Renewable energy sector sees increasing interest from foreign investors

Filipino energy giant AboitizPower signed an agreement last Friday to acquire Mekong Wind Pte. Ltd., which operates a 39.4-megawatt (MW) onshore wind power facility in the central province of Ninh Thuan, for $46 million.

In June, Japanese renewable energy developer Pacifico Energy announced the completion of a 40 MWp solar power plant in Phan Thiet Town, central Binh Thuan Province with the financial backing of local investment fund Dragon Capital. 

The same month, Vietnamese investment fund Bamboo Capital inaugurated the VND1.09 trillion ($47 million) BCG-CME Long An 1 solar energy plant which received financial backing from Omani fund Vietnam-Oman Investment and the State General Reserve Fund.

According to a survey by international consultant Grant Thornton this May, renewable energy has emerged as one of the most preferred sectors for investments in the country, coming third behind fintech and education. The sector had ranked 10th in the same survey in 2018.

"100 percent foreign ownership is allowed in energy production. Wind and solar energy projects, in particular, are absolutely booming - more active than anything I have seen in my 28 years' working here," Nikkei Asian Review quoted Fred Burke, managing partner of Baker & McKenzie Vietnam, as saying.

The country has granted tax relief incentives for green energy projects and has published a national power development plan, which aims to create modern, sustainable and reliable energy services by 2030.

According to Grant Thornton, investment in the sector will be spurred by a shortage of electricity in the early 2020’s, specifically 3.7 million MW in 2021 and rising to a peak of 12 million MW in 2023, as forecast by Vietnam Electricity (EVN).

In anticipation of this shortage, the government in 2016 approved an adjusted National Power Master Plan for the 2011- 2020 period, with a vision for 2030, which aims to push renewable energy to around 7 percent of total energy production by 2020 and above 10 percent by 2030.

Renewables, along with diesel and small hydropower plants, accounted for around 6 percent of Vietnam’s total power output in 2017, according to national utility EVN.

Vietnam’s fast economy growth in recent years makes the country hungry for energy.

World Bank country director for Vietnam Ousmane Dione said at a recent forum that Vietnam would need to raise up to $150 billion by 2030 to develop its energy sector.

Dione added that electricity demand in the country is set to grow by about 8 percent a year for the next decade.