apply many solutions to support businesses investing in this market. In addition, participating businesses receive active support from scientific and technological resources, capital, and high-quality human resources.

Removing policy barriers is a key factor in unlocking the potential of offshore green energy. Dr. Du Van Toan argues that it is necessary to develop specific development roadmaps and policies for each type of energy; issue a comprehensive annual implementation plan according to the Power Development Plan VIII from now until 2050; amend and supplement some specific policies in the Law on Marine and Island Resources and Environment; and consider developing a separate law for green energy sectors, especially offshore wind power.

Besides policy and legal issues, the exploration and surveying of offshore wind farm construction sites must ensure technical requirements are met. Mr. Le Quang Huy noted six key areas that survey units need to consider: planning a shared marine spatial database; establishing a set of minimum survey requirements for each stage (Pre FS-FS-FEED/TKKT-T7I); a unified design basis with a consistent order of application of Vietnamese National Standards (QCVN-TCVN-IEC-DNV); a design basis/criteria that are regularly updated; finalization at each stage; and early locking of landing points, connection stations, and transmission infrastructure. Furthermore, early consultation with manufacturers is necessary, but the choice of turbine type should not be finalized until field data is complete.

The obstacles in the licensing process for offshore wind power potential surveys highlight the need for prompt solutions to improve policies and legal frameworks, enabling licensed entities to fully implement exploration, planning, and project development activities. Given the immense potential of Vietnam's maritime resources, the implementation of green energy projects is not only aligned with the orientation of marine economic development, ensuring energy security and contributing to emission reduction, but can also generate significant economic resources for the country.

According to Nhandan.vn