Technical Workshop: Supporting Vietnam’s Energy Transition Journey

The Technical Workshop titled “Supporting Vietnam’s Energy Transition Journey” took place on May 28, 2025, at the Melia Hanoi Hotel, gathering nearly 100 delegates from state management agencies, international organizations, enterprises, academic institutions, and energy experts from both Vietnam and abroad. This event marked a significant milestone in the ongoing cooperation between Vietnam and Norway in the energy sector, with the notable presence of Ms. Hilde Solbakken, Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam, and Mr. Trần Hoài Trang, Deputy Director General of the Electricity and Renewable Energy Authority under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, along with senior speakers from DNV Energy Systems and experts from South Korea, Singapore, China, and Australia.

The workshop was conducted throughout the day with multiple in-depth sessions focused on key areas in Vietnam’s energy transition process. It began with a comprehensive update on the implementation of Power Development Plan VIII (PDP8), highlighting Vietnam’s current energy policies and regional role. Subsequent sessions covered offshore wind power—a priority sector for Norway, where rich experience and technological advancement were shared; hydrogen—with discussions centering on its strategic value and the Power-to-X (PtX) model for green fuel production; carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS)—presented as a complementary solution to decarbonization; and battery energy storage systems (BESS)—an increasingly vital topic as Vietnam moves to integrate more renewable sources into the national grid.

Notably, during the Q&A session, Dr. Nguyễn Phương Nam, CEO of KLINOVA and an in-person attendee of the workshop, raised an important issue regarding insurance mechanisms and the financial risks faced by investors engaging in green energy in Vietnam. Dr. Nam questioned whether the country’s legal framework and market conditions are sufficiently transparent, stable, and equipped with appropriate risk mitigation tools to protect the legitimate interests of investors, especially given the volatility of emerging energy sectors. The remarks highlighted the practical challenges in implementing energy transition and attracting investment, while also offering constructive input on areas where Vietnam needs to improve its policy and investment environment.

Dr. Nguyen Phuong Nam, CEO of KLINOVA, was sharing and giving out remarkable questions in the event

The workshop served as a strong testament to the close collaboration between Vietnam and Norway in promoting a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable energy future. The discussions not only featured state-of-the-art technical insights but also laid the groundwork for continued policy dialogue and cross-sectoral cooperation. The event underscored both countries’ firm commitments to sustainable development and carbon neutrality goals, while helping Vietnam enhance its internal capacity to access advanced technologies and innovative financial models in the evolving global energy landscape.