There is a huge opportunity for Viet Nam and Taiwan to boost co-operation in the renewable energy industry, delegates told a seminar in HCM City last Friday.

Speaking at a seminar on Taiwan Green and Photovoltaic Industry in HCM City last Friday, Nguyen The Hung, deputy director of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s HCM City branch, said demand for developing green and renewable energy has increased globally, including in Viet Nam.

Viet Nam has great potential for renewable energy development, he said, adding that the Government has put in place policies to encourage investment in this clean energy.

Yu Lung Shih, Manager of Taiwan Trade Centre’s representative office in HCM City, said: "Viet Nam is currently in a campaign to achieve energy self-sufficiency by 2050." By 2050, it aims to produce at least 35 per cent solar power and 13 per cent wind – while cutting carbon emissions by 80 per cent.

That beckons huge prospects for green energy producers, he said.

“Top power-maker Taiwan has already developed a lot in both solar power, wind power and many other renewable energies. Taiwan’s strengths can now be used to assist Viet Nam to keep on schedule,” he said.

Cheng-Nan Chu, manager of Industrial Technology Research Institute, Taiwan, said the International Energy Agency forecasts that renewable capacity will grow from 1,969 GW in 2015 to 2,795 GW in 2021.

IEA sees renewables growing 13 per cent more between 2015 and 2021 than they did in its forecast for 2014-20 conducted in 2015, due mostly to stronger policy backing in the US, China, India and Mexico, he said.

According to Yi-Kuang Chen, general manager of Kenmec Vietnam, Taiwan has been in solar industry for many years and so has many solutions to support different industries.

Sharing his experience in developing the solar energy industry, he said the most important thing is human resource development.

“I recommend Viet Nam invest more in the solar industry’s human resources.”

Hung said professional renwable energy trade shows in Taiwan, including the Taiwan International Green Industry Show (TiGiS) and Taiwan International Photovoltaic Exhibition (PV Taiwan), would help Vietnamese firms keep up to date the green and renewable energy development trends in the world in general and in Taiwan in particular, as well as enhance co-operation opportunities with Taiwanese firms in the sector.

Carol Chang, project manager, Taiwan External Trade Devolopment Council, said the exhibitions will be held at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Centre from October 18-20.

The exhibitions will feature 300 exhibitors in 800 booths. Products on display include the latest solar PV systems, equipment and applications, as well as green energy, technology and environmental protection themes.

The events are expected to attract 11,000 visitors, including 1,200 from overseas, compared to the 10,362 visitors at last year’s show, she said. — VNS