On the afternoon of June 29 in Hanoi, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), in collaboration with the Vietnam Association of Science and Technology for Economical and Efficient Use of Energy (VECEA), officially launched the 2026 Energy Efficiency Awards.  

Affirming the strategic importance of economical and efficient energy use

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Nguyen Thi Lam Giang, Agency for Innovation, Green Transition and Industry Promotion under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said that recognizing the important role of economical and efficient energy use, the Vietnamese Government has, over the years, issued a wide range of relevant policies while launching practical initiatives to promote energy conservation and efficiency across society.

Notable among these are Resolution No. 70-NQ/TW dated August 20, 2025, on ensuring national energy security through 2030 with a vision to 2045; Decision No. 280/QD-TTg dated March 13, 2019, approving the National Program on Economical and Efficient Use of Energy for the 2019 - 2030 period; Directive No. 09/CT-TTg dated March 19, 2026, issued by the Prime Minister on strengthening energy conservation, promoting the energy transition and the development of electric transportation; and Directive No. 10/CT-TTg dated March 30, 2026, on enhancing electricity conservation and promoting rooftop solar power development.

"These programs, directives and resolutions reflect the strategic vision and consistent policies of the Party, the State and the Government regarding the strategic importance of economical and efficient energy use in ensuring the country's sustainable economic development, both now and in the years ahead," Nguyen Thi Lam Giang said.

According to the representative of the Agency for Innovation, Green Transition and Industry Promotion, the Ministry of Industry and Trade also places special emphasis on improving energy efficiency in the commercial sector through energy-consuming products and equipment. The national energy labeling program serves as a state management tool to encourage the use of high-efficiency products, gradually phase out outdated technologies, and foster a culture of sustainable consumption within the community.

The program has made a significant contribution toward achieving the target of reducing national energy consumption by 8 - 10% during the 2019 - 2030 period under the National Program on Economical and Efficient Use of Energy.

According to the latest national energy statistics, the industrial sector accounts for more than 50% of Vietnam's total energy consumption. Surveys and practical assessments indicate that Vietnamese industries have the potential to reduce energy consumption by between 20% and 30%. Meanwhile, with annual growth in newly commissioned building floor space exceeding 40%, the energy-saving potential in Vietnam's building sector is estimated at 30 - 35%. These figures demonstrate the enormous untapped potential for improving energy efficiency across different sectors.

Contributing to the national target of saving 8 - 10% of energy

Nguyen Thi Lam Giang said that, in implementing Decision No. 280 of the Prime Minister, and within the framework of the National Program on Economical and Efficient Use of Energy for the 2019 - 2030 period, Agency for Innovation, Green Transition and Industry Promotion, in cooperation with the Vietnam Association of Science and Technology for Economical and Efficient Use of Energy, is organizing the 2026 Energy Efficiency Awards.

According to Nguyen Dinh Hiep, Chairman of VECEA, the awards comprise the Energy Efficiency Awards for Industry, the Energy Efficiency Awards for Buildings, the Highest Energy Performance Product Awards, and the Innovative Energy Efficiency Technology Solution Awards.

According to Nguyen Thi Lam Giang, the awards are organized annually to recognize and honor industrial enterprises and outstanding building projects that have successfully implemented economical and efficient energy-use solutions. They also aim to encourage enterprises to adopt advanced management practices and technologies in order to bring to market products with superior technical performance, higher energy efficiency and lower energy consumption.

The awards are expected to contribute to the national target of achieving energy savings of 8 - 10% during the 2019 - 2030 period under the National Program on Economical and Efficient Use of Energy, while strongly promoting science and technology, innovation and digital transformation within enterprises.

At the same time, they are intended to encourage and recognize businesses that continuously innovate and develop new technologies to provide the market with smarter and more energy-efficient products and solutions, thereby contributing to the successful implementation of Politburo Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024, on breakthroughs in science and technology, innovation and national digital transformation.

Information released at the launch ceremony showed that the Energy Efficiency Awards for Industry were first organized in 2017 by the Ministry of Industry and Trade in collaboration with the Vietnam Association of Science and Technology for Economical and Efficient Use of Energy. To date, the awards have attracted the participation of more than 240 enterprises, generating 1,620 energy-saving initiatives. A total of 126 individuals have also been honored by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Vietnam Association of Science and Technology for Economical and Efficient Use of Energy.

Meanwhile, after five years of implementation, the Energy Efficiency Awards for Buildings have attracted 155 participating organizations and received more than 1,200 energy-saving solutions. A total of 89 projects in the categories of newly constructed and renovated buildings that met the award criteria have been recognized and granted certification.

Over six editions, the Highest Energy Performance Product Awards have recognized more than 600 products and granted them the Highest Energy Performance label, while 19 brands have been honored by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The recognized products include air conditioners, washing machines, refrigerators, freezers, water heaters, LED lighting products, electric motors, transformers, electric fans and televisions. 

Products certified as achieving the Highest Energy Performance are entitled to carry the Ministry of Industry and Trade's certification label, together with an accompanying QR code, when circulated on the market. Information on the energy consumption levels of certified products is available at: https://tietkiemnangluong.com.vn/top-runner.

The Innovative Energy Efficiency Technology Solution Awards were introduced for the first time in 2025, with seven technology solutions honored in areas including lighting, cooling, ventilation, intelligent heat utilization, energy conservation, and software solutions for energy analysis, integration and optimization of energy management processes.

The Awards Judging Panel comprises leading experts from research institutes, universities and industry associations with extensive experience in the energy sector. All submissions will be evaluated through an objective, independent and transparent process against a comprehensive set of technical criteria and performance indicators covering the technologies, solutions, equipment and products nominated for the awards.

The application period will run from June 29 to October 31, 2026. Upon the close of submissions, the Awards Technical Council will conduct a thorough assessment of all entries and select the enterprises, building projects and products that best satisfy the award criteria.

The Organizing Committee will accept both hard-copy and electronic applications and will provide comprehensive support to participating enterprises throughout the submission process. The award winners are expected to be announced and honored at a ceremony scheduled for December 2026.