On April 15, Deputy Prime Minister Bùi Thanh Sơn signed Decision No. 768/QĐ-TTg, officially approving the revised version of Vietnam’s National Power Development Plan for the period 2021–2030, with a vision toward 2050 – commonly known as PDP8. The updated plan outlines a substantial increase in installed power capacity and reaffirms the country’s commitment to renewable energy and energy transition.
Significant Capacity Expansion by 2030
Under the revised PDP8, Vietnam’s total installed power generation capacity is projected to reach between 183,291 and 236,363 megawatts (MW) by 2030, representing a 30–50% increase compared to the previously approved 150,489 MW.
Renewable energy remains a top strategic priority. Targets for onshore and nearshore wind power have been significantly raised to 20,066–38,029 MW, roughly doubling or tripling earlier estimates. Offshore wind capacity sees a major revision as well, increased from the previous 6,000 MW to 17,032 MW, with commercial operations anticipated between 2030 and 2035, subject to technical and economic feasibility.
Solar power is also set for dramatic growth, with capacity targets raised to 46,459–73,416 MW, more than double the previous projection of 20,000 MW. Biomass and waste-to-energy are expected to contribute 1,523–2,699 MW and 1,441–2,137 MW, respectively, while geothermal and other new energy sources are projected at a modest 45 MW.
Hydropower will continue to be utilized to its maximum technical and economic capacity, reaching 33,294–34,667 MW by 2030. Notably, nuclear power has re-entered the national planning framework for the first time in several years, with a target of 4,000–6,400 MW by 2035, and a long-term objective of 10,500–14,000 MW by 2050.
Energy storage also receives a strong emphasis. Pumped-storage hydropower is expected to reach 2,400–6,000 MW by 2030 and up to 21,327 MW by 2050. Meanwhile, distributed battery storage systems, situated near solar and wind facilities or high-demand centers, are projected to reach 10,000–16,300 MW by 2030, and nearly 96,000 MW by 2050.
LNG remains key to a flexible power mix
In the thermal power sector, liquefied natural gas (LNG) will continue to play a central role in ensuring system flexibility. The updated plan projects 22,524 MW of LNG capacity by 2030, accounting for 9.5–12.3% of the national power mix.
Domestic natural gas power is expected to remain stable, with a forecast capacity of 10,861–14,930 MW. Several LNG-fired plants may transition to hydrogen co-firing or adopt carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies to align with low-carbon goals.
Coal-fired power capacity will be capped at 31,055 MW through 2030, with no new coal projects to be approved thereafter. Existing plants are expected to gradually convert to biomass or ammonia by 2050, when coal capacity is anticipated to drop to 25,798 MW.
The revised PDP8 also introduces a forward-looking vision for electricity exports, with 400 MW set to be exported to Cambodia by 2030. By 2035, Vietnam may export 5,000–10,000 MW to regional partners including Singapore and Malaysia, with this level maintained through 2050. On the import side, Vietnam is expected to source 9,360–12,100 MW of electricity from Laos and China by 2030, representing up to 5.1% of the national capacity.
Renewables to dominate power structure by 2050
Looking ahead to 2050, the plan forecasts total installed power capacity to increase to 774,503–838,681 MW, with renewable energy forming the cornerstone of the energy system.
Solar power is projected to contribute 293,088–295,646 MW—up to 37.8% of total capacity. Offshore wind could reach 113,503–139,079 MW (up to 16.6%), and onshore wind will account for 84,696–91,400 MW (approximately 10.9%). Battery storage systems will provide an additional 11.5–12.4% of capacity.
Nuclear energy is expected to supply a stable baseload, with a planned capacity of 10,500–14,000 MW, or 1.4–1.7% of the total.
The plan further highlights mechanisms to promote Direct Power Purchase Agreements (DPPA) and scale up new energy production, such as green hydrogen. These initiatives are expected to account for 30–60% of renewable output, depending on market development and infrastructure readiness.
Strategic vision and national objectives
The revised PDP8 is grounded in the principles of regional balance, system feasibility and safety, and sustainable economic growth, while safeguarding energy security and national defense in line with global decarbonization trends.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) will continue to monitor the implementation of PDP8 and report to the Prime Minister, proposing further adjustments as necessary to ensure energy security and long-term system resilience.
Source: Vneconomy
