Quang Ninh exploits offshore wind power potential

Quang Ninh has 250 kilometers of coastlines, with the best power connection and transmission infrastructure system in the country, which is the basis for developing wind power. In fact, this resource has been surveyed by the Institute of Energy (under the Ministry of Industry and Trade), of which capacity comes at about 13,000MW along the coast and about 2,300MW onshore, mostly feasible in Co To District and Mong Cai City.

Quang Ninh Province’s Department of Industry and Trade surveys and evaluates renewable energy potential in Vinh Thuc Commune, Mong Cai City - photo: Mong Cai City’s Division of Culture and Information

At the Technology and Energy Forum 2023 held in Quang Ninh Province from September 29 - 30, experts highly appreciated the wind power potential of the province.

Alessandro Antonioli – country head for offshore wind at BP Group (UK) – assessed that Quang Ninh has many natural conditions to build wind power plants and also has the ability to attract investment and develop clean energy sources. “In the coming time, we will work with the provincial authority to develop wind power plans suitable with the local economic development in each stage.”

Earlier, the province also worked with BP Group and Vietnamese private group SOVICO to explore investment opportunities in Quang Ninh in the field of offshore wind power. The two groups proposed a 3GW offshore wind project in the province. Under that, three phases will be used to build the farm: the first will take place in the 2027-2030 period and have a 500MW capacity; the second and third phases will follow in the 2030-2035 period and have a combined 2,500MW capacity.

Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) Group - a reputable group in clean energy and renewable energy development from Denmark also came to explore a number of potential windy locations and considered offshore wind power investments in Quang Ninh.

According to the leaders of Quang Ninh Province’s Department of Industry and Trade, to develop green energy sources, in March 2022, the Quang Ninh People’s Committee issued a document on studying the potential of offshore and land-based wind power in the province. Quang Ninh has also proposed to the Ministry of Industry and Trade to add more MW of electricity to the draft Power Plan VIII. In particular, it proposed to additionally develop 5,000MW of wind power in the 2021-2040 period, of which 3,000MW is offshore wind power and 2,000MW is onshore wind power, and 2,500MW (500MW offshore and 2,000MW onshore) in the 2021-2030 period. Thereby, Quang Ninh is gradually realizing the goal of green growth, transforming the development mode from “brown” to “green,” ensuring energy security and sustainable development according to Resolution No.30 -NQ/TW dated November 23, 2022) of the Politburo on socio-economic development and ensuring national defense and security in the Red River Delta until 2030, with a vision to 2045.