Vietnam, a new stopover in Asia for Energy Observer
by Energy Observer 16 Jun 2022 13:47 BST
Energy Observer continues its journey in South East Asia, with the 73rd stopover of its round the world Odyssey being in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Vietnam is one of the last stopovers of the Energy Observer Odyssey in the region, after a large-scale event in Singapore which gathered the vessel and its pedagogical exhibition village, followed by a several-week stopover in Thailand to document the country's energy and ecological transition's challenges.
This stopover will be, as the previous ones, the occasion to receive on board all the actors involved in these stakes, including the partners of the project. Groupe BPCE is celebrating its 30 years of presence in Vietnam, Qair is developing innovative solar and wind projects, Air Liquide is planning to double its investments and Accor as well as CMA CGM and Toyota are very active in the country. The Energy Observer crew will be able to present the ship's autonomous zero-emission system to several hundred visitors and decision-makers, and as always to many students and school children in collaboration with the French Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City.
Vietnam and the challenges of the transition
Like many countries, Vietnam faces a complex equation: how to reconcile rapid growth, with an energy demand that has been multiplied by 5,5 in the last 20 years, and the need to decarbonize, while allowing renewable energies to flourish?
In February 2021, the Vietnamese government has released a draft of the country's national power development plan for 2021 to 2030. The plan expands current wind and solar capacity and prioritizes enhancing grid infrastructure to ensure stable operation with a higher share of renewables.
Currently, more than half of the country's electricity generation comes from coal, and about 20% from hydroelectric generation. Other renewable sources account for 5% of Vietnam's electricity. This share of non-hydro renewables is expected to reach 25% by 2030, and up to 42% by 2045.
While investing in renewables, the country also plans to double coal-fired power generation by 2030 to meet the 10% annual growth in electricity consumption expected over the next decade. Total investment for the period 2021-2030 will be USD 128.3 billion, including USD 950 million for power generation and USD 32.9 billion for power grids.
These are complex and decisive challenges for the country's future, which the crew will document over the upcoming weeks. Our production team will further broaden our scope of vision by including other local issues such as plastic pollution and recycling, UNESCO biosphere reserves, near shore wind turbines, low-carbon energy, and the salinity of the Mekong River. Issues whose interconnection fully resonates with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of which Energy Observer is the first French ambassador.
Energy Observer, a unique vessel
Setting sail from its port of registry of Saint Malo in 2017, Energy Observer has already covered over 50,000 nautical miles, made 72 stopovers, 16 of which have been with its travelling pedagogical village, and visited over 40 countries. Born out of a legendary catamaran, whose many accolades include being the fastest sailboat around the world with Sir Peter Blake, Energy Observer is a laboratory for ecological transition designed to push the envelope concerning zero-emission technologies. From hydrogen to sun, wind, and tidal power, all solutions have been experimented with, tested, and optimised to make clean energies a practical reality accessible to all.
"Since the beginning of the round-the-world Odyssey in 2017, we have had the chance to immerse ourselves at the heart of energy issues and the transformation of the various major industrial players in the sector. Despite the difficulties to change our energy model, I have witnessed a true will to accelerate this transition, whether it's public, political, or industrial. The strategies and technologies to neutralize greenhouse gas emissions are sufficiently mature to massively direct our investments towards low carbon technologies, making them accessible to all." - Victorien Erussard, Captain and founder of Energy Observer.
An Odyssey to accelerate energy and ecological transition
In light of humanity's multiple challenges, the main missions of the Energy Observer expedition consist of accelerating transition through innovation, by demonstrating how well the onboard technologies and energy mix work in extreme environments and how they can be duplicated on a wider scale both on land and at sea.
As the first French ambassador of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, this circumnavigation of the globe also aims to explore all the solutions that favour ecological transition and raise awareness among all the public audiences, decision-makers, and manufacturers about this necessary transition through a series of inspirational and educational content (documentary films, web series, scientific articles, and a travelling exhibition...).
Practical information
Phu Quoc: from the 11th to the 15th of June 2022
Ho Chi Minh City: from the 18th to the 29th of June 2022
*The boat can be viewed but cannot be visited by the public.