Podcast – Vietnam’s equitable energy transition
How can Vietnam make an equitable energy transition? GEAPP’s Vietnam Country Manager Ms. Minh Nguyen shares how the alliance is pioneering renewable energy solutions with communities at the heart of the transition.
By Rajesh Daniel
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Aug 6, 2025
Clean and renewable energy solutions often face many constraints ranging from unclear policies, unbankable models, limited finance and difficulty with upscaling.
GEAPP’s Vietnam Country Manager Ms. Minh Nguyen explains how the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) is working with Vietnamese policymakers and electricity utilities to ensure renewable energy’s potential is not constrained by systemic barriers.
Minh’s career began in finance and then shifted to energy which helps her see through the economic and policy challenges.
At GEAPP, she works on advancing the clean energy transition by supporting alliance-driven initiatives that open opportunities for access and inclusion.
Minh emphasized:
I saw first-hand the barriers that prevent promising renewable energy projects from scaling, whether it was unclear policy, lack of bankable business models or limited access to finance. It became clear to me that unlocking clean energy solutions is not just about technology, it's about systems, about people, and inclusion.
Distributed Energy Resources (DER)
Vietnam’s grid faces transmission bottlenecks, especially in the industrial south. Distributed Energy Resources (DER) such as rooftop solar and microgrids offer a decentralized energy solution.
“DER eases grid congestion by generating power close to where it’s used,” Minh explains. “When paired with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), they enable a flexible, decarbonized grid.”
GEAPP’s 50 MW BESS pilot with Vietnam’s state utility EVN and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is a cornerstone of this strategy. BESS solves renewables’ intermittency by storing surplus solar or wind power.
“BESS avoids curtailment, maximizes renewable assets, and delays costly grid upgrades,” says Minh. To scale this, GEAPP co-launched ENABLE (Enhancing Access to Battery Energy Storage), a platform tackling financial and policy barriers across Asia-Pacific.
In regions like Quang Ninh province, who are still dependent on traditional fuels, GEAPP partners with local governments to create green jobs and diversify economies.
She asserts:
Reskilling workers for renewable sectors is crucial. But equally vital are local economic strategies so people don’t have to leave home to find opportunity.
One such GEAPP initiative supports Quang Ninh in developing green investment projects that attract sustainable finance while creating livelihoods.
Transitions cost money
Minh notes that: “Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with EVN need structuring to attract investors.” GEAPP’s solution is blended finance.
“We partner with development banks to offer affordable loans and build bankable business models for developers,” she says.
This approach underpins initiatives like Made in Vietnam Energy Plan 4.0 (MVEP 4.0), a roadmap that is accelerating Vietnam’s transition through regulatory reforms and workforce development.
For Minh, success hinges on centering people:
Vietnam’s transition isn’t just about infrastructure, it’s about reliable, affordable power that supports resilience and local development.
With communities gaining green jobs, industrial parks adopting storage technology, and remote villages accessing microgrids, efforts supported by GEAPP and its partners are helping make an equitable energy future possible in Vietnam.
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This episode was co-initiated and supported by Amperes.
Episode host: Rajesh Daniel
Sound editing: Variya Plungwatana
Series producers: Rajesh Daniel, Variya Plungwatana
Download the transcript using the link below. Links for additional resources and reading are also included in the transcript.
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This story is part of the following project
SUMERNET 4 All: Engaging with water insecurity in the Mekong Region
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