Offshore wind supply chain for fast track scenario in Viet Nam

A handover ceremony of a report “Offshore wind supply chain for fast track scenario in Viet Nam” was held in Ha Noi on October 4.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hoang Long (C) addresses the event

The ceremony was chaired by the Norwegian Ambassador to Viet Nam Hilde Solbakken in the presence of Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hoang Long.

The Viet Nam offshore wind market is considered promising, with world class high wind speed and favorable seabed conditions. The existing supply chain used by the domestic oil and gas industry, in conjunction with the current onshore and nearshore wind infrastructure, has the potential to support in-country offshore wind developments.

Recent orders for offshore wind components from international markets signifies a promising commencement for Viet Nam to establish itself as an Asia-Pacific hub in offshore wind.

According to the report, Viet Nam has significant potential to localize key components of offshore wind projects, including foundation fabrication, nacelle assembly, and tower supply. However, certain areas, such as subsea cables and offshore wind turbine vessel supply, require further development.

The offshore wind sector could create up to 9,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs in a 1 GW scenario and as many as 55,000 jobs in a 6 GW scenario.

The report emphasizes the potential for local job creation, particularly in the South, leveraging the well-established oil and gas industry’s experience and natural conditions favorable for offshore wind.

To meet Viet Nam’s offshore wind goals, the report suggests improvements of the regulatory and policy frameworks for offshore wind, strategic investments in port infrastructure, supplier upgrades, establishing a clear project pipeline, engaging with universities for skill development, and fostering international partnerships.

It further recommends establishing two inter-regional renewable energy centers in the North and South by 2030, which will serve as hubs for manufacturing, research, and green industrial zones.

Norwegian Ambassador to Viet Nam Hilde Solbakken (C) at the event – Photo: VGP

Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Hilde Solbakken said, Norway is proud of the cooperation with Viet Nam and Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) in the renewable energy sector, both as a bilateral partner and a JETP member.

“We hope this report will be useful to Viet Nam and MoIT in designing a roadmap for developing the country’s offshore wind industry and its local supply chain. I believe this would also open new cooperation opportunities for Norwegian and Vietnamese companies”, she continued.

With high appreciation of the report, Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Long said, this is an importance source of information for the Government and the Ministry of Industry and Trade in planning activities for the offshore wind industry.

He also stressed the potential of Viet Nam in the development of the local supply chain for this industry leveraging the experience from a well-established oil and gas industry, which helps to save time and cost.

This is the second offshore wind supply chain report that the Norwegian Embassy has commissioned in Viet Nam.

The first one provided an overview of the entire supply chain for Viet Nam’s offshore wind industry and was handed over to Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien in 2021 when the two countries celebrated the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.