EfD Vietnam researcher Le Viet Phu has published Strategic power expansion and renewable integration in pathways to the Net-Zero in Vietnam, on the deployment of Energy Storage Systems (ESS) as a crucial instrument for Vietnam to meet its decarbonization goals and the Eighth National Power Development Plan (PDP8).
The PDP8 is a national plan that aims to increase wind and solar power production and reduce dependence on coal. It seeks to develop the power sector to meet a rising demand while shifting Vietnam away from coal, with a strong emphasis on renewable energy and new technologies such as battery storage, hydrogen, and ammonia. The plan supports international commitments to achieve Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050, the SGD 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).
The study analyzes how Vietnam should plan the expansion of its electricity system, focusing on renewable energy and how the electricity grid can handle the output without compromising system stability. The key problem with renewables is that their production varies since, for example, the sun and wind aren't always there.
Addressing renewable intermittency
Using advanced planning models, the study confirmed that there is significant potential to produce a large amount of clean energy beyond 2030. However, for this to happen, energy storage is indispensable.
Energy Storage Systems (ESS), such as large-scale batteries, are key to mitigating these fluctuations. The investigation demonstrated that ESS deployment can significantly stabilize production since it can store excess energy when there is plenty of sun or wind and release it when needed.
The study provides specific criteria for choosing where to install storage systems. That is areas where power outages occur due to a lack of supply, grid bottlenecks where there is excess electricity, and where renewable energy must be disconnected because the grid cannot absorb it.
Reliability and penalties
The impact of ESS is very effective in reducing renewable energy limitations, as it means less waste of clean energy. Therefore, the analysis applied to Vietnam's PDP8 shows that there is great potential for integrating renewable energy beyond 2030.
While storage is an effective solution to renewable energy waste, the study also warns of the need to ensure supply reliability. To avoid load loss (blackouts), the authors suggest that regulators implement appropriate penalty mechanisms for power companies. This would encourage companies to ensure a reliable supply and not just avoid wasting renewable energy.
The study offers insights for energy policymakers and system planners, helping them balance reliability, operational efficiency, and decarbonization in Vietnam's energy transition.
Ongoing research and policy impact
Le Viet Phu and colleagues are looking at multiple aspects of Vietnam's power system.
" Le Hong Lam and Do Truong Phuong Lam have studied large-scale capacity expansion models, and alternative models for isolated islands, such as The Feasibility of Developing Locally Distributed Energy Resources for Small Islands: A Case Study from Vietnam, soon to be published in Electrical Engineering,” he says.
"We also have plans to investigate the role of offshore wind power and its integration in the economy using a combination of least-cost optimization and CGE modeling. That study, titled Institutional drags on clean electricity transition in Vietnam, looks at the political economy of power sector development and is currently under review.
The results have, according to Le Viet Phu, been used for policy consultations with various stakeholders, including the government, NGOs, and business partners interested in energy investment in Vietnam.
By Belén Pulgar.