A real economic opportunity for Vietnam's wind power

With electricity demand surging and energy security rising up the policy agenda, wind power is becoming an increasingly strategic component of Asia’s economic future. Ben Backwell, CEO of the Global Wind Energy Council, spoke with VIR’s Huong Thu about the forces driving wind energy growth across Asia-Pacific.

- Huong Thu

What are the most important factors that will shape the next phase of wind power development in Asia-Pacific?

The recent oil and gas crisis has highlighted how vulnerable many Asian economies remain to imported fossil fuels. As electricity demand continues to rise, countries are increasingly looking to domestic renewable energy sources to strengthen energy security and reduce exposure to global fuel price volatility.

At the same time, Asia is electrifying at an unprecedented pace, driven by industrial growth, digitalisation, electric vehicles and data centres. Wind power is uniquely positioned to support that demand with large-scale, reliable and domestically sourced electricity.

Finally, policy certainty and infrastructure development will be critical. Markets that can provide clear regulatory frameworks, invest in grids and build strong supply chains will be best placed to attract investment and accelerate wind deployment across the region.

Energy security has become a top priority for many governments. How is this changing the role of wind energy in Asia, and why are more countries viewing wind power as a strategic investment?