Unlocking Vietnam’s renewable energy future: Opportunities and challenges under PDP8

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Vietnam’s revised Power Development Plan VIII (PDP8) marks a decisive step toward transforming the country’s power sector into a more sustainable, diversified, and higher-efficiency system.

Adopted in 2023 and refined through further guidance in 2024–2025, PDP8 outlines a roadmap for Vietnam to balance rapidly growing electricity demand with long-term climate and energy security goals. With total installed capacity projected to reach 180 GW by 2030 and up to 800 GW by 2050, Vietnam is positioning itself as one of Asia’s most dynamic emerging energy markets.

At its core, PDP8 reinforces a clear national commitment to renewable energy. The plan sets ambitious targets of up to 73 GW of solar capacity and about 50 GW of wind (onshore and offshore) by 2030—more than triple the levels currently installed. These goals align with Vietnam’s net-zero by 2050 pledge and its Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) agreements with international partners.

Sơn La Dam in northern Vietnam, the largest hydroelectric dam in Southeast Asia

Source: Wikipedia