Viet Nam's demand for energy is growing rapidly, and the expansion of its energy supply is still predominantly based on coal and gas-fired power plants. The Vietnamese government has recognised that the expansion of renewable energy is necessary to ensure a sustainable energy supply. Nevertheless, renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and biomass are only developing slowly. The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development) and the Ministry for Energy, Infrastructure and Regional Development of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania jointly funded the federal and state pilot programme "Energy Transition Exchange Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Viet Nam". The objective was to facilitate the transfer of knowledge on the energy transition and to support the Vietnamese partner province (presumably An Giang) in the transition to decentralised renewable energy sources.
The project was carried out in cooperation with the Academy for Sustainable Development Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (ANE), the bioenergy village of Bollewick, companies in the renewable energy industry and scientific partners such as the University of Rostock. Through targeted training measures, a study trip to Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and internships for Vietnamese multipliers in German companies, key success factors of the energy transition were to be communicated and utilised for Viet Nam.
The methodical implementation of the project took place over three modules:
- Delegation trip to Viet Nam (March/April 2017):
- Meetings with political actors, visits to companies and workshops on decentralised energy supply.
- Presentation of examples of best practice from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, in particular bioenergy villages, small wind turbines and photovoltaic projects.
- Internships in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (March-September 2017):
- Several months of internships for Vietnamese experts in renewable energy companies to deepen their technical knowledge.
- Transfer of know-how about market mechanisms, operational processes and economic framework conditions.
- Study trip to Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (September 2017):
- Visit to companies, authorities and energy projects, including the bioenergy village of Bollewick.
- Focus on political framework conditions, economic funding structures and administrative implementation of the energy transition.
The programme was carried out in close coordination with the Vietnamese technical cooperation project "Renewable energy and energy efficiency", which advises the Vietnamese government on energy policy and the implementation of sustainable funding mechanisms. The experience gained in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania was directly incorporated into the advisory processes of this project.