From March 18 to 22, 2024, a study tour to Germany was organized for key stakeholders from Vietnam as part of the Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue 2024 (BETD). The trip provided an opportunity for the Vietnamese delegation to connect with policymakers, industry representatives, academics, and NGOs from Germany and around the world, fostering the exchange of experiences and ideas for a socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable energy transition.

The Vietnamese delegation at BETD (@GIZ Viet Nam)

The Vietnamese delegation actively participated in discussions during BETD, focusing on various key areas:

• Global Exchange: BETD facilitated discussions on energy policies, technological innovations, financing, and social aspects crucial for a sustainable energy transition. Efforts to overcome regulatory barriers, diversify supply chains, and promote sustainable business models were highlighted, aiming for a seamless shift to clean energy across sectors.
• Gender Equality: Enhancing conditions and opportunities for achieving gender equality in the energy sector was emphasized. Access to education, increased recruitment, and supportive networks were identified as essential for encouraging greater participation of women in the sector and fostering their leadership.
• Women Networking: The Vietnamese Energy Women Network had the opportunity to connect with international female leaders in the field, fostering exchanges and learning experiences to promote women’s participation and leadership.
• Carbon Sourcing for Power-to-X: Establishing a regulatory framework for sustainable hydrogen and carbon production, considering country-specific factors, was underscored. The delegation explored initiatives such as Siemens Energy’s green hydrogen electrolysis stacks production and discussed the need for regulations like GH2 blending quotas to develop a green hydrogen market at scale.

The Vietnamese delegation engaged in discussions during BETD (@GIZ Viet Nam)

During the tour, visits to facilities such as Siemens Energy’s electrolyzer factory and ENERTRAG’s Uckermark hybrid power plant provided insights into sustainable replacements for traditional power plants and green hydrogen production from wind energy.

Vietnamese female delegations connected with international counterparts (@GIZ Viet Nam)

Accompanying discussions highlighted the importance of incentivizing photovoltaic (PV) and battery expansion, emphasizing the role of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in enhancing grid flexibility and renewable energy integration, drawing lessons from Germany.

Site visit to Siemens Energy electrolyser factory (@GIZ Viet Nam)

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Trung, Deputy Director of the Industry Department at CEC, valued the trip for fostering cooperation and looked forward to further collaboration between Vietnamese and German companies.

The study tour was organized by the German Energy Support Programme and involved representatives from the Central Economic Committee (CEC), State Agency for Technology and Innovation of the Ministry of Science and Technology, the national electricity utility EVN, and the Vietnam Energy Women Network.

The working group listened to presentation from representatives of Siemens Energy factory (@GIZ Viet Nam)