Mr. Bui Vinh Thang, Country Director in Vietnam of the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC). (Photo: LE CHI)
Reporter: Sir, offshore wind power is considered to have the potential to create a significant value chain beyond electricity production. In your opinion, what are the key policies for Vietnam to develop its domestic supply chain and supporting industries?
Mr. Bui Vinh Thang: In the context of Vietnam aiming for double-digit GDP growth, electricity must be one step ahead. Offshore wind power, with numerous studies, reports, and especially mentioned in resolutions of the Politburo , has been identified as an important energy source in the coming time. However, offshore wind power not only generates electricity but also opens up opportunities for the development of a strategic industry and service sector, thereby helping Vietnam participate more deeply in the global value chain. Each offshore wind power project brings with it a large demand for equipment manufacturing, mechanical engineering, seaports, logistics, installation, operation, and technical services.
Vietnam has many favorable conditions to participate in this value chain, first and foremost its market size. Vietnam is aiming to develop approximately 17GW of offshore wind power by 2035 according to the revised Power Development Plan VIII . Such a large market capacity creates ample room for investors to develop equipment manufacturing, research, and technology development.
However, more important than market size is its stability and long-term viability. Investors need to see a clear development roadmap, with sufficient and stable demand and orders year after year. This is what gives them confidence to invest in domestic manufacturing, research and development (R&D), and supply chains.
Furthermore, policies are needed to encourage the development of domestic industries, services, and supply chains. Investing in these sectors requires significant capital, so domestic businesses need support in terms of land, taxes, and market facilitation mechanisms. Many investors believe that what they need is not necessarily direct financial support, but first and foremost a favorable, stable policy system that encourages them to make long-term investment decisions.
The offshore wind farm construction site belongs to the Vietnam Petroleum Technical Services Corporation ( PTSC ). (Photo: Provided by PVN)
These are key factors in promoting the offshore wind power industry and services in Vietnam. In fact, a domestic supply chain has begun to take shape. The Vietnam Petroleum Technical Services Corporation (PTSC) is playing a pioneering role, driving the development of many supporting businesses and services. The current challenge is how to make this chain stronger, more comprehensive, and capable of participating more deeply in all stages of the industry. In this process, the role of the State in guiding, formulating policies, and creating a market is crucial.
Reporter: Sir, seaports are considered one of the crucial links in a renewable energy hub, especially for offshore wind power. To develop offshore wind power industrial and service centers, how should power generation planning be integrated with seaports and logistics infrastructure?
Mr. Bui Vinh Thang: International experience shows the need to form offshore wind power industrial and service centers linked to seaports. Locating ports near wind farm development areas will facilitate transportation and installation, while also optimizing costs.
Offshore wind power ports need to have sufficient depth for large vessels to enter and exit, adequate land area, and be planned with a long-term vision of 20-30 years or more. Therefore, planning for offshore wind power development areas needs to be considered in conjunction with the planning of seaports, industrial centers, and logistics centers.
When these plans are integrated, Vietnam will be in a position to form a more efficient offshore wind power industrial and service ecosystem , shortening deployment time, optimizing costs for investors, and creating more value for the economy .
Reporter: The development of renewable energy at sea is simultaneously raising questions about how to utilize marine space. From an expert's perspective, how can we harmonize offshore wind power with maritime activities, fisheries, tourism , ecosystem conservation, and national defense and security requirements?
Mr. Bui Vinh Thang: International experience shows that offshore wind power and marine economic activities can coexist if properly planned. For example, in some countries, areas around the turbine foundations after construction can become shelters for marine life. Some countries such as China , the UK, and Denmark are also researching and developing models combining offshore wind power with aquaculture, including fish farming in suitable areas around wind farms.
For maritime activities, experience from the North Sea region shows that many countries such as Germany, Denmark, Norway , and the United Kingdom utilize marine space for various purposes while maintaining thriving maritime operations. The key is to have well-planned marine space, clearly defining areas for wind power, maritime activities, tourism, and other functions.
In particular, national defense and security must be considered key factors in all activities at sea. Therefore, the role of the Ministry of Defense in the process of marine spatial planning and offshore wind power development is very important.
To solve this problem, synchronized coordination among ministries, sectors, localities, businesses, and relevant agencies is needed, along with a unified plan and long-term orientation. With good coordination, Vietnam can fully develop offshore wind power while ensuring requirements for the marine economy, environment, and national defense and security.
Reporter: Resolution 20-NQ/TW of the 3rd Plenum of the 14th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, dated July 28, 2026, concerns the building and development of Vietnam into a strong maritime nation. According to you, what needs to be done to transform this goal not only into power generation projects, but also into a driving force for the formation of an offshore wind power industry and contribute to the goal of building Vietnam into a strong maritime nation?
Mr. Bui Vinh Thang: I believe that Resolution 20-NQ/TW has opened up a very important direction by placing offshore wind power within the overall strategy of building Vietnam into a strong maritime nation. The target of 6-10GW by 2030 is not only a target for power generation capacity, but also has the potential to create a sufficiently large market to develop new industries and services at sea.
To turn that vision into reality, it is first necessary to quickly concretize the Resolution with a clear, stable, and long-term-looking system of mechanisms and policies. Investors need to know how the market will develop, what the project's implementation roadmap will be, and how the conditions regarding surveying, investment, connection, and infrastructure will be addressed.
Offshore wind power development needs to be integrated with other economic sectors. (Photo: CIP)
Secondly, offshore wind power needs to be viewed as an industry, not just a power source. Therefore, electricity/energy policy, industrial policy, and science and technology development policy must work together as a comprehensive policy framework. Along with developing projects, Vietnam needs to create conditions for domestic enterprises to participate more deeply in the supply chain, from mechanical engineering, steel structures, power cables, service vessels, seaports, logistics to operation, maintenance, and technical services. At the same time, large projects should be linked to the requirements of technology transfer, human resource training, and enhancing domestic research, design, and manufacturing capabilities. This is also consistent with the spirit of Resolution 20 on developing new marine industries and strengthening technological capabilities.
Thirdly, it is necessary to prepare the infrastructure for the development of the industry, especially seaports, logistics, and power transmission systems. If there are only projects without accompanying infrastructure, it will be very difficult to optimize costs and timelines. Therefore, offshore wind power needs to be considered in relation to marine spatial planning and overall marine economic development planning.
I believe this is an opportunity for Vietnam not only to exploit offshore wind resources but also to build its own industrial and scientific and technological capabilities.
If institutional, market, infrastructure, technology, and human resources factors are synchronized, offshore wind power will not only contribute additional clean electricity to the economy but can also become one of the driving forces in forming a new marine industrial ecosystem in Vietnam, thereby making a practical contribution to the goal of building a strong maritime nation.
Reporter: Thank you very much, sir!
LE CHI
Nhandan.vn
Source: https://nhandan.vn/viet-nam-co-nhieu-co-hoi-phat-trien-chuoi-gia-tri-trong-linh-vuc-dien-gio-ngoai-khoi-post992779.html
