Scaling up Biomass Waste-to-energy in Viet Nam

Viet Nam’s GHG inventory (2010) reveals a 602% increase since 1990, with emissions per unit of GDP surpassing all other Asia-Pacific developing countries except China. This is fueled by domestic coal consumption which has increased by 21% between 2013 and 2014 alone. Coal currently accounts for 36% of total electricity supply and is projected to increase to 56% by 2030. Over 98% of the population is connected to the grid and demand will increase by a further 10% a year until 2030 with renewable energy accounting for only 6% of total national energy production. The Government of Viet Nam’s (GoV) Green Growth Action Plan (GGAP) developed with the support of GGGI seeks to develop new non-renewable energy sources with a focus on biomass energy development. The GoV has adopted a Renewable Energy Development Strategy and Revised National Power Development Master Plan 7 which respectively set biomass energy targets at around 6% and 2% of the national energy mix by 2030.