By April 2022, the total electricity production of the whole system reached 85.65 billion kWh, of which, coal-fired power generated 39.09 billion kWh, accounting for 45.6% of the total electricity production of the whole system.
Out of the total electricity production of the whole system, hydropower reached 22.22 billion kWh, accounting for 25.9%; Coal thermal power reached 39.09 billion kWh, accounting for 45.6%; Gas turbines reached 10.42 billion kWh, accounting for 12.2%; Renewable energy (wind power, solar power, biomass power) reached 13.15 billion kWh, accounting for 15.4% (solar power reached 9.31 billion kWh, wind power reached 3.61 billion kWh); imported electricity reached 536 million kWh, accounting for 0.6%.
At the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland, on November 4, 2021, about 40 countries, including Vietnam, along with many territories and organisations, pledged to gradually stop using coal-fired power plants. However, according to the plan called Power Master Plan 8 for the period 2021-2030, and beyond, by 2045, a plan is currently also being noticed, but has not been officially approved because of many difficulties, from now till 2031, which is nearly 15 years from now, Vietnam will build 27 more coal-fired power plants, with a total capacity of 31,000 MW. The number of such plants and total capacity is very high, while Vietnam is currently ranked 11th in the world in terms of coal power capacity. Power planning VIII also states that by 2045, coal-fired power will account for 15.4-194% of the total, particularly, renewable energy other than hydroelectricity will account for 40.1-41.7%. Therefore, the statement of the Vietnamese Prime Minister at COP26 seems difficult to come true, because Vietnam is still one of the "powerhouses" in coal-fired power.
A representative of the Vietnam Clean Energy Association also assessed: "Our country's electricity demand is very high, while clean energy and renewable energy will not be able to meet in the near future. Therefore, the abandonment of coal power must be avoided. There is a roadmap, it cannot be dropped immediately because it will cause electricity shortage. Development of clean energy must also have a suitable roadmap, cannot be introduced massively. coal power and replace it with renewable energy".
Especially, the latest report of the non-profit organisation researching the impact of climate change on the financial market Carbon Tracker said that 99% of new coal power plants in Vietnam will not bring economic benefits and cause a financial waste of about $25 billion.
Source: the Internet