In the context of energy transition, human resources have increasingly been recognized as a critical factor for the sustainability of projects. Through strategic cooperation programs and multi-layered support, the European Union (EU) is contributing to Vietnam’s efforts to develop its workforce, strengthen institutions, and enhance local ownership of the green energy transition process.
Developing Local Skills for the Emerging Energy Sector
At an offshore wind power plant in the Mekong Delta region, young engineers and technicians work among turbines hundreds of meters tall—symbols of a new energy industry taking shape. With this developing workforce, operating wind farms has become everyday practice, supported by modern technical processes and stringent safety standards.
The Tra Vinh V1-1 wind farm, operational since 2021, now supplies approximately 181 million kWh of clean electricity annually to the national grid. Beyond its renewable energy contribution, the project provides stable employment for local labor and helps build a new generation of energy technicians. It is one of the flagship projects implemented with EU support in Vietnam’s broader efforts to promote renewable energy and sustainable energy transition.
The Tra Vinh V1-1 wind power project not only supplies clean electricity but also creates long-term livelihoods for local communities.
Developing skills and building endogenous capabilities are central to the technical assistance programs financed by the EU in the energy sector. Through a multi-layered approach—combining policy support, institutional capacity building, and workforce development—EU-funded programs are helping localities such as Tra Vinh, Can Tho, and Ninh Thuan progressively cultivate a workforce capable of adapting to and leading the energy transition on the ground.
This focus on people is seen as a core element in ensuring that renewable energy projects do not remain limited to investment phases but can be operated effectively and sustainably in practice.
EU-funded programmes help develop local talent to drive the green energy transition.
EU Support Across Systemic Levels
In addition to on-site technical assistance, the EU is implementing numerous strategic cooperation programs that help shape the long-term foundations of Vietnam’s energy transition. This comprehensive support ranges from policy framework enhancements and institutional capacity strengthening to technical infrastructure development and investment promotion in the green energy sector.
Through initiatives such as the EU–Vietnam Sustainable Energy Transition Programme (SETP) and the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), the EU is partnering with Vietnam on multiple fronts—including financial assistance, technical cooperation, and policy advisory services. Notably, part of this support is mobilized under the EU’s flagship Global Gateway strategy, which helps partner countries develop sustainable and resilient infrastructure.
The EU–Vietnam Sustainable Energy Transition Programme (SETP) underscores the EU’s long-term support for Vietnam’s transition to clean energy.
These joint efforts highlight that the energy transition is not merely a technological shift but also a comprehensive transformation of the energy system—where people, technology, and nature adapt together toward shared goals.
With the spirit of “PLUG IN TO EVOLUTION,” continued EU support is expanding the space for cooperation, dialogue, and innovation, helping to lay the foundation for a sustainable energy ecosystem in which people play a central role in driving the green energy transition.
Source: Vietnam Association of SMEs
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