In Vietnam's current energy landscape, a significant portion of electricity generation still relies on fossil fuels, with over half of the energy, nearly 55%, produced from such sources. Coal, in particular, dominates this category with nearly 48% of the electricity supply. On a more positive note, low-carbon energy sources contribute almost 44% to Vietnam's electricity generation. Within the clean energy sector, hydropower stands out, accounting for more than 31% of the total electricity produced. Solar power contributes a noteworthy 8%, while wind energy makes up roughly 4%. The presence of these low-carbon energy sources is essential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting environmental sustainability.
Data sources used on this page include EIA, Ember and IEA. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Vietnam?
Electricity consumption in Vietnam is on an upward trajectory. The latest figures show that the consumption per person reached 3047 kWh in 2024, representing a substantial increase of 271 kWh from the previous record set in 2023. In terms of low-carbon electricity generation, there's a record high at 1336 kWh per person, slightly surpassing the previous peak in 2022 by 20 kWh. While these numbers underscore growth in both overall and clean electricity consumption, the modest increase in low-carbon generation suggests there's still significant room for expansion. This ongoing growth is vital to support the growing demands of electrification and technological advancements, such as AI, across the country.
Suggestions
To effectively increase low-carbon electricity generation, Vietnam can take inspiration from regions with successful clean energy strategies. Countries like France and Slovakia, with a substantial portion of their electricity production coming from nuclear energy (70% and 66% respectively), exemplify the potential of nuclear as a reliable and large-scale energy source. Similarly, solar energy, contributing significantly in regions like Nevada with 33%, demonstrates a viable pathway for harnessing Vietnam’s abundant sunlight. Southeast Asian regions with similar climatic conditions can serve as a reference for Vietnam to expand its solar infrastructure. Concurrently, wind energy, as exemplified by Denmark's 58% wind-generated electricity, indicates that there’s promising potential to be tapped into, especially considering Vietnam’s coastal areas where wind farms could thrive.
History
Vietnam's history of low-carbon electricity development, particularly in hydropower, has seen significant advancements since the early 2000s. Between 2001 and 2017, hydroelectric production witnessed substantial growth, with a series of years marked by large increases, notably a remarkable 23.3 TWh rise in 2017. However, starting in 2018, there were notable declines due to varying factors, although this was counterbalanced by a robust spur of solar development, notably in 2019 and subsequent years. Wind energy made its debut in 2022, contributing further towards cleaner energy goals. Most recently, in 2024, there was a rebound in hydropower by 14.9 TWh, marking a return to an increasing trend in low-carbon electricity generation. Vietnam’s approach needs to maintain momentum in expanding both solar and nuclear capacities to meet future energy demands effectively, providing a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.
