USAID and the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is supporting Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) to draft the 8th Power Development Plan with a focus on promoting renewable energy. On March 15, USAID and MOIT organized a workshop to discuss Vietnam’s power planning process and needs for technical support. USAID and NREL shared the latest planning methodologies that help countries confidently include higher proportions of renewable energy in their national power plans. Thirty participants from various government departments joined representatives of USAID, the Danish International Development Agency, and NGOs.

So What? Effective planning and integration of renewable energy will help Vietnam to build a clean, resilient and reliable energy system that contributes to economic prosperity, national security, and environmental quality.