Vietnam needs to promptly adopt appropriate policies and mechanisms to build infrastructure and value chains related to hydrogen, creating favorable conditions to attract investment in clean hydrogen production projects, experts recommended at the National Green Hydrogen Summit: Energy Transition and Development of Green Hydrogen Industry in Vietnam on October 28 at the National Innovation Center (NIC) Hoa Lac facility.

Speaking at the summit, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung affirmed the development of green hydrogen is essential in Vietnam's energy transition process.

"This is a promising solution that can enhance the value of renewable energy for developing countries, including Vietnam, applied to various industries and in daily social life," he added.

Delegates attend the summit. Photos: Le Tien

At the event, experts and businesses evaluated the potential and requirements for the Vietnamese market. They proposed solutions and policies to gradually realize the national energy planning for the 2021-2030 period and the green hydrogen energy planning.

The speakers emphasized that Vietnam must also focus on research and development activities in this field and establish standards and technical regulations related to hydrogen.

Within the framework of the 2023 Vietnam International Innovation Exhibition (VIIE 2023) combined with the inauguration of the NIC Hoa Lac facility, the event brought together leaders, investors, and businesses in the energy and hydrogen sectors to discuss opportunities and challenges and assess the current development of green hydrogen in Vietnam.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan stated that the development of hydrogen energy in Vietnam has been included in Resolution No. 55 on the orientation of Vietnam’s National Energy Development Strategy until 2030, vision to 2045.

"Vietnam will conduct technology research, build pilot production projects, and encourage the use of hydrogen energy in line with the global trend," Tan said.

He cited the Prime Minister's commitment that Vietnam, along with other countries worldwide, aims for a carbon-neutral economy by 2050 at the recent COP26 conference.

Accordingly, in Decision No. 896 approving the National Strategy for Climate Change until 2050, hydrogen production and utilization are seen as solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the energy sector, with a step-by-step approach to replace coal with hydrogen in the metallurgical industry, as well as in the service and commercial sectors, he said.

By 2035, hydrogen will replace coke in "green" steelmaking. The proportion of electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles will gradually increase. The development of clean energy industries, production, and circulation of electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles will be promoted, he added.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan speaks at the event.

According to the deputy minister, the recent orientation for hydrogen development has been emphasized in the National Energy Master Plan for the 2021-2030 period, vision to 2050, and the National Power Development Plan for the 2021-2030 period, vision to 2050. Based on this basis, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is urgently developing a Hydrogen Energy Production Strategy until 2030, and a vision until 2050 that will be submitted for the Prime Minister's approval in the near future.

The hydrogen energy strategy will align with the Party's guidelines and the Government's directions to form and develop a hydrogen energy ecosystem with synchronized and modern infrastructure based on renewable energy, contributing to ensuring energy security, achieving climate change goals, green growth, and the "net zero emissions" target by 2050 in line with Vietnam's commitments to energy transition, fairness, and sustainability, he said.

At the summit, a cooperation agreement signing ceremony took place in the presence of leaders from the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Asian Foundation, GIZ, Masan High-Tech Materials, BCG Energy, Vietnam Oil and Gas Institute, Capital Nature, Plug Power, and the Vietnam National University – Hanoi.

This move provides a platform for cooperation, research, and implementation of energy and green business models, as well as research and development in clean energy and climate change. Therefore, it will promote collaboration and innovation in the energy and business sectors, contributing to realizing sustainable development goals and minimizing the impact of climate change.