Introduction
Vietnam has great potential for developing wind energy projects,
having a coastline of over 3,400 kilometers (km) with average wind
speeds ranging from 4.5 meters per second (m/s) onshore to 10 m/s
in certain offshore areas, as well as a high degree of solar
irradiation which in some areas can exceed 4 kilowatt hours (kWh)
per square meter (m²) per day on average. The technical
potential for the development of wind and solar power in Vietnam
has been estimated to be over 600 gigawatts (GW in)
aggregate.1
Given environmental concerns over the continuing development of
coal-fired and large-scale hydropower plants (and constraints in
available financing sources) , the relatively slow development of
the natural gas industry and the government's decision to
suspend nuclear power development, solar and wind power is
generally viewed as a viable alternative to meet Vietnam's
future electricity generation needs. The sector has also been
attracting direct
