Viet Nam has had rapid economic growth in recent years, but this growth has been energy-dependent, even as the energy system has become more carbon intensive. This study uses a bottom-up model to evaluate 63 measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from household electricity, industry, power generation, and transport. It finds potential for emissions reduction by 53% in 2050, and that much of this reduction can occur at low or negative financial costs. Moreover, these measures are found to ultimately lead to faster and more inclusive economy-wide growth. Policy measures are identified to help realize the modeled potential.

This book presents recent innovative trends in land, water and energy management in Vietnam. Presenting the main projects and outcomes of a close collaboration between Italian and Vietnamese researchers in the last three years, the book is divided into three main sections: environment, climate change and land management in Vietnam; energy for Vietnam; and cities and utilities in Vietnam. The first section focuses on water systems, including rivers and seacoasts, and on new growing methods for more sustainable agriculture. The second section addresses energy and wastewater. The country’s rapid growth is a major challenge in terms of reinforcing the electrical infrastructures, and as such this section offers an overview of the government’s planned measures and their impact on the Vietnamese power system. The third section highlights cities and utilities in the context of increasing urbanization, exploring the urban morphology of the Vietnamese metropolis, particularly Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

During the 1990s, a new paradigm for power sector reform was put forward emphasizing the restructuring of utilities, the creation of regulators, the participation of the private sector, and the establishment of competitive power markets. Twenty-five years later, only a handful of developing countries have fully implemented these Washington Consensus policies. Across the developing world, reforms were adopted rather selectively, resulting in a hybrid model, in which elements of market orientation coexist with continued state dominance of the sector. This book aims to revisit and refresh thinking on power sector reform approaches for developing countries. The approach relies heavily on evidence from the past, drawing both on broad global trends and deep case material from 15 developing countries. It is also forward looking, considering the implications of new social and environmental policy goals, as well as the emerging technological disruptions. A nuanced picture emerges. Although regulation has been widely adopted, practice often falls well short of theory, and cost recovery remains an elusive goal. The private sector has financed a substantial expansion of generation capacity; yet, its contribution to power distribution has been much more limited, with efficiency levels that can sometimes be matched by well-governed public utilities. Restructuring and liberalization have been beneficial in a handful of larger middle-income nations but have proved too complex for most countries to implement. Based on these findings, the report points to three major policy implications. First, reform efforts need to be shaped by the political and economic context of the country. The 1990s reform model was most successful in countries that had reached certain minimum conditions of power sector development and offered a supportive political environment. Second, countries found alternative institutional pathways to achieving good power sector outcomes, making a case for greater pluralism. Among the top performers, some pursued the full set of market-oriented reforms, while others retained a more important role for the state. Third, reform efforts should be driven and tailored to desired policy outcomes and less preoccupied with following a predetermined process, particularly since the twenty-first-century century agenda has added decarbonization and universal access to power sector outcomes. The Washington Consensus reforms, while supportive of the twenty-first-century century agenda, will not be able to deliver on them alone and will require complementary policy measures

It has been clear for some time that the way in which our society exists, operates and develops is strongly influenced by the way in which energy is produced and consumed. No industrial process can proceed without an adequate energy, supply, and without industrial production, society lacks the commodities on which it depends. Our energy systems have evolved over a long period and continue evolving In response to the needs of both Industry and Society. This evolution involves Technological development and innovation, especially now that we need to look beyond simple fuel combustion as a source of energy and consider both greater efficiency in the use of energy and new ways of producing it. The Third International Conference convened on the subject is the latest in a biennial series that brings together experts from around the world. Their papers, contained in this book, will include research on Renewable Energy Technologies; Energy Management; Energy Policies; Energy and the Environment; Energy Analysis; Energy Efficiency; Energy Storage and Management; Conversion Process for Biomass and Biofuels; CO2 Sequestration and Storage.

Viet Nam envisions a completely competitive power sector in the long term, including full wholesale and retail competition. To attain this goal, it unbundled its power sector's monopoly structure and instituted institutional, regulatory, and pricing reforms. Although considerable progress has been made, implementation has not been expeditious, with the government still retaining a strong vested ownership and management interest in the power sector. Further restructuring is needed to ensure complete independence of the system players and to attain pricing transparency. In this country report, the Asian Development Bank assesses Viet Nam's experience in reforming its power sector for insights that other Asian developing economies could find useful when pursuing their own power sector planning and policy and strategy formulation.

Hydropower is one of the biggest controversies in Vietnam in recent decades because of its adverse environmental and social consequences, especially negative impacts on displaced people who make way for hydropower dam construction. This book explains the controversies related to hydropower development in Vietnam in order to make policy recommendations for equitable and sustainable development. The book focuses on the analysis of emerging issues, such as land acquisition, compensation for losses, displacement and resettlement, support for livelihood development, and benefit sharing from hydropower development. The analysis emphasizes the role of different stakeholders in the decision-making process for hydropower development in Vietnam as a means to find a better governance model.