Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST) is partnering to drive the development of offshore wind power in Vietnam

The signing ceremony for the cooperation agreement took place on December 1, under the auspices of the National Innovation Center of Vietnam and the Ministry of Planning and Investment. The agreement was signed between the School of Electrical – Electronics (HUST), the Technical University of Denmark, and Ørsted Wind Power Company in conjunction with T&T Group.

This tripartite cooperation agreement aims to strengthen the training and research capacity of the school’s faculty in developing and teaching renewable energy courses—particularly wind power—thereby providing a high-quality workforce for Vietnam’s renewable energy market.

An image is shown (DSC03963) featuring Associate Professor Nguyễn Hữu Thanh (center), Rector of the School of Electrical – Electronics, at the signing ceremony.

At the event, Associate Professor Nguyễn Hữu Thanh remarked: “With our goal to become a leading institution in education and research, we are proud to collaborate with Ørsted, the world’s leading offshore wind power manufacturer, and the Technical University of Denmark, a globally renowned educational institution.”

The planned activities include establishing a platform for knowledge transfer and capacity building in Vietnam, as well as researching the impact of Vietnam’s climate conditions on offshore wind farms to reduce costs.

Specifically, the parties will implement projects aimed at enhancing education and training capacity to foster the offshore wind power industry. They will also work to leverage the potential benefits of offshore wind for Vietnam in terms of research and training.

In 2021, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính made a strong commitment at COP 26 for Vietnam to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Renewable energy development is a major government policy, with offshore wind identified as a breakthrough solution for energy transition and national energy security.

Thanks to its favorable geographical location and climatic conditions, Vietnam is recognized as a country with enormous potential for offshore wind power. According to the World Bank and the Danish Energy Agency, with its long coastline and abundant wind resources, Vietnam’s wind energy potential is estimated at 475 GW, with a technical potential of around 160 GW.

On November 1, Ørsted Wind Power, T&T Group, and the National Innovation Center of Vietnam signed an important memorandum of understanding on Capacity Building and Technology Transfer for offshore wind power. The memorandum aims to connect leading global researchers and solution providers in offshore wind with Vietnamese universities, research institutions, and enterprises in the sector.

Mr. Sebastian Hald Buhl, National Director of Ørsted Vietnam, stated, “This is why I am very excited to participate in the signing with the Technical University of Denmark—an institution at the forefront of wind energy research—and HUST, the most prestigious technical university in Vietnam. I believe this signing is a strong start towards realizing our ambitions for the offshore wind industry in a country with immense potential in this field.”

Specifically, the collaborative activities will include:

• Researching technological challenges in implementing offshore wind power in Vietnam;

• Coordinating research and doctoral training;

• Developing a course taught by the Technical University of Denmark for HUST faculty and students;

• Implementing student and staff exchange programs between the two institutions.

Additionally, all parties share a long-term goal: the establishment of an Offshore Wind Research Center in Vietnam. According to Associate Professor Nguyễn Đức Huy, Head of the Department of Electrical – Electronics, sustainable energy transition is a challenging path, but with the right legal framework and practical multilateral cooperation, Vietnam is fully capable of succeeding.

The School of Electrical – Electronics at HUST has been one of the leading institutions for over 65 years in producing graduates with certified competencies for the electricity and renewable energy sectors, including offshore wind.

To adapt to new developments in the energy sector—especially the projected growth of offshore wind power up to 2050, as outlined in the draft Power Development Plan 8—the School of Electrical – Electronics is developing new courses such as smart grid systems, integration of renewable energy, renewable energy systems, and control of renewable energy systems for inclusion in upcoming academic programs.

This agreement is a testament to the School’s commitment to internationalization, ensuring high-quality teaching and research collaborations with both domestic and international enterprises to meet global market needs and to contribute to the development of sustainable energy in Vietnam.