• Vietnam's carbon emissions grew in 2024, particularly from its national electricity grid.
• Tracking emissions within each power plant and training staff to measure and report them are among the suggested solutions.

A new study by Hà Nội University of Science and Technology, in association with Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, found that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the national electricity grid in Vietnam rose in 2024.

According to researchers, for every megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity produced, the grid emitted 0.681 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e), a 3.2% increase from 2023.

The spike is attributed to a 17.7% increase in coal-powered electricity, which now accounts for 49.5% of the country's total power supply.

This data shows the Southeast Asian nation's regression towards coal, a fossil fuel that emits large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere, undermining global climate mitigation goals.

READ MORE: Vietnamese Govt. Greenlights Coal-to-Clean Energy Shift

Experts categorised Vietnam's grid as “brown”, meaning it heavily depends on fossil fuels, particularly coal. Incidentally, countries that generate electricity from renewable sources like wind and solar have "green" grids, which emit less carbon dioxide (CO2).

Despite efforts to add more renewable energy, Vietnam's overall emissions are still high. The report says that even renewable sources have some emissions when considering their complete life cycle, from production to disposal. For example, solar power usually emits less CO2, but this depends on how the panels are manufactured and recycled. In some cases, emissions from solar panels can be as high as those from an oil-fired power plant.

The researchers suggest that, to uphold transparency and accuracy, the national grid's emission data should be published in the first quarter of each year. This would help companies access updated information on how to report their GHG emissions. The research team also recommended that each power plant monitor its emissions and train staff to measure and report them.

ALSO READ: Vietjet Takes Off First Flights with Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Eventually, the report concludes on a positive note that under Power Development Plan VIII, the country will slowly shift away from fossil fuels to more clean energy alternatives, playing an important part in reaching its goal of net zero emissions by 2050.

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Source: VNS