6 hours Ago
HANOI: A study by Hanoi University of Science and Technology, in collaboration with the Agriculture and Environment Ministry, has found that the greenhouse gas emissions of Vietnam’s national power grid last year reached 0.681 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) for every megawatt-hour of electricity produced, a 3.2% increase from 2023.
Researchers attributed the rise to a 17.7% surge in coal-fired electricity output, which made up 49.5% of the national mix.
The increase signals a shift back toward more carbon-intensive energy, with experts warning that Vietnam’s grid remains “brown” by global standards. The term refers to energy systems that rely heavily on fossil fuels, especially coal, resulting in high levels of emissions. By comparison, grids with a low carbon intensity, typically powered by renewables or low-emissions sources, are considered “green”.
“The proportion of coal in the energy mix remains stubbornly high, and reducing it is proving extremely difficult,” said research team representative Pham Ngoc Anh. Data from the past decade shows emissions peaked between 2015 and 2018, when coal-fired plants expanded rapidly. Since 2019, the growth of renewables has brought gradual improvements, though Vietnam’s overall emission factor is still considered high.
The study also noted that even renewable sources have a carbon footprint when assessed over their full life cycle. For example, solar power can emit as little as 13 tonnes of CO2e per gigawatt-hour (GWh), but in some cases, depending on manufacturing and disposal processes, emissions may reach 731 tonnes of CO2e/GWh, on par with oil-fired power. The research group proposed that the national grid’s emissions factor be released in the first quarter of each subsequent year.
This would allow entities and businesses to access the most recent data for emissions accounting, enhancing the accuracy of reporting. The figure not only reflects how clean the national grid is, but also serves as a basis for national emissions inventories. They also urged authorities to set clear key performance indicators for each power plant and provide training so operators can independently calculate and report their carbon intensity.
The researchers expressed hope that under Power Development Plan VIII, Vietnam will reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and move toward a greener grid, aligning with the nation’s net zero target for 2050. — Viet Nam News/ANN.
