Vietnam's 4th wind power plant starts generation

The country plans to have 800 megawatts of wind power by 2020, but pricing remains an issue.

A wind power plant in the central province of Binh Thuan started its commercial run on November 25, after more than a year of construction.

Binh Thuan Wind Power Company said the Phu Lac plant has 12 turbines with a combined output of 24 megawatts, local media reported.

The project costs more than VND1 trillion (US$48 million), including a $37 million grant from German government development bank KfW.

Vietnam is operating three other wind power plants including two in Binh Thuan and another in the Mekong Delta’s Bac Lieu Province.

The country now depends on thermal and hydropower for almost all of its electricity demand, while wind power has only contributed 0.3%, according to a report this week from state-owned utility Electricity of Vietnam. 

Thermal power plants make up more than half of the total generation, and among them, coal-fired plants account for 34%.

The country has been taking steps to develop cleaner and more sustainable energy sources. It plans to have 800 MW of wind power by 2020, compared to 140 MW as of March this year, according to a post on the government's website.

Investors have committed to more than 45 wind power projects to generate more than 4,800 MW in total, but most of them are still on paper. Binh Thuan alone has 16.

Various media reports suggest that investors in general are reluctant to develop wind power projects because prices in Vietnam are not high enough to cover the costs.

In Vietnam, state-owned Electricity of Vietnam, which controls the national grid, reportedly pays US$7.8 cents or VND1,731 per kilowatt-hour for wind power, much lower than the rates in China, Japan and the Philippines.

Binh Thuan Province's Wind Power Association has requested the government to raise prices to 12 cents in 2017.

Vnexpress

Other News

Vietnam moves to adapt to rapid population ageing, expand silver economy

Vietnam moves to adapt to rapid population ageing, expand silver economy

The International Day of Older Persons 2026, themed “The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives,” highlights the need to develop healthcare, social security, labour-market and social-service systems in response to increasing life expectancy. For Vietnam, rapid population ageing is not only a demographic issue but also a development challenge.

Vietnamese, Lao localities bolster Front cooperation

Vietnamese, Lao localities bolster Front cooperation

Both sides agreed to keep educating officials, Party members, youth union groups and the broader public, especially young people in both provinces, on the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion between Vietnam and Laos.

Urgent rescue launched for Merchant Mariner off Quang Ngai

Urgent rescue launched for Merchant Mariner off Quang Ngai

The captain discovered water entering ballast tanks No. 4, 5 and 6 on the port side, causing the vessel to list slightly. Initial assessments indicated that the vessel may have struck an underwater rock formation while underway.

Publishing copyright caught in crossfire of piracy, AI

Publishing copyright caught in crossfire of piracy, AI

Publishing copyright is entering an entirely new phase. As AI becomes increasingly capable of generating text, summarising books, mimicking writing styles and producing content at enormous speed, ensuring copyright protection is becoming more difficult.

Heavy rains cause widespread damage in Phu Tho, Thanh Hoa

Heavy rains cause widespread damage in Phu Tho, Thanh Hoa

Prolonged heavy rains from September 13–17 have caused flooding and landslides, damaging homes, crops, roads and infrastructure in Phu Tho and Thanh Hoa provinces, with local authorities mobilising forces for emergency response.

Quang Ninh police bust 38.4 million USD transnational cybercrime ring

Quang Ninh police bust 38.4 million USD transnational cybercrime ring

Quang Ninh city's Public Security Department warned individuals, agencies and businesses not to publicly disclose or provide personal information or bank account details on social media, and urged organisations and businesses to strictly comply with regulations on protecting customers’ personal data.

Search area expanded to recover more martyrs' remains in Quang Tri

Search area expanded to recover more martyrs' remains in Quang Tri

The continued recovery of martyrs’ remains provides valuable information and further evidence of those who fought and sacrificed their lives for national independence and freedom. It also encourages search teams to persist in locating fallen soldiers still lying on former battlefields, contributing to the effective implementation of the 500-day campaign and reflecting Vietnam’s long-standing tradition of gratitude.

Vietnam to screen students nationwide for five health risks from 2028

Vietnam to screen students nationwide for five health risks from 2028

Vietnam will launch nationwide screening for five groups of school-related diseases and health conditions among students from preschool through high school from 2028, including overweight and obesity, refractive errors, spinal curvature, oral diseases and mental health disorders.