Wind sector ready to carry energy load

With electricity demand surging in Asia and governments seeking to reduce dependence on imported fuels, wind power is increasingly being viewed as a solid solution, in Vietnam and beyond.

- Thy Nguyet

Fresh data from the National System and Market Operator shows that during peak demand periods in late May, wind power supplied around 2.7-3 per cent of total electricity generation, despite the period being one of the weakest wind seasons of the year. The figures are particularly notable given the mounting pressure on Vietnam’s power system.

In this context, many industry observers believe domestically available renewable resources such as wind and solar power, combined with energy storage technologies, will play an increasingly important role in strengthening the country’s long-term energy security.

The country’s growing prominence is reflected in the decision by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) to bring the Asia-Pacific Wind Energy Summit to Hanoi, after previous editions were held in South Korea and Australia.

Scheduled for June 9-11, the summit is expected to gather more than 70 speakers and hundreds of investors, developers, manufacturers and policymakers from across the region.

According to Bui Vinh Thang, GWEC country manager for Vietnam, the choice reflects the organisation’s confidence in the country’s long-term prospects. “Vietnam is a developing market with significant potential in the Asia-Pacific region, and we do not want investors to miss the opportunities emerging here,” he said.