MCET NETWORK

VIETNAM | Fulbright School of Public Policy and Management, Fulbright University Vietnam

Our team at Fulbright University Vietnam has tailored the SWITCH power system planning model to chart pathways for Vietnam’s energy transition toward net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Here, we provide an overview of our core activities, stakeholder partnerships, knowledge-sharing initiatives, and future research directions.

About Vietnam Team

The Fulbright School of Public Policy and Management (FSPPM), founded in 1994, is part of Fulbright University Vietnam and focuses on education and research in public policy and management. The school offers graduate programs such as the Master in Public Policy, with tracks in Policy Analysis and Leadership & Management, aiming to equip students with the skills to address policy challenges in Vietnam and the region.

MEET THE TEAM BY CLICKING HERE

SWITCH Model Adaptation for Vietnam

The SWITCH 2.0 model provides a detailed, region-specific simulation of energy production, storage, and transmission for electricity sector. Our team has successfully customized this model to assess cost-effective strategies for decarbonization, focusing on:

- Technology mix and emissions targets: We modeled various scenarios that optimize the use of solar, wind, and storage technologies, while accounting for transmission infrastructure limitations and demand flexibility.
- Regional power flows: Our analysis highlights the importance of expanding transmission infrastructure in regions like the North-Central corridor to support renewable energy integration.
- Demand flexibility: Within each region, shifting 20% of electricity demand to peak solar hours can significantly reduce system costs, helping avoid reliance on carbon capture and storage (CCS) and storage technologies.
- Electric vehicle (EV) adoption: We expanded scenarios to project the optimal share of EV adoption by 2050, aligning growing electrification of transport with renewable energy supply to ensure grid efficiency and lower strain.
- A working paper on these findings is nearing completion and will be submitted for journal publication by November 2024.

Open-Access Model: Click here to access the Switch-Vietnam model

To encourage broader use of the SWITCH model, we have made the model, data, and related resources openly available on GitHub. We have also translated the SWITCH tutorial into Vietnamese to support local researchers and practitioners.

Stakeholder Engagement

Our project has actively involved key stakeholders in Vietnam to align the model’s outputs with national energy goals. Some of our major collaborations include:

- Energy policy discussions: We engaged with local government authorities and power generation developers to discuss policies promoting renewable energy investments and decarbonization strategies.
- Power plant visits: Field visits to power generation facilities across Southern and Central Vietnam provided valuable insights into technological and financial parameters, which we incorporated into the model to enhance cost and technology projections.
- Engaged with consultancy and regulatory bodies: We discussed our findings with stakeholders involved in the National Power Development Plan VIII such as Energy Institute – Ministry of Industry and Trade, Electricity Regulatory Authority of Vietnam (ERAV), and Denmark-Vietnam Energy Partnership Programme (DEPP3), and international developer like Sembcorp Energy Vietnam. Engaged in discussions focusing on challenges related to Vietnam's energy transition.

Vietnam team has made significant efforts to disseminate our research findings to a broader audience through various events and media outlets:

- Seminar at Fulbright University Vietnam (09/2024): We hosted a hybrid event at our campus to present the SWITCH model’s application for Vietnam’s decarbonization. This seminar attracted more than 70 participants in-person and online, raising awareness about the SWITCH model’s application for decarbonizing Vietnam’s energy system.
- International Energy Workshop (IEW) (06/2024, Bonn - Germany): We presented our findings on Vietnam’s decarbonization pathways, generating interest and valuable feedback from global energy experts.
- Climate Week NYC 2023 (09/2023, virtual): We participated in a panel on ‘Modeling for a Transition to Clean Electricity’, hosted by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), sharing insights on Vietnam's energy transition.
- Media Feature: We were interviewed by Người Đô Thị, a local press, to discuss our model’s findings. The article was published on November 5, 2024, and can be accessed through the following link:
  - Original title: Vietnam May Not Need Offshore Wind Power Until 2050
  - Source: Người Đô Thị, published on November 5, 2024
  - Link: https://nguoidothi.net.vn/viet-nam-chua-can-dien-gio-ngoai-khoi-den-2050-45934.html

Research: Electricity Retail Pricing and Demand Response

Building on the findings from demand-flexibility scenarios, our upcoming research will focus on testing electricity retail pricing schemes to examine which approaches best incentivize load shifting and enhance demand flexibility. This study will:

- Expand the SWITCH model by adding a module to test different retail pricing mechanisms. We aim to encourage consumers to shift electricity usage from low-sun to peak-sun hours.
- Conduct scenario analysis: The analysis will assess how flexible pricing can reduce system costs and increase renewable energy utilization. This upcoming research will provide key insights for policymakers and regulators on how electricity retail pricing can drive a cost-effective and sustainable energy transition in Vietnam.

Through these efforts, our team has made significant progress in advancing the dialogue around Vietnam's zero-emission energy future. The project is technically and financially supported by the EDF Multi-Country Electricity Transition Potential and Challenges (MCET) Project, and we continue to engage stakeholders to ensure our findings inform both national and international energy policy discussions.

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