Giz2013 en-identification-of-biomass-market-opportunities-in-vietnam 2

IDENTIFICATION OF BIOMASS MARKET

OPPORTUNITIES IN VIETNAM

www.renewables-made-in-germany.com

IDENTIFICATION OF BIOMASS MARKET OPPORTUNITIES IN VIETNAM

Authors

Nguyen Duc Cuong et al

November 2011

Editor

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH

On behalf of the

German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi)

Contact

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Köthener Str. 2, 10963 Berlin, Germany

Fax: +49 (0)30 408 190 22 253

Email: [email protected] Web: www.giz.de/projektentwicklungsprogramm Web: www.exportinitiative.bmwi.de

This report is part of the Project Development Programme (PDP) South-East Asia. PDP South-East Asia is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) under the “renewables – Made in Germany” initiative. More information about PDP and about renewable energy markets in South-East Asia: www.giz.de/projektentwicklungsprogramm

This publication, including all its information, is protected by copyright. GIZ cannot be liable for any material or immaterial damages caused directly indirectly by the use or disuse of parts. Any use that is not expressly permitted under copyright legislation requires the prior consent of GIZ.

All contents were created with the utmost care and in good faith. GIZ assumes no responsibility for the accuracy, timeliness, completeness or quality of the information provided.

Identification of Biomass Market Opportunities in Vietnam I

Content

PREFACE 1

1 REVIEW AND ANALYSIS OF VIETNAMESE POWER INDUSTRY 3

1.1. Demand and growth of power in period 2001-2010 3

1.2. Current sale rates 5

1.5. Players in the power market 8

1.6. Roadmap to competitive power market 9

1.7. Grid 9

2 IDENTIFICATION AND EVALUATION OF BIOMASS ENERGY MAR KET IN VIETNAM 10

2.1 Identification and Evaluation of Biomass Energy Market in Vietnam Biomass sources 10

2.2 Use of Biomass in Vietnam 15

2.3 Status and prospects of projects using biomass for energy production in Vietnam 17

2.3.1 Status 17

2.3.2 Potential and uses of biomass for energy production (heat only, power only or combined heat and power at

industrial scale in Vietnam) 25

2.4 A number of information on the current situation of cooperation projects between Vietnam and international biomass organizations 27

2.5 Economical nature of biomass projects 30

2.5.1 Investment costs 30

2.5.2 Operation & maintenance costs 31

2.5.3 Revenue of biomass power project 32

2.6 The actual state of biomass energy technologies in Vietnam (lists of domestic and overseas technology suppliers) 36

2.7 Transportation of biomass, raw biomass price and transport cost in Vietnam 39

2.8 Information on potential companies which may become partners of German companies in the development of biomass energy in Vietnam 41

3 REVIEW, STUDY AND DEFINITION OF POLICY FRAMEWORK FO R BIOMASS/RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT IN VIETNAM 44

Identification of Biomass Market Opportunities in Vietnam II

4 PROPOSAL ON DEVELOPMENT OF POTENTIAL PROJECTS IN TH E BIOMASS ENERGY TECHNOLOGY MARKET 61

4.1. Identifying needs for technologies, services, specific products and opportunities for Vietnam-German business cooperation 61

4.2. Information on market entry possibilities and procedures for interested German companies who might join in business (import/export) or investment (license, joint venture) activities in the area of biomass energy 65

4.3. Information of Vietnam’s related organisations and their contact details – information on roles and responsibilities of related bodies and various organisations in the biomass field 68

REFERENCES 71

ANNEX 1 LISTED CAPACITIES OF POWER PLANTS IN 2010 BY OWERSHIP 72

ANNEX 2 - RETAIL RATES OF POWER IN 2011 75

ANNEX 3 – ROADMAP TO COMPETITIVE POWER MARKET 78

Identification of Biomass Market Opportunities in Vietnam III

List of Tables Table 1-1. Harvestable amount of wood energy 6 Table 2-1. Harvestable amount of wood energy 12 Table 2-2. Wood waste usable for energy production 12 Table 2-3. Agricultural waste 15 Table 2-4. Listed consumptions of biomass by type and user (ktoe in 2010) 17 Table 2-5. Summarized information on husk-fuelled power plants 20 Table 2-6. Brief information on bagasse-based heat and power cogeneration factories at sugar mills 22 Table 2-7. Overview of information on cooperation projects between Vietnam and International organizations 28 Table 2-8. Investment unit costs of biomass burning power plant (USD/kW) 31 Table 2-9. Fuel consumption rate and its opportunity cost 32 Table 2-10. Operating time, auxiliary electricity rate and electricity amount sold 33 Table 2-11. List of biomass technology and equipment suppliers 36 Table 2-12. Relevant information on potential investors who can cooperate in biomass power development 42 Table 3-1. Summary of legal frameworks for renewable energy development in Vietnam 45 Table 3-2. Groups of obstacles and explanations and illustrations 53 Table 3-3. Framework orientations biomass energy development 58 Table 4-1. Potentials and possibilities for exploiting biomass energies 63 Table 4-2. Summary of grid-connected renewable electricity sources in operations 63 Table 4-3. Information of key related organizations in biomass energies 68

List of Figures Figure 1-1. Demand and growth of power in 2001-2010 3 Figure 1-2. Percentage of power supply by ownership 4 Figure 1-3. Percentage of power supply by feedstock and fuel 4 Figure 1-4. Power source structure by 2020 8 Figure 2-1. Rice husks in the Mekong Delta 14 Figure 2-2. The husk-burning combined heat and power project demonstrated in Long An province 21 Figure 2-3. A biomass briquetter in Tien Giang (photo by N.D.Cuong) 25 Figure 2-4. Biomass-based power development plan of Vietnam 27 Figure 2-5. Wood drying boiler of Vietnam Boiler Joint-Stock Company installed in Hanoi 38 Figure 2-6. Diagram of transportation of biomass 39 Figure 2-7. Transporting rice husk to power plant from rice milling factory (photo by N.D.Cuong) 40 Figure 4-1. Balance between needs and exploitation capacities for primary energies 62 Figure 4-2. Biomass pellet compressing machine (source: Amadeus-Kahl) 64 Figure 4-3. Biomass briquette pressing, source: N.D.Cuong,IE 65

Identification of Biomass Market Opportunities in Vietnam IV

Currency 1 USD = VND 20.83 (Sep 2011) 1 EUR = VND 28.384 (Sep 2011)

Measurement W Watt Wp Watt peak Wh Watt hour kW Kilowatt kWp Kilowatt peak kWh Kilowatt hour MW Megawatt MWp Megawatt peak MWh Megawatt hour GW Gigawatt GWp Gigawatt peak GWh Gigawatt hour

Identification of Biomass Market Opportunities in Vietnam V

List of Acronyms

ADB Asian Development Bank

BMWi German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology

CDM Clean Development Mechanism

CERs Certified Emission Reductions

CHP Combined Heat and Power

EU European Union

EVN Electricity of Vietnam Corporation

FBC Fluidized Bed Combustion

GDP Gross Domestic Product

GHG Greenhouse Gas

GIZ German Agency for International Cooperation

GT Gas Turbine

GW Gigawatt

HCMC Hochiminh City

IE Institute of Energy

IP Industrial Park

IPP Independent Power Producer

JICA Japanese International Cooperation Agency

JSC Joint Stock Company

Kcal Kilocalory

kWh Kilowatts per hour

LNG Liquefied Natural Gas

MARD Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

MOIT Ministry of Industry and Trade

MW Megawatt

Mwe Megawatt electrical

ODA Official Development Assistance

PEP-SOA Project Development Program for Southeast Asia

PPA Power Purchase Agreement

PDD Project Design Document

PVN PetroVietnam

REAP Renewable Energy Action Plan

SIDA Swedish International Development Agency

ST Steam Turbine

TKV Vietnam Coal and Mineral Group

toe Ton of Oil Equivalent

VCB Vietcombank (Vietnam Foreign Trade Bank)

VND Vietnam Dong

WB World Bank

Identification of Biomass Market Opportunities in Vietnam 1

Preface The targets and orientations for the development of Vietnam’s national electricity industry for the coming period are set in Decision No.1208/QD-TTg issued by the Prime Minister on July 21st, 2011 to approve the “Vietnam Power Development Plan in the Period 2011 – 2020 with vision to 2030”, in which, the priority and incentives will be given to developing renewable resources to increase the electricity production of renewable power from the neglect able to 5.6% and 9.4% by 2020 and 2030 respectively (based on their design capacity and inclusive only of small hydropower plants with the capacity of up to 30MW). Of these targeted renewable resources, biomass-generated power will make up 0.6% and 1.1%, or 500 MW and 2000 MW, respectively of the total power supply by 2020 and 2030.

The developing country of Vietnam has the geological position, climate and agro-forestry powered economy that give rise to the availability of renewable feedstock for energy production for both meeting the domestic needs and helping protect the environment as fossil fuel substitutes (by reducing GHGs, acid rain – inducing emissions, and dust).

The GIZ-implemented Project Development Programme (PDP) Southeast Asia, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi), is designed to enhance business cooperation and experience exchange between Vietnamese and German companies. This study is part of the project. The study aims to give an overview of production and use of biomass in Vietnam and identify the potentiality and challenges faced by the local biomass technology market.

The specific contents are as follows:

■ Overview of the Vietnamese power industry; ■ Identification of the Vietnamese biomass market; ■ Review of legal framework for renewable energy development in Vietnam; ■ Proposed ways to develop the biomass energy technology and market.

As a result, the study is made up of 4 components:

■ Component 1 is “Overview of the Vietnamese power industry”. This part states the status of power use, power sources, power demand, and targets for power sources in 10 years to 2020. Included in this part are tables of power prices by user, covering those offered small hydropower plants of less than 30MW and windmills. A roadmap towards a competitive power market and players in this market are also incorporated.

■ Component 2 is “Identification of the biomass market in Vietnam”. This part is focused on the analysis and evaluation of the production and use of biomass by type of biomass and status of on-going biomass projects. Also included is a review of the viability and technological applications. There are updated statistics on the business activity in the biomass sphere and presentations on prospects of technological applications and biomass availability.

■ Component 3 is “Review of legal framework for renewable energy development in Vietnam”. This part lists the brief summary of legal documents such as strategies/plans and policies related


to the development of renewable energy/biomass energy. Advantages and obstacles are identified and justified.

■ Component 4 is “Proposed ways to develop the biomass energy technology and market”. The identification of biomass demand, prospects of technology development, and Government’s targets for biomass power are summarized and analyzed in this part. Investment opportunities and information on markets and international partners involved in the Vietnamese biomass are reviewed and commented on.

Despite the great efforts put in the collection of information and data on biomass in Vietnam as presented in this paper, there remain some limitations of expected data and information. These limitations have been triggered by the unavailability of sources, data and statistics on resources, use and technology biomass that is a new sphere in Vietnam1 (i.e., there is no agency responsible for making, updating and reporting biomass statistics). The access to and collection of information on biomass is challenging, no matter it is from domestic or international side. Biomass projects often come in small or medium size (Category B or Category C projects2 like rice husk and bagasse power-generating projects. Under the rule, they are licensed by local (provincial) governments to operate. It takes time to approach investors and local authorities for information. In some cases, the approached are reluctant to provide information.

1 Biomass is the first type of renewable energy to be mentioned in the Government’s renewables development plan (Decision No.1208/QD-TTg of July 21st, 2011). 2 Small and medium projects (Category B and Category C or smaller than Category C) have total investment of up to 1500 billion VND (73 million USD) each.


1 Review and Analysis of Vietnamese Power Industry

1.1. Demand and growth of power in period 2001-2010

In the 10 years from 2001 to 2010, commercial power provided to meet economic and domestic needs increased constantly at the average annual growth of 14.5%. Commercial power rose from 31.1 billion kWh in 2001 to 99.1 billion in 2010, almost a triple increase. The commercial power amount in 2010 of 99.1 billion kWh represented a 14.3% jump from the 2009 level and this growth rate was 2.5 times higher than that of GDP. The following chart illustrates the demand and growth of power energy in Vietnam between 2001 and 2010.

Figure 1-1. Demand and growth of power in 2001-2010

Statistical data of late 2010 put the total installed capacity of all power sources in Vietnam at 21,542 MW, of which EVN accounted for 11,848 MW (55%) and outside-EVN sources (inclusive of institutions where EVN is a shareholder); 9,694 MW (45%). Power sources at the time of 2010 are shown in the following tables and charts by ownership, feedstock and technology applied.

Power demand 2001 - 2010

17.0%

15.5%

13.7%12.9%

14.4% 13.0% 12.8% 12.8%

14.3%

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Pow

er d

eman

d (G

Wh)

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

18%

Gro

wth

rat

e (%

)

Power demand Growth rate


Figure 1-2. Percentage of power supply by ownership

Figure 1-3. Percentage of power supply by feedstock and fuel

Updated statistics show that in 2010, newly started sources of power supply totalled 2,546MW. However, as most went into operation in late 2010, their contribution to the total supply of 2010 was insignificant.

Classification by type of production

Hydropower 38%

Coal thermal power 2%

Coal thermal power 18%

Oil thermal power3%

Gas turbine32%

Imports 5%

Others2%

Classification by ownership

EVN55%

Private 2%

Joint stock11%

TKV5%

Foreign invested10%

PVN11%

Imported5%

Others1%


1.2. Current sale rates

Since the issue of Decision No. 26/2006/QD-TTg by the Prime Minister in December 2006 to marketise power rates, there have been 5 increases. The first increase came on January 1st, 2007 when the price climbed to 842 VND/kWh, an increase of 7.6% from the 2006 level. In each of the ensuing years, the price went up steadily in the range of 5 -10%. The highest rise was recorded on March 1st, 2011 when it surged 15.28% to 1,242 VND/kWh, equivalent to 6 US cents at the September 30th 2011 exchange rate of VND/USD published by VCB.

On April 15th, 2011, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 24/2001/QD – TTg, whereby, instead of being changed once a year on March 1st every year, the price of power would be revised every 3 months. On August 19th, 2001, the Ministry of Industry and Trade promulgated Circular 31/2011/TT-BCT to provide guidance on how to revise the power rates, depending on the fluctuations of 3 parameters, i.e. i) Fuel price; ii) VND-USD exchange rate; and iii) contribution by power suppliers to the national grid3. The decision, which enables the pricing to change automatically, is effective on September 1st, 2011. Following is a summary of what the April 15th, 2011 Prime Ministerial decision prescribes the revision of power sale rates in open-market principles.

If the fuel prices or the VND-USD exchange rate increases from the parameters used to calculate the current rates or the contribution by power suppliers changes from the plan approved by the MOIT as the basis to calculate the current price, the current rate might be revised upwards:

a) by 5%, where the EVN reports to the MOIT and seeks its approval; or b) by more than 5%, where the EVN reports to the MOIT and refers the new pricing scheme to the

Ministry of Finance for appraisal.

Fifteen days after the MOIT has submitted the new pricing scheme to the Prime Minister, if the Government gives no feedback, the EVN can automatically raise the price by 5%.

Current power rate table for 2011 is described in detailed in Annex 2.

Table of wind power rates

The buyer of power must buy all the power produced by a wind mill with the price at the delivery point of 1,614 VND/kWh (excluding VAT and equivalent to 7.8 UScent/kWh). The bid price is subject to fluctuations in the exchange rate between VND and USD4.

3 Composition of power production is subject to change due to the difference in contributions by coal, hydro or gas power producers and their price. 4 In Vietnamese law, the currency used in purchase and sale contracts on the Vietnamese territory is VND. So, the decision specifies that the purchase price calculated for the investor must use VND. At the time of the decision making, 1 USD is equivalent to 20692 VND, so the coefficient is 7.8%. The decision to allow the power purchase price to adjust to the VND-USD exchange rate favors the investor. It is understood that any wind power projects selling power after the issue of this Decision can base on the current exchange rate to know the power purchase price. For example, in June 2012 when a wind power plant sells power to the VND, the exchange rate is 22000 VND/USD, then the power price stated in the contract will be 22000x7.8% = 1716 VND/kWh (not 1614 VND).


The Avoided cost Tariff table for 2011 (issued together with Decision 66/QĐ-ĐTĐL issued on December 31st, 2010 by the Director of the Power Regulation Department).

Table 1-1. Harvestable amount of wood energy

(VCB-offered September 30th 2011 exchange rate: USD=20,830 VND)

Item

Dry season Wet season

On-peak Mid-peak

Off-peak

On-peak

Mid-peak

Off-peak

Residual power

Power rate (VND/kWh) North 603 590 561 529 498 484 242 Middle 573 567 563 481 468 460 230 South 575 568 555 511 501 492 246

Capacity rate (apply to 3 regions) (VND/kWh) 1,772

The average avoided cost tariff, according to this table, is 916 VND/kWh (equivalent to 4.43 UScents/kWh). However, such a low price can apply only to the small hydropower plants as renewable energy projects that are near the road, connected to the national grid and have large availability of water supply.

1.3. Power generation and potential to 2020 (next 10 years)

In terms of power generation, the Power Development Planning for the Period 2011 – 2020 and Vision to 2030 set the following targets:

■ To provide sufficient power for domestic use with the total of generated and imported power ranging from 194 – 210 billion kWh by 2015 and range 330 - 362 billion kWh by 2020.

■ To develop renewable resources for power generation, increase the share of power generated from this source from the insignificant to 5.6% of the total power production by 2020.

■ To achieve 330 billion kWh in generated and imported power by 2020 with hydropower accounting for 19.6%; coal-burning thermal power, 46.8%; gas-burning thermal power, 24% (LNG 19.6%); renewable energy power, 4.5%; nuclear power, 2.1%; and imported power, 3%.

1.4. Existing power generating sources and predictions in next 10 years

As mentioned in 1.1 about the power demand in the period 2001 – 2010, the installed capacity at the time of December 31st 2010 of all power sources in Vietnam was 21,542MW, of which the usable capacity was 19,735MW.


Vietnam’s demand for power is likely to increase 3.3fold in 10 years, from 100.071 billion kWh in 2010 to 194 billion kWh by 2015 and 330 billion kWh by 20205. To have sufficient power for national development and backup, the Government offers to:

■ Achieve balanced development of power sources in terms of capacity in each of the 3 regions of North, Middle and South;

■ Increase the backup capacity by 6%-7% to take in account the often delay of 1-2 years in the building of power plants;

■ Achieve the balanced supply of coal and natural gas by tapping more natural gas fields; ■ Increase the share of coal thermal power in the Middle and South; ■ Keep the coal thermal power under 60% of the total power supply; ■ Build more small hydropower plants and renewable energy plants to a proper proportion; ■ Introduce pumped-storage hydropower plants in the South to put the number of hydropower

plants on a level with thermal power plants; ■ Build nuclear power plants to reduce reliance on fossil fuels; ■ Increase the importation of power from Laos, Cambodia and China; ■ Carry out more BOT and BOO projects;

In light of those points of view, the roadmap for the development of power sources in Vietnam over the next 10 years is set as follows (pursuant to Decision No. 1208/QD-TTg dated July 21st, 2011 by the Prime Minister);

■ To develop biomass power as a source of burning and generating to achieve 500 MW by 2020; ■ To increase the wind power capacity from the neglectable to 1,000 MW by 2020; ■ To give priority to the development of hydropower plants, especially those have the double

functions of food protection, water supply and power generation to bring the total capacity of hydropower plants from 9,200 MW now to 17,400 MW by 2020;

■ To put into operation pumped-storage hydropower plants to increase the efficiency of the power system and achieve 1,800 MW to be generated by pumped-storage hydropower plants by 2020;

■ To reach 10,400 MW in natural gas thermal power by 2020; ■ To make good use of domestically produced coal to feed thermal plants and prioritize locally

made coal for Northern thermal plants to achieve 36,000 MW in coal – burning thermal power by 2020.

■ To build nuclear power plants to offset the primary energy sources when they have been exhausted and commission the first in 2020;

■ To build power plants feeding on LNG to diversify power feedstock for power and gas security and achieve 2,000 MW in LNG-run power by 2020;

5 Decision No.1208/QD-TTg of July 21st, 2011 by the Prime Minister to approve the national power development planning for the period 2011 – 2020, taking into account a vision to 2030.


■ To achieve 75,000 MW in total power capacity by 2020, of which hydropower accounts for 23.1%; pumped-storage hydropower, 2.4%; coal-burning thermal power, 48%; gas-burning thermal power, 16.5% (including LNG, 2.6%); renewables, 5.6%; nuclear power, 1.4%; and imported power, 3.1%.

Details are illustrated in the following chart:

Figure 1-4. Power source structure by 2020

1.5. Players in the power market

The EVN is holding equity in most power plants and the entire power transmission, operation, distribution and retail system.

In power production, it is holding the controlling 70% equity in the power plant market. The rest is shared by State corporations such as PVN, TKV, Song Da, etc.; international investors (in BOT and IPP projects) and private Vietnamese investors as Independent Power Producers (IPPs). These plants sell power to the EVN under longer-term Power Purchasing Agreement (PPA) (see further Table 1.1).

However, under the approved industry development roadmap, the Vietnamese power market will be composed of three markets, as follows:

■ Power generation market

■ Power wholesale market; and

■ Power retail market

Power source structure by 2020

Nuclear Power1.3%

Renewables

5.6%

ImportedPower

3.1%

Hydropower

23.1%

Pumped storage

Hydropower

2.4%

Coal-burning

Thermal power

48.0%

Gas-burning

Thermal power

16.5%


The competitive power generation market operates on the basis of a single power buyer. All power producers will sell power to this only buyer under the PPA and offer their prices on the instant delivery market. Power distributors under the EVN will be re-arranged to become financially interdependent firms.

In the coming period, (see 1.6 below for further details), the competitive power generation market will come into operation under a charted roadmap. Players in this market include:

■ Power producers: power plants with the capacity of 30 MW or higher, connected with the national rid (except windmills and geothermal plants);

■ A single power buyer: EVN Power Purchasing Company; ■ Power system and power market regulator: National Power System Regulation Centre; ■ Provider of power measuring data collection and management services: Information Technology

Centre under the EVN Information-Telecommunication Company; and ■ Power transmission service provider: National Power Transmission Corporation.

1.6. Roadmap to competitive power market

Pursuant to Prime Minister Decision No. 26/2006 of January 26th, 2006 specifying the roadmap, conditions and levels of a competitive power market in Vietnam, the Vietnamese power market will inch toward a competitive market through 3 levels:

■ Level 1 (2005 - 2014): to make the power generation market competitive. ■ Level 2 (2015 - 2022): to make the power wholesale market competitive. ■ Level 3 (from 2022 on): to make the power retail market competitive.

Details of the roadmap to competitive power market are described in Annex 3.

1.7. Grid

The Vietnamese power transmission grid is operating at voltage 500kV, 220kV and 110/66kV. The 500kV lines link the North, Middle and South. The 220kV lines cover the whole nation with the total length of 8,500 km (in 2010). The total length of the 110/66kV lines is about 12,500km.

A general assessment of the Vietnamese power grid development suggests that up to 2010, many transmission grid projects had been carried out but able to meet just 50% of the plan6, specifically the 500kV grid meeting just 41% and 220kV grid, about 50%. Causes for this failure to fulfil the plan are lack of funds, problems with site clearance, rising input material price and limited contractor ability, to name a few.

6 Decision number 110 of the Prime Minister to approve the Power development planning of Vietnam to 2015 with vision to 2025 (Master Plan VI)


2 Identification and Evaluation of biomass energy market in Vietnam

In the coming period 2011-2020, the following tasks are set7 for the Vietnamese transmission grid:

■ To provide reliability in power delivery and transmission and reduce power loss in transmission; ■ To ensure that all power hubs across the nation connect to the unified grid; ■ To expand the 220 and 110kV grids to meet the transmission requirements when different power

plants have been commissioned and ■ To prepare a power plan complete with backup and flexibility to provide secure, stable and

quality power in terms of voltage and frequency.

2.1 Identification and Evaluation of Biomass Energy Market in Vietnam Biomass sources

Being an agricultural country, Vietnam boasts a wide variety of biomass sources in large volumes that are way usable to produce energy such as heat and power.

Primary solid biomass sources in Vietnam comprise: (i) Wood energy; (ii) Wood processing waste (sawdust, butt ends, etc.); and iii) Agricultural waste. Agricultural waste includes post-harvest residues such as rice straw, sugarcane leaves and buds and residues from other agricultural crops such as groundnuts, beans, coconuts, etc., and food processing wastes such as rice husks, bagasse, coffee bean shell, cashew nut shell, etc..

The term ‘wood energy’ (wood fuel) is understood as wood-based fuel, including fuel wood such as tree trunk, tree branch, shrub, etc., that are collected by cutting or pruning trees. Wood fuel is harvested from natural forest (deforestation, forest fires, etc.), production forest, forest plantation, bare land8 and through the thinning and pruning of industrial perennials (tea, coffee, rubber, cashew, etc.), fruit trees (orange, longan, etc.) and scattered trees.

i) Wood fuel/wood energy

Wood energy from natural forests, production forests and forest plantations: Up to the end of 2008, the total area of forest in Vietnam was approximately 13.11 million ha, including 10.35 million ha of natural forest, 2.76 million ha of forest plantations9. The rates of sustainable logging of fuel wood are legally set at 1 ton/ha/year for natural forest and 2.5 tons/ha/year, for forest plantations. At such regulated

7 Decision number 1208 of the Prime Minister to approve the Power development planning of Vietnam to 2020, with vision to 2030 (Master plan VII) 8 Bareland includes unused land and harvested forest. It is often covered with grass, shrub and small woody trees. 9 Decision No. 1267/QD-BNN-KL of May 4th, 2009 by the MARD.


rates, the total wood fuel harvested from natural forests and forest plantations amount respectively to 10.35 million and 6.9 million tons a year.

According to the Forest Development Strategy for the Period 2006 – 201010, the forest area is planned to reach 14.07 million ha in 2010, including 10.45 million ha under natural forests and 3.63 million ha under forest plantations. Using the sustainable logging rates, it is calculated that the wood amount in 2010 from natural forests is 14.07 million tons and 9.07 million tons from forest plantations.

Bare land: In 2005, the area of bare land was 6.41 million ha11. These tree-bare lands produce 3.21 million tons of fuel wood per year. With the afforestation program in place, the area of bare land is planned to drop to 4.94 million ha by 2010. Using the regulated rate for sustainable harvesting of fuel wood of 0.5 ton/ha/year, the total amount of fuel wood in 2010 is planned to be 2.47 million tons.

Industrial perennials: In 2005, the total area of industrial perennials was 1.63 million ha12, of which tea accounted for 7.5%; coffee, 30.5%; rubber, 29.6%; pepper, 3%; cashew, 21.3%; and coconut, 8.1%. Based on the sustainable fuel wood harvesting rate, the amount of fuel wood harvested in this year was 1.95 million toe and is planned to reach 2 million tons/year by 2010.

Fruit trees: In 2005, the area under fruit trees was 0.767 million13, producing 0.38 million tons of fuel wood. Considering the expanding rate of fruit tree acreage of 10 ha/year, the fuel wood amount from fruit trees might reach 0.41 million tons by 2010.

Scattered trees: In 2005, some 3.45 billion scattered trees were planted14, which is equivalent to 3.45 million ha planted at the density of 1,000 per ha. Scattered trees produced 6.04 million tons of fuel wood in 2005. In the period 2006-2020, about 200 million trees are planned to be planted every year. As a result, the amount of fuel wood to be harvested by 2010 is expected to reach 7.79 million tons.

10 Decision No. 18/2007/QD-TTg of July 5th, 2007. 11 Decision No. 1267//QD-BNN-KL of May 4th, 2009 by the MARD on the status of national forest land. 12 Vietnam Statistical Yearbook of 2010 13 Vietnam Statistical Yearbook of 2010 14 Decision No. 1267//QD-BNN-KL of May 4th, 2009 by the MARD on the status of national forest land.


The amount of wood fuel from the above mentioned sources are shown in the following table.

Table 2-1. Harvestable amount of wood energy

Supply source of wood energy

Harvestable amount of wood energy (million tons in 2010)

Natural forest 14.07 Forest plantation 9.07 Bare land 2.47 Industrial perennial 2.00 Fruit tree 0.41 Scattered tree 7.79 Total 35.81

Note: The calculations result from using the formula: EF = A × CSE, where: EF – harvested wood amount

(ton/year); A – area of forested land or tree planted area (ha); CSE – sustainable wood harvesting rate (ton/ha/year).

ii) Wood waste

Wood waste at wood processors (sawmills and furniture makers) include wood chips, butt ends, bark and sawdust. The amount of wood waste is calculated on the basis of domestic wood production and sawn wood15 that includes also the annually imported. In 2010, about 16 million m3 was processed to produce 6.5 million m3 of sawn wood. The ratio between wood waste and processing wood is 0.616 (10% of sawdust and 50% of other wood waste). The total amount of wood waste produced from sawmills in 2010 was 9.5 million m3, equivalent to 6.7 million tons, including 5.58 million tons of wood waste and 1.12 million tons of sawdust waste.

Table 2-2. Wood waste usable for energy production

Sources of wood waste Wood waste useful for energy production (million tons in 2010)

Wood processing - Butt ends and tree bark 5.58 - Sawdust and shavings 1.12 Building (timber formwork and house repairs) 0.80 Total 7.50

Source: Study Team, Institute of Energy, 2011

15 Vietnam Statistical Yearbook of 2010 16 Institute of Energy, 2009, Vietnam Renewable Energy Planning.


iii) Agricultural waste

Annual agricultural waste comes in 2 main types: i) postharvest residues such as rice straw, sugarcane leaves and buds, corn leaves and stems and cobs, cassava stems, coconut shells and coir, etc., and ii) food processing waste such as rice husks, bagasse, groundnuts shell and coffee bean shells, etc..

Rice straw: Postharvest rice residue is rice straw. The annual amount of rice straw depends on the annual harvest of rice17. The amount of rice straw produced in 2010 was 40 million tons (ratio of rice paddy/rice straw is 1:1).

Post-harvest residues of sugarcanes: Postharvest sugarcane residues are cane roots, leaves and buds. The amount of sugarcane residues depends on the annual harvest of sugarcane18. The 2010 amount totalled 7.8 million tons (cane/residue ratio is 1:0.3).

Post-harvest residues of corn: Postharvest corn residues are stems, leaves and cobs19. The kernel/corn residues ratio is 2. The 2010 residue amount was 9.2 million tons.

Cassava stems: Postharvest cassava residue is stems. In rural areas, cassava stems are used to cook or hedge. The cassava root harvest of 2010 was 8.5 million tons20. The amount of residues was 2.49 million tons (ratio is 1:0.3).

Rice husks: Rice husks are produced from rice processing. Each ton of paddy produces 0.2 ton of husks. The 40 million harvest in 201021 produced 8 million tons of husks.

17 Vietnam Statistical Yearbook of 2010 18 Vietnam Statistical Yearbook of 2010 19 Vietnam Statistical Yearbook of 2010 20 Vietnam Statistical Yearbook of 2010 21 Vietnam Statistical Yearbook of 2010


Figure 2-1. Rice husks in the Mekong Delta

Bagasse: Bagasse is produced from sugarcane extraction. The sugarcane/bagasse ratio is 0.3. The 2010 amount of 24 million tons of crushed sugarcanes22 produced 7.8 million tons of bagasse.

Groundnut shells: The 2010 harvest of groundnuts amounted to 0.49 million tons23. Groundnut processing by-product is ground nut shells. The groundnut/nutshells ratio is 0.3. The 2010 ground nut shells amount was 0.15 million tons.

Coffee bean shells: The 2010 coffee bean harvest was 1.1 million tons24. Given the coffee bean shell/coffee bean ratio of 0.15, the 2010 coffee bean shells was 0.165 million tons.

Cashew nut shells: The 2010 harvest of cashew nuts was 0.29 million tons25. With the cashew nut shells/cashew nut ratio of 0.3, the 2010 amount of cashew nut shells was 0.089 million tons.

Coconut waste (coconut shells and coir) and other agricultural waste such as soybean plants, etc. ranges 4 – 5 million tons per year26.

22 Vietnam Statistical Yearbook of 2010 23 Vietnam Statistical Yearbook of 2010 24 Vietnam Statistical Yearbook of 2010 25 Vietnam Statistical Yearbook of 2010 26 Interpolation and estimation from Vietnamese renewables planning data, IE, 2009


Table 2-3. Agricultural waste

Agricultural waste Usable agricultural waste (million tons in 2010)

Rice straw 40.00 Postharvest sugarcane residues 7.80 Postharvest corn residues 9.20 Cassava stems 2.49 Rice husks 8.00 Bagasse 7.80 Groundnut shells 0.15 Coffee bean shells 0.17 Cashew nut shells 0.09 Others (coconut, soybeans, etc.) 4.00 Total 74.90

Source: The calculations result from the formula: CR = CP × RCR, where CR – agricultural crop residues (tons/year), CP – agricultural crop harvest (tons/year), RCR – residues/harvest ratio (tons of residues/tons of harvest).

2.2 Use of Biomass in Vietnam

The biomass sources identified above are being used for energy or non-energy purposes or wasted by burning, dumping into rivers and canals, etc. Below is a summary of use of biomass by biomass type and by user.

i) Use of biomass by biomass type

Wood energy: Surveys and investigations by Vietnamese experts suggest that about 20% of the fuel wood changes hand in the market while the rest is collected for self consumption. Fuel wood is used for building material kilns, food processing and cooking. The total amount of fuel wood now stands at 22 million tons27.

Rice straw: Previously, rice straw is used for cooking in rural areas. However, improved living conditions in the last 2 – 3 years have resulted in a switch to other fuels, encouraging farmers to leave rice straw behind in the field and roads after threshing and burn it to cause smoke and dust pollution to nearby urban population. The total amount of rice straw used as fuel reduced from 7.8 million tons in 2005 to 4 million in 2010, which is just 10% of the total rice straw produced.

Rice husks: Rice husks are partially used for brick burning, pottery burning and rice drying (in the South). A small amount is used for cooking at farming households. The amount of rice husks as fuel now

27 Fuel wood has average humidity of 15% and heat value of as low as 3600 kcal/kg


accounts for 38% of the total 3 million tons produced annually. However, as brick kilns are planned to phase out28, the use of rice husks for firing is to drop soon.

Bagasse: About 80% of bagasse at sugar mills is burned to feed boilers that produce electricity and heat for sugar refining. However, not connecting with the grid for selling the redundant power, the mills just burn the bagasse as a waste. Now, they are braining out ways to sell their redundant power to the grid. The total amount of bagasse to this aim is nearly 4 million tons.

Other by-products: Coffee bean shells, peanut shells, corn stems and cobs, soybean plants, coconut shells, sugarcane leaves and buds, sawdust and wood chips can also be used as fuel. It is estimated that just 40% of the total amount of these biomass types is being used. The total amount for heat generation from this source of biomass is 1.688 million toe.

ii) Use of biomass by user

There are two main users of biomass: households and small rural industrial users.

Household users: The household uses biomass as fuel for cooking human and animal meals and running small processing machines. Investigation data combined with previous studies show that the total amount of biomass used by these users is 10.6 million toe a year, or 76% of the total biomass consumption.

Small rural industrial users: The small rural industrial user uses biomass for food processing, such as the making of rice noodles, cakes and tofu, liquor distilling, drying of tea, rubber and coffee, sugar refining, and producing of building materials such as bricks, tiles, lime, pottery, etc. The total amount of biomass used for heat generation by these users is 3.33 million toe per year, representing 24% of the total biomass consumption.

28 The Ministry of Construction, Plan to replace intermittent brick kilns


Table 2-4. Listed consumptions of biomass by type and user (ktoe in 2010)

User Biomass type

Total Fuel wood Husk Straw Bagasse Others

Heat

Cooking stove (residential cooking)

6552 395 990 88 890 8915

Kiln 663 405 - - 100 1168 Burner 1145 100 130 100 698 2173

Combined heat and power

Combined energy generation

- - - 552 - 552

Total 8360 900 1120 740 1688 12808 Source: Vietnam Institute of Energy, 2010, study report on renewables planning in Vietnam and estimation

Note: Heat values of: + Wood fuel: 3800 kcal/kg + Rice husks: 3000 kcal/kg + Straw: 2800 kcal/kg + Bagasse: 1850 kcal/kg

2.3 Status and prospects of projects using biomass for energy production in Vietnam

2.3.1 Status

At project level, there are 4 types of technologies applied to use biomass for energy production in Vietnam, namely: i) Heat generation only; ii) Power generation only; iii) Combined heat and power (CHP); and iv) Biomass briquetting/biomass palletizing.

i) Biomass-based heat generation technologies

There is great demand for use of heat for drying by rice, coconut, coffee and cashew processors. A primary survey of the use of biomass for wood processing in Dan Phuong, Hanoi and for coconut processing in Chau Thanh, Ben Tre province29 shows that there are tens of biomass burning kilns in each of these districts.

At these wood processors, the kiln is designed to burn raw biomass. The output heat can be water vapour (steam) or hot air, which is used to dry wood products. Almost all the processors use butt ends produced from wood processing as fuel. They are of small size, each with the capacity ranging from 5 – 10 tons of saturated steam per hour and all made in Vietnam by the Vietnam Boilers Company.

29Source: Institute of Energy, July 2011, Task Report 1, the project EEP Mekong


Likewise, the coconut processors use raw biomass as fuel, which includes rice husks and coconut residues such as coconut shells and coir. The boilers are similar to those used at the mentioned wood processors.

Besides, in the Mekong Delta, which is distant from coal mines in the Northern province of Quang Ninh, hence using coal at a price 1.5-2 times higher than in the North, rice husks are used for brick kiln firing in such provinces as Dong Thap, Vinh Long and Binh Duong and more investment is being poured into building such husk-burning kilns.

Reports from the website ‘http://danviet.vn’30 say that one year into the use of the Hoffman kiln, a German continuous husk-burning brick kiln, the Kim Thach Co., Ltd., at the Tan Duong industrial park in Lai Vung, Dong Thap province has contributed to reducing the local pollution. The Hoffman kiln31, designed to burn bricks with 2 tunnels each with 10 continuous burning chambers, can produce 20,000 bricks per day-night. The new brick burning technology is reported to be more energy-efficient than the intermittent (traditional) kiln. The German-styled kiln consumes up to 0.35 kg of husks to burn 1 kg of brick while the conventional kiln uses 0.5 kg of husks for 1 kg of burnt brick. The new-style brick kiln helps save 30% of feedstock. Another plus is that the German kiln takes only 24 hours to complete the firing of ware while the conventional, 20 days.

Another project is the study to improve the husk-burning brick kilns in the Mekong Delta, undertaken by the Ministry of Science and Technology under the sponsorship of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)32. The project aims to introduce the Thai-style continuous husk-burning brick kiln in An Giang province to reduce environmental pollution and make use of available rice husks and other agricultural by-products. The project’s success is being multiplied to other provinces in the delta such as Tay Ninh, Soc Trang and Dong Thap. This kiln’s working principle is that the firing temperature of the firing chamber is controlled to increase gradually until the ware is ripe. Workers can monitor the temperature by looking through a flame watch hole or at a heat meter. While the first chamber is working, the adjacent chamber starts its primary firing. The hot air passes through the primary firing chamber to the drying chamber. Consequently, the emissions after going from the firing chamber through the primary firing chamber and drying chamber become cooler and thus fuel has been put to effective use. Furthermore, the emissions flowing through the brickworks of the next chambers will be partially filtered, hence making the emissions spewed into the open air less polluting.

ii) Biomass-based power generation projects

To date, there is no operational biomass-burning power plant in Vietnam. However, data put together from local reports suggest that about 10 investors have applied to build such plants each averaging 10 MW. They include eight Vietnamese investors and two partnerships with foreign investors. The reports show that most are likely to use rice husk to generate power for sale to the national grid and employ the fluidized bed combustion (FBC) technology.

30 Source: http://danviet.vn/54183p1c34/khac-phuc-o-nhiem-bang-lo-gach-dot-trau-hoffman.htm 31 Source: http://danviet.vn/54183p1c34/khac-phuc-o-nhiem-bang-lo-gach-dot-trau-hoffman.htm 32 Source: http://vaidiakythuat.net/nung-gach-bang-trau.html


These candidate projects concentrate in Mekong Delta provinces, specifically two in Tien Giang; three in Dong Thap; three in Can Tho; and one in Kien Giang. The following is a brief introduction of these projects. The reasons for their concentration in this region are: a) This region accounts for 55% of the national total of rice husk; b) This region is distant from fossil fuel sources, especially coal; and c) there is great demand for heat and power in this region, especially in the rice harvesting season.

■ The 9-MW husk-burning heat and power cogeneration plant in Cần Thơ. The investor is the HCMC-based Dinh Hai Co., Ltd.. The plant produces 20 tons of steam per hour, which is sold to other companies inside the Tra Noc industrial park. Construction started in 2007 and is composed of three phases with Phase 1 installing a boiler of 20 tons of steam per hour serving companies in the industrial park; Phase 2 to install a 2-MW steam-turbine generator; and Phase 3 to expand its capacity to 9 MW. Schedule by phase is detailed as follows: – Phase 1: from 2007-2009; Capacity of 20 tons of steam/h; not generating power – Phase 2: from 2011-2012; Capacity of 20 tons of steam/h; generating 2 MW

– Phase 3: from 2013-2014; Capacity of 70 tons of steam/h; generating 9 MW

■ The 10-MW husk-burning power plant in Tien Giang. The investor is the HCMC-based Tan Hiep Phuc Power Installation and Construction JSC. The candidate site is Cai Be. The generated power will be sold to the grid. The investment cost is 1,860 $US/kW (inclusive of bank loans for two years’ construction) with the majority of equipment to be imported from Europe. A feasibility study was completed in 2007. However, the project has been delayed due to problems with land rental, PPA, husk purchase contracts and the recent rises in bank loan interest rates. The project is expecting a similar treatment in power purchase price to wind power.

■ The 10-MW husk-burning power plant in Can Tho. A feasibility study was conducted by the Dutch company TOPEC BV in 2007. The selection of investors is underway. The project is unlikely to start before 2011 for in the initial negotiations after the feasibility study, the bid price for power was offered at as low as 5 UScent/kWh by the EVN. Like the husk-burning power project by the Tan Hiep Phuc Power Installation and Construction Company, this project is pinning hope on special treatment in buying its power at a price higher than 5 UScent/kWh.

■ The 10-MW husk-burning power plant by HCMC-based Duy Phat Power JSC in Đồng Tháp. This project is still under study.

■ The 6-MW husk-burning power plant at the Ba Sao industrial park in Cao Lanh, Dong Thap. Formed in 2009 by the Korea Power Consulting Company, this plant is designed to burn husk to generate power, using the FBC technology with one boiler, one turbine and one generator. The selection of the project investor is underway. This project is also unlikely to start before 2011 for the same reasons above.

■ There are 5 – 6 husk-burning power plants each of 10 MW in An Giang, Kien Giang, Hau Giang and Long An now in the process of site selection and application for licensing from respective local authorities. However, no progress has been seen. A possible cause is the absence of a pricing system for biomass power. If the Time-of-Use price table for small hydropower plants applies to biomass-based power plants, it is discouraging to investors. Worse still, the high loan interest rates of over 20%, even 30% a year, make these projects hardly viable.


Table 2-5. Summarized information on husk-fuelled power plants

No Project Capacity Expected technology

Investor or investment report maker

Status

1

Husk-burning heat and

power cogeneration

plant in Can Tho

9MW (3

phases)

Fluidized Bed

Combustion

(FBC)

Dinh Hai

Thermal Power JSC Address:

Lot 2.9A5, Road 10, Tra Noc 2

IP, Can Tho

Tel: 0710 3744 295 # Fax:

0710.3744 296 – Tax code :

1800 646 683

Email: [email protected] -

Website: www.dinhhai.com

Expected to expand

capacity to 15-20MW

on bank loans

2

Husk-burning heat and

power cogeneration

plant in Can Tho

10MW FBC

J-Power (Electricity Power

Development Co., Ltd and

Chubu Electric Power Company

Inc

Investment Report

completed on Dec

21st, 2009

3

10-MW husk-burning

power plant in Can

Tho

10 FBC TOPEC BV, the Netherlands NA

4

Husk-burning power

plant in Cai Lay, Tien

Giang

10 FBC HCMC-based Duy Phat Power

JSC

Investment Report

completed in Jan

2009

5

Husk-burning power

plant in Cai Be, Tien

Giang

10 FBC HCMC-based Duy Phát Power

JSC

Investment Report

completed in Nov

2010

6

Husk-burning power

plant at the Ba Sao IP,

Cao Lanh, Dong Thap

6 FBC Korea Power Corporation

(KEPCO)

Investment Report

completed in Jan

2009

7

Proposed husk-burning

power plant in Cho

Gao, An Giang

10 FBC NA

In the process of

making an investment

report

8 Husk-burning power

plant in Kien Giang 10 FBC NA

In the process of

applying for

permission to invest


plant in Long An 10 FBC NA NA


plant in An Giang 10 FBC NA

In the process of

applying for

permission to invest

Note: NA, not available


iii) Energy cogeneration

Bagasse from sugar mills and black liquor from paper production are the key biomass feedstock for energy cogeneration plants. There are now 39 energy cogeneration plants (38 sugar mills and 1 paper mill) with the total installed capacity of 150MWe. Their capacity ranges from 1.5 to 24 Mwe. The power and steam generated from these plants is used to feed these very plants. The majority of energy produced is used to crush sugarcane and refine sugar.

There are only 3 plants selling their redundant power to the national grid at the price of 4-5 UScents/kWh. Other plants are keen to sell their power on their expansion. However, the bid price for their power is discouraging. To make the matter worse, the vast majority of these plants are using the outdated technology, hence low efficiency. Renewing technology and improving capacity now top their concerns.

In May 2011, the Vietnam Sugarcane and Sugar Association sent an official letter to the Government, MOIT and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, asking that there be policy to buy power from the expanding sugar mills to take advantage of bagasse, and sugarcane leaves and buds, which are being wasted. The amount the association asks to be purchased is nearly 2000MW. Following is an illustration of a failing energy cogeneration project, which comprises an FBC boiler of 2.5 tons/h, a turbine-generator of 50 kW, a heat exchanger and 3 rice driers, and was commissioned in Long An in 1999 but has ceased to operate for not being viable.

Figure 2-2. The husk-burning combined heat and power project

demonstrated in Long An province

Some sugar mills in the provinces of Phu Yen and Thanh Hoa are working against the clock to invest in expanding their bagasse-burning factories. Some key details are as follows:

• A 16-MW bagasse-burning combined heat and power factory in Phu Yen. The investor is KCP Vietnam Industries (India), which is owning KCP Phu Yen sugar mill. Its investment report was completed in 2009. The expected power output for sale is 65,840 MWh/year. The energy equipment is to be imported from India.


• A 12.5-MW bagasse-burning combined heat and power factory expansion in Thanh Hóa. In August 2011, the investor – the Lam Son Sugarcane and Sugar JSC applied to the MOIT to expand its combined heat and power factory by 12.5MW. The expansion includes a boiler with the steam capacity of 80 tons/h and turbine-generator of 12.5 MW. The expected power output for sale is 81,900 MWh/year. The proposed offer price is 916 VND/kWh.

The following is brief information on bagasse-burning combined heat and power factories at sugar mills.

Table 2-6. Brief information on bagasse-based heat and power cogeneration factories at sugar mills33

33 Sources from the Vietnam Sugarcane and Sugar Association say that all the listed sugar mills are keen to sell their redundant power to the grid from their expanded production processes (Official Letter 529/HHMĐ addressed to the Prime Minister, MOIT and MARD to request purchase of 1950 MW of bagasse-based power)

No Factory/Plant Capacity Origin of

equipment Output

1 Pho Phong sugar mill

in Quảng Ngãi 1500 tons of

sugarcane/day China

Heat and power for self consumption by the plant

2 Nagarjuna sugar mill

in Long An 3500 tons of

sugarcane/day India


3 Vietnam – Taiwan sugar mill in Thanh

Hoa

6000 tons of sugarcane/day

Taiwan and Australia


4 Son Duong sugar mill

in Tuyen Quang 1000 tons of

sugarcane/day China


5 To Hieu sugar mill in

Son La 1000 tons of

sugarcane/day China

Having sold power to the grid at the price of 4

UScent/kWh

6 Hoa Binh sugar mill 700 tons of

sugarcane/day China


7 Binh Dinh sugar mill 1500 tons of

sugarcane/day China


8 Bourbon sugar mill in

Gia Lai 1000 tons of

sugarcane/day China


9 Kon Tum sugar mill 1000 tons of

sugarcane/day China


10 Dac Nong sugar mill 1000 tons of

sugarcane/day China


11 Binh Thuan sugar mill 1000 tons of

sugarcane/day China




equipment Output

12 Tri An sugar mill in

Dong Nai 1000 tons of

sugarcane/day China


13 Bourbon sugar mill in

Tay Ninh 8000 tons of

sugarcane/day France

Having sold power to the grid at the price of 4.5

UScent/kWh

14 Cao Bang sugar mill 700 tons of

sugarcane/day China


15 Quảng Nam sugar mill 1000 tons of

sugarcane/day Australia


16 Tay Ninh raw sugar

mill 2500 tons of



17 Vi Thanh sugar mill in

Hau Giang 1500 tons of

sugarcane/day China


18 Soc Trang sugar mill 1500 tons of

sugarcane/day China


19 Kien Giang sugar mill 1000 tons of

sugarcane/day China


20 Tra Vinh sugar mill 1500 tons of

sugarcane/day China


21 Quang Binh sugar mill 2000 tons of

sugarcane/day China


22 Nghe An-Tate&Lyle

sugar mill in Nghe An 6000 tons of

sugarcane/day The UK


23 Ben Tre sugar mill 2000 tons of

sugarcane/day China


24 Phung Hiep sugar mill 1250 tons of

sugarcane/day India


25 KCP sugar mill in Phu

Yen 4000 tons of

sugarcane/day India

Working on the project to sell 16MW to the grid

26 Thoi Binh sugar mill in

Ca Mau 1000 tons of



27 Cam Ranh sugar mill

in Khanh Hoa 6000 tons of

sugarcane/day The US


28 Nong Cong sugar mill

in Thanh Hoa 1500 tons of

sugarcane/day Poland and India


29 An Khe sugar mill in

Gia Lai 2000 tons of

sugarcane/day China



Biomass gasification: In Vietnam, biomass gasification came into the spotlight in the early 1980s when there were shortages of petroleum and power at that time. Gas compounds from wood liquefaction were then used for buses. The rice husk gasification combined with power generation developed in the South in 1980s with 15 systems of 75 MW in total installed in the Mekong Delta and HCMC. However, this technology was then neglected on the improvements in petroleum and power supply and the use of rice for other purposes such as the firing of brick and pottery kilns) that has brought in higher economic benefits. The Post Harvest Institute has designed and manufactured some rice husk gasification facilities on a trial basis. The gas compounds from these facilities are used to feed rice driers. Generally, biomass gasification remains strange to Vietnam and Vietnam has little experience in this respect.

iv) Biomass pelletising/briquetting

The briquetting/pelletising of biomass such as rice husk and sawdust, though helping solve the low relative-density problem, has so far attracted little attention. In Vietnam, biomass is briquetted for limited uses, mainly heat generation (cooking) in the family. Efforts are being made in the field of research and development to make biomass briquettes more viable and popular among users.


equipment Output

30 Quang Phu sugar mill

in Quang Ngai 2500 tons of



31 Song Con sugar mill in

Nghệ An 1250 tons of

sugarcane/day China


32 Lam Son sugar mill in

Thanh Hoa 6000 tons of

sugarcane/day France and Japan

Still working on the project to sell 12.5MW

33 333 sugar mill in Dac

Lac 500 tons of

sugarcane/day China


34 Tuy Hoa sugar mill in

Phu Yen 1250 tons of

sugarcane/day India


35 Ninh Hoa sugar mill in

Khanh Hoa 1250 tons of

sugarcane/day China


36 Tuyen Quang sugar mill in Tuyen Quang

700 tons of sugarcane/day

China Heat and power for self

consumption by the plant

37 La Nga sugar mill in

Dong Nai 2000 tons of

sugarcane/day Denmark

Having sold power to the grid at the price of 4

UScent/kWh

38 Hiep Hoa sugar mill in

Long An 2000 tons of



39 Bai Bang paper mill Black liquor

boiler France



The Institute of Energy has pioneered to introduce the advanced briquetting technology into Vietnam34. Under a renewable energy project funded by the SIDA and the Bangkok-based Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), the institute has imported from Thailand a fuel briquetter to try on the domestic feedstock of rice husks, sawdust, coffee bean shells and bagasse). After that, it recognized the need to improve this screw-model briquetter and offered some improved versions of it. Research was made to lengthen the longevity of the screws. The improved version was then demonstrated at different places nationwide for widespread promotion to people. Training was also provided to business and technicians. Accompanying the briquetter, the institute and AIT also promoted stoves specifically designed to burn briquettes. A small investigation conducted by the institute shows that in some Mekong Delta provinces such as Tien Giang and Can Tho, private sector businesses have embraced this rice-husk briquetter, each installing 1-2 units. Some install up to 10 units. The pressing capacity is 70-100kg of rice husks/h. The investment cost for a briquette ranges from 35-40 million VND. Briquette products are sold locally at 800-1000 VND/kg for small businesses that make cakes, rice noodles or confectionary or for families for cooking. There are reports that some traders have started to collect these briquettes for export to Japan or South Korea. Still, production scale remains small and domestically made briquetters often break down, interrupting the briquetting process.

Figure 2-3. A biomass briquetter in Tien Giang (photo by N.D.Cuong)

2.3.2 Potential and uses of biomass for energy production (heat only, power only or combined heat and power at industrial scale in Vietnam)

In Vietnam, the amount of rice husks produced from rice processing is about 8 million tons annually. There is about 40 million tons of rice straw annually, of which only 3 million tons is utilized. A survey conducted by the Institute of Research and Development in the Mekong Delta at 108 rice mills (selected

34Activities and Achievements of a Biomass Briquetting Project in Vietnam. Pham Khanh Toan, Nguyen Duc Cuong, and M. Augustus Leon. Downloadable at: http://www.retsasia.ait.ac.th/Publications/WRERC%202005/IE%20paper-final.pdf


at random) in the provinces of Can Tho, An Giang, Kien Giang, Hau Giang and Soc Trang shows that about 50% of the rice husks produced by rice mills is sold as residential fuel or fertilizer. The offer price ranges from 50-300 VND/kg, depending on the area and time of the year. These mills have large redundant amounts of rice husks, which total 232,000 tons/year. The redundancy concentrates in the peak months of harvest (from February to July) at small and medium mills. The harvestable amount of rice husks for power generation in the Mekong Delta can reach 2 million tons each year in the period to 2015 and 4 million tons to 2020. In the large rice producing provinces of An Giang, Dong Thap, Tien Giang, Long An, Kien Giang and Can Tho, if an average rice-husk burning power plant run by a rice mill to make use of its residual rice husks consumes between 65,000 -80,000 tons of husks to generate 10 MW a year, it is possible to build 100 such plants with the capacity ranging from 500 KW to 20 MW. The use of rice husks for power generation is also helpful to reducing pollution caused by its dumping into rivers and canals.

The Dinh Hai Power JSC, the first rice husk-burning thermal power plant to run in Vietnam, reports that there are about 10 projects like it in the Mekong Delta now. However, some causes such as low bid price and high loan interest have hindered them from starting.

Sharing the same problems faced by rice mills, sugar mills are also discouraged from running bagasse-fuelled power plants (including boilers, turbines and generators). On April 8th, 2011, the Vietnam Sugarcane and Sugar Association sent Official Dispatch No. 529/HHMD to the Prime Minister, MOIT and MARD to ask for the financing of 1950 MW to be generated from sugarcane residues.

In light of the country’s ever rising demand for energy, limited reserves of energy sources (coal imports expected after 2015) and great prospects of biomass supply, it is highly feasible technologically, economically and environmentally to use the available biomass supply for power-only generation and combined heat and power cogeneration. Prime Minister Decision 1208 to approve the general plan for power development in the period 2011-2020 with a vision 2030 (General Plan 7) serves as the legal framework for biomass development in Vietnam. The decision on biomass development sets the specific targets of:

■ generating 500 MW of biomass power by 2020; ■ generating 2,000 MW of biomass power by 2030 (annual growth of 100MW).


The following is an illustrative figure of development of renewables in general and biomass in particular in Vietnam in the period 2011-2030.

Figure 2-4. Biomass-based power development plan of Vietnam

The potential biomass thermal power plants in Vietnam in the coming period will be rice husk, bagasse, coffee bean shell, wood waste and rice straw-based. The more viable economically and environmentally are bagasse, rice husk and wood waste-based projects.

2.4 A number of information on the current situation of cooperation projects between Vietnam and international biomass organizations

In spite of being considered as one of the countries with significant potential of biomass energy (being the world leading rice exporter, the world second largest coffee exporter, leading exporter in other products such as cashew, coconut and wooden products, etc), the exploitation of available biomass sources to provide fuel of medium and large energy production projects is insignificant (compared to Thailand, Malaysia, etc). The reason is probably that Vietnam is still a major coal exporter, the price of domestic fossil fuel is still subsidized (the domestic price of coal used for electricity production is only 35-40% the price of imported coal). Low electricity price (average electricity selling price from EVN to clients is only approximately US$ 6.2 cent/kWh) limited the opportunities for purchasing electricity from renewable energy projects in general and biomass projects in particular (as analyzed and mentioned above). In this context, so far there have not been many cooperation projects between Vietnam and international biomass organizations. The following table summarizes a number of cooperation projects in the biomass field in Vietnam to date.

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

2011

2013

2015

2017

2019

2021

2023

2025

2027

2029

MW

Biogas

Solar (PV)

Geothermal pow er

MSW

SHP

Biomass (solid)

Wind Pow er


Table 2-7. Overview of information on cooperation projects between Vietnam and International organizations

Project name Project objectives Project parties Scope and contents

“Multi benefit solution

to minimize climate

change in Vietnam and

South East Asian

nations by development

of biomass energy”.

Project duration: 5 years

since October 2011 to

2016

To develop a transcendent

biomass energy process in

both economic and

environmental factors

(planting trees for fuel –

production – consumption)

and aiming toward

promotion of worldwide

usage of this process.

Japan International

Cooperation Agency

(JICA) and Vietnam

National University

Japan contributes 5 million USD for

the project. The project shall be

carried out in 5 years (from October

2011 to 2016) with the contents such

as: Planting trees for oil (Jatropha)

and other plants on fallow and

polluted areas; development of green

technology in order to produce

biological diesel

Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) technical support

project for increasing the usage of biomass

waste sources

Project duration: 4 years

since December 2011 to

Dec 2015

Increase the rate of biomass waste usage in

agriculture in order to meet the increasing demand for

clean energy and food security for poor

households in rural areas.

The project is funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB) with US$ 4 million. Partners: 3 countries including Cambodia, Laos,

Vietnam

ADB contributes US$ 4 million from

Nordic Development Fund (NDF),

the remaining US$ 600.000 is

contributing fund from Cambodia,

Laos and Vietnam Governments.

Preparation for implementation of the

project is carried out with items on

sustainable biomass exploitation and

usage

Feasibility study on energy production for Phu Quoc island district by biogas technology and biomass power plant

Preparation of a feasibility

study on establishment of a

biomass power plant and

development of the

technology for dry

composition of residential

waste used for electricity

production

Project is funded by

EC-ASEAN Facilities.

Partners: Can Tho

University, Institution

of Energy and a

German agency

Carried out in 2004 – 2005. Contents:

Preparation of a feasibility study

report on biomass power plant and

the technology for dry composition

of residential waste used for

electricity production in Phu Quoc

Three phases of COGEN programme

To promote the

implementation of projects

on Cogeneration–

Combined Heat and Power

technology in South East

COGEN programme is

initiated and funded by

the European

Commission and

ASEAN. The project is

Cogen 1: 1991-1994: including all

kinds of fuel

Cogen 2: 1995-1998, including all

kinds of fuel

Cogen 3: 2000-2004, only focusing


Project name Project objectives Project parties Scope and contents Asian nations

coordinated in South

East Asia by Asian

Institute of Technology

AIT located in

Bangkok, Thailand and

the Research Center for

Energy and

Environment is the

partner carrying out

Cogen 3 in Vietnam.

on biomass

“Study and presentation of improved biomass compression system”

project within the scope of regional study on renewable energy

technologies in Asia

Project duration: 6 years since 1997 to 2003

To study, select and

popularize the improved

biomass compression

system and cooking stoves

using torrefyer biomass

pellets in Vietnam

Funded by SIDA –

Sweden, Coordinated

by Asian Institute of

Technology AIT –

Bangkok. Partner:

Vietnam: Institute of

Energy

Funding: approximately US$ 150000.

Contents:

- Importing compressing machine;

- Testing compressing machine

- Improving compressing machine

according to Vietnam conditions

- Designing forms of cooking stoves

using high-productivity torrefyer

biomass

pellets

- Popularizing the technology

“Studying the supply chain of biomass fuel to

power plants and industrial boilers in Vietnam” project

Project duration: 2 years from 2011 to 2012

Developing and

establishing stable biomass

supply chain (from sellers,

transporters, purchasers)

for power plants and

industrial boilers in

Vietnam

Funded by the Ministry

for Foreign Affairs of

Finland and Nordic

Development Fund.

Partners: coordinated

by Vietnam Institute of

Energy, participated by

Technical Research

Centre VTT of Finland

Carried out in 2 years 2011 – 2012.

Contents include:

- Evaluating the current situation on

biomass supply chain

- Proposing sample researches

- Presenting sample researches for 2

factories

- Popularizing the results

Small biomass projects such as improved

biomass cooking stoves, survey on biomass

energy usage of residential households, survey on types of fire wood, etc carried out

before 2000

Promoting effective usage

of biomass and

environmental protection

in household rural areas

and small-scale home craft

World Bank, Food and

Agriculture

Organization of the

United Nations (FAO),

and a number of other

organizations

Key contents:

- Studying the real situation (samples

used, firing technology, supply

sources, biomass prices)

- Popularizing biomass equipment –

high productivity cooking stoves

replacing traditional stoves


2.5 Economical nature of biomass projects

Any project, such as building a power plant or co-generator for biomass burning, must be feasible in economic factor in order for investment to be carried out. Therefore it is vital to develop and analyze information on costs (including investment costs and costs for operation and maintenance) and revenues for such a project. The below are preliminary analysis on the economical nature of biomass projects in Vietnam. It should be noted that information on costs and revenue mentioned hereinafter is for reference purposes when review for investment decisions only. Exact information can only be obtained based on practical data such as suppliers, construction costs, biomass resource prices, selling price for thermal and rice husk, etc in the field.

2.5.1 Investment costs

Investment costs for the Project (capital cost or initial cost) including equipment cost, cost for installation, project development and management costs, and other costs.

Equipment costs: include cost for purchasing equipment, including cost for transporting such equipment to the project site. These costs depend on components of the power plant system, their technical characteristics as well as quality and productivity of the equipment.

Costs for construction and equipment installation: include land rental, costs for land clearance, human resources, equipment installation, etc

Project development and management costs: include costs for preparing of feasibility study, costs for technical design and construction design, costs for construction management, costs for environmental impact assessment and application of permits, services fees for construction supervision and examination, training costs, regulatory fees.

Other costs: include taxes, insurances during the construction period, costs related to funding arrangement (for example, interests during the constructions period, banking fees, and insurance for loans).

As discussed above, investment costs of a power generation or power-thermal co-generation project from biomass will depend on many factors that are typical for each kind of projects such as scale, location, type of biomass, form of transport, etc. The generalized costs below may not be used for a particular project, but can be used for preliminary estimation. For this purpose, the above data on investment costs are summarized based on reports from a number of projects to be carried out in Vietnam.

Table 2.8 illustrates investment unit costs of power generation or power-thermal generation plants burning bagasse and rice husk in Vietnam. These costs exclude taxes and insurances during the construction period and the costs for funding arrangement.


Table 2-8. Investment unit costs of biomass burning power plant (USD/kW)

Type of biomass/Capacity Only generating power

Power-thermal generating

Bagasse

1-5 MW - 1,600 – 1,800

5-15 MW - 1,300 – 1,600

15-30 MW - 1,200 – 1,300

Rice husk

1-5 MW 1,800 – 2,000 2,000 – 2,200

5-15 MW 1,600 – 1,800 1,800 – 2,000

15-30 MW 1,400 – 1,600 1,600 – 1,800

Source: Institute of Energy, 2010, report on comprehensive planning of renewable energy for Vietnam, 2011-2020 period, with a vision to 2030, “schedules volume”

With regard to small-scale steam turbine power plant burning biomass (1-5 MW), equipment costs often account for 75-80% total cost of investment. Installation costs account for 15-20% and the remaining 5% is project development and management.

With regard to major project (> 5 MW), equipment costs make up 70-75%, installation costs account for 20-25%, and project development and management costs account for 5%.

2.5.2 Operation & maintenance costs

Operation & maintenance costs (O&M): include fixed costs and variable costs. Fixed costs (like workers salary, land or premises rental, depreciation, loan interest, etc) are costs payable regardless of the fact that the power plant operates or not. Variable costs (including costs for fuel, materials for manufacturing) will depend on operating additional charge and operating schedule of the power plant.

Fuel costs: are the costs making up largest part in operation costs, of approximately 70-80%, except in the case where fuel is secondary results from production or made from waste (bagasse in sugar factories).

The particular prices of fuel or agreement between investors of biomass power project and fuel suppliers must be taken into consideration when calculating the fuel costs. The fuel costs may be calculated by


multiplying investment unit cost (kg/kWh or m3/kWh) with opportunity costs 35of biomass fuel (VND/kg or VND/m3). Table 2.9 illustrates fuel consumption rate and opportunity costs of biomass fuel with regard to power generating technologies and various types of biomass.

Table 2-9. Fuel consumption rate and its opportunity cost

Bagasse Rice husk

Opportunity cost, VND/kg (or m3) 0 200-450

Fuel consumption rate, kg /kWh

Steam turbine power plant - 1,2-1,8

Steam turbine power-thermal generating plant (> 35 bar) 2,5-3,036 1,8-2,537


Not counting fuel cost, O&M costs of a biomass power plant often account for 2-5% total investment costs. However, due to the annual increase in costs for equipment maintenance and repair, O&M costs in the last years of the project’s life will be higher than those in the beginning of the project. Usually, it is assumed that O&M costs are equal to 3% of total investment costs during the first to fifth year of operation, 3.5% during the sixth to tenth year and 4% from the eleventh year onward.

2.5.3 Revenue of biomass power project

Annual revenue from operating biomass power project includes (i) selling electricity, (ii) selling thermal/steam (in case of power-thermal co-generation), (iii) selling ash (in case of burning rice husk), and (i) selling certified emission reduction.

35 Opportunity cost: if biomass is not used it must be burnt out (in the field or on the street) or throw to the river. Consequently, there will be a negative impact to the society (environmental, health and other social impacts). Furthermore, the replacement of biomass for fossil fuel should be taken into consideration (for example import price of coal is 30-40% higher the the local price) 36 This is the volume of bagasse consumed in order to meet the demand of power from sugar factory and generating 1kWh of electricity 37 These data cannot be determined as they are largely subject to power-thermal ratio which varies for each particular project.


(i) Revenue from selling electricity

Revenue from selling electricity depends on the amount of electricity sold to grid and electricity price. Avoided cost tariff issued annually by the Ministry of Industry and Trade can be used as reference for calculation of revenue from selling electricity. However this price level can only be applicable to small hydropower projects. Biomass power tariff is being proposed to develop in the form of feed-in tariff.

The amount of electricity sold to grid depends on the rate of auxiliary electricity and the operating time of biomass power plant. Table 2.10 illustrates the typical elements of operating time, auxiliary electricity rate and amount of electricity sold to grid of various power plants and power-thermal generating plants in Vietnam.

Table 2-10. Operating time, auxiliary electricity rate and electricity amount sold

Biomass type

Installed capacity (MW)

Operating time (hour/year) Auxiliary electricity (% )

Total

Rainy season

(July to October)

Dry season

(November to June)

Only generating

power

Thermal-power co-generating

Bagasse 1 4,000 360 3.640 - 15

5 4,000 360 3.640 - 12

10 4,000 360 3.640 - 10

15 4,000 360 3.640 - 7

20 4,000 360 3.640 - 6

30 4,000 360 3.640 - 5

Rice husk 1 4,800 1.920 2.880 12 15

5 4,800 1.920 2.880 10 12

10 4,800 1.920 2.880 8 10

15 4,800 1.920 2.880 5 7

20 4,800 1.920 2.880 4 6

30 4,800 1.920 2.880 4 5



(ii) Revenue from selling thermal/steam

The thermal-power co-generating plants selling thermal/steam to nearby plants (for example plants in the same industrial zone) can earn a considerable amount from these transactions. However, in Vietnam, this option still faces with many difficulties due to the fact that the customers are still worried about the credibility of such thermal/steam provision from the thermal-power co-generating plants.

In case the sale of thermal/steam can be carried out, its price will be determined by negotiation between thermal-power co-generating plant investors and customers.

At present there is an entity which installed rice husk burning boiler with steam generating capacity of 20 tons/hour and is currently selling steam to consumers in Tra Noc industrial zone, Can Tho for a price of approximately VND 600,000/a ton of steam.

(iii) Revenue from selling ash

In case of burning rice husk in modern power plants, shapeless ashes with a small extra level of carbon may be created. Depending on the quality of rice husk ashes, it can be used in production of steel, building materials, fertilizer, refractory materials, moulds, transistors, rubber and oil recycling industry. Geography-wise, countries with highest demand for use of rice husk ashes are Japan, North America, Northern Europe, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Australia, etc

The amount of rice husk ashes depends on the content of ashes in rice husk. According to analysis, the ashes account for 18-22% rice husk amount (20% in average). The quality of ashes depends a great deal on rice husk burning conditions, meaning depending on the technology of the rice husk burning boiler.

In Vietnam the market for rice husk ashes has been established with the selling price at approximately VND 200/kg. The selling price for rice husk ashes in the international market is currently from USD 20/ton to USD 100/ton, depending on quality of ashes. It should be noted that there is an increasing trend in the selling price for rice husk ashes, with a possibility of such price going up to USD 200-400/ton in the future.

(iv) Revenue from selling greenhouse emission reduction certificate

Vietnam is a developing country, not in Appendix I (in the KYOTO Protocol) and a country which signed and ratified this Protocol, so the greenhouse emission reduction projects can apply for CDM.


Greenhouse gas emission coefficient of Vietnam grid is 0.574kg CO2/kWh38. If all the biomass power plants sold electricity to national grid, and the price of a ton of CO2 was USD 15 then the revenue gained from selling greenhouse emission reduction certificate will be US cent 1/kWh. In addition to this amount of the greenhouse gas emission (replacing an amount of electricity with renewable energy), the biomass projects can be accounted for an additional amount of CH4 emission reduction from the dispersal of such gas due to lack of usage. The revenue from this option accounts for 20-25% revenue from CO2 emission reduction.

Summary on the economic nature of the biomass projects in Vietnam:

■ As mentioned above, most biomass projects in Vietnam have and are being established of small scale (1-30MW) due to: a) the nature of biomass with its small density (kg/m3) so far-distance transport is not economical, b) The supplying sources for biomass are dispersal (which limits collecting with huge amount).

■ Investment into small-scale projects often requires cost 1.1 – 1.5 times higher than large-scale projects. This issue also has certain impact on investors’ perspective.

■ Besides, the biggest concern of investors in biomass projects is the capacity of stable supply of raw biomass to power plants (in terms of quantity and price) and more importantly, the selling price of biomass products such as thermal and electricity. In the current circumstance, the projects of thermal-power co-generating from bagasse burning is economically feasible. There are currently 2 sugar factories expanding their capacity namely KCP, Phu Yen and Lam Son Sugar, Thanh Hoa, whose electricity price offered to EVN is only about US cent 5/kWh. The reason for such a low price is because in these factories there are available premises and supporting equipment such as supplying sources of electricity, water and bagasse – which is considered as waste of the factories. More than 30 existing sugar factories wish to expand their power generating capacity. The only shortcomings for them are capital, loan interests and current complicated procedures to access capital resources as well as the electricity price mechanism not yet encouraging biomass power.

■ With regard to projects of rice husk electricity and other types of biomass wastes, because of the requirement for collection and transport, biomass price, type of biomass, transporting distance and transporting vehicle are one of the two key factors having significant impact on investment decision. The second factor is selling price of electricity. The current selling price is only UScent5 – 5.5/kWh which is not economically feasible. Preliminary calculation indicates that, in case of a rice husk power project with a capacity of 10MW, stable rice husk price of VND 400/kg (to the factory), operating time of more than 6,000 hours/year, the electricity price acceptable to investors must be more than US cent 6/kWh. For straw burning power projects, the electricity price must be above US cent 9/kWh to be feasible for investors.

38 Nguyen Duc Cuong, 2009, Calculating the greenhouse emission coefficient for Vietnam’s DNA for application announcement


2.6 The actual state of biomass energy technologies in Vietnam (lists of domestic and overseas technology suppliers)

As mentioned in section 2.2 of this report, there are currently 4 main types of technology being applied in Vietnam, which are:

■ Burning biomass for electricity production to dry agricultural products (mostly at wood processing factories)

■ Burning biomass for energy co-generating (mostly at sugar or paper factories) ■ Burning biomass for electricity production (scheduled for construction or being carried out) ■ Biomass compressing machines (briquettes or pellets)

Although there is no official list made on types of biomass technologies as well as biomass technology suppliers, the following list of technology and equipment suppliers separated by the types of technology is compiled from reports, workshops and available information from the Institute of Energy:

Table 2-11. List of biomass technology and equipment suppliers

Type of technology, equipment

Domestic Overseas Note

1. Burning biomass in thermal production for drying - Boilers burning wooden waste at wood processing factories

- Vietnam Boiler Joint-Stock Company - Dong Anh Pressure Equipment Company - Bach Khoa Hanoi Boiler Joint-Stock Company

NA Most of the boilers domestically manufactured have low boiler parameter (pressure temperature) and small capacity

- Rice husk burning boiler

Wuxi Company, Huaguang, China




2. Biomass burning for energy co-generating (electricity and thermal), with a total capacity of 150MW, installed at 39 factories, including 38 sugar factories and 1 paper factory - Bagasse, wooden waste burning boiler

No supplier 100% imported from countries such as China, France, India, Japan

Capacity of approximately 20 – 70 tons of steam per hour, pressure of 20 – 40 bar, temperature of 350 – 500oC

- Turbine No supplier 100% imported from China, France, India, Japan

Mostly back-pressure turbine with capacity of 1 to 20MW

3. Biomass burning for electricity production (no factory at present) Boiler At the moment

Vietnam has not yet manufactured any high-capacity boiler for electricity production

Scheduled to import 100% from developed countries and some other countries such as China, India

The need to develop biomass power in accordance with Decision No. 1208 of the Prime Minister approving the power master plan 7: - Up to 2020, developing 500MW of biomass power - To 2030, developing 2000MW of biomass power

Turbine At the moment Vietnam has not yet been able to manufacture

Scheduled to import 100% from developed countries and some other countries such as China, India




4. Gasification of Biomass (NA) 5. Biomass compressing (briquettes/pellets) Biomass Briquette Machine

Vietnam medium size mechanical factories are capable of manufacturing this type of machine (designs from Taiwan, Japan and the Institute of Energy)

- Type of machine: worm - Compressing capacity: approximately 70-100kg/hour - Electrical engine power: 11KW

Biomass Pellet Machine

Some entities in Mekong Delta imported approximately 10 machines from China and Japan

Type of machine: reel - Compressing capacity: 250-400 kg/hour - Electrical engine power: 20-35kW

Note: NA: not available

Source: Research team –Institute of Energy, 2011

Figure 2-5. Wood drying boiler of Vietnam Boiler Joint-Stock

Company installed in Hanoi


2.7 Transportation of biomass, raw biomass price and transport cost in Vietnam

The below are general diagram describing the path of biomass from manufactory to consumers’ place.

Figure 2-6. Diagram of transportation of biomass

Description of the supply and transport procedure of rice husk to Dinh Ha thermal power plant in Can Tho:

Dinh Hai thermal power company is the first company investing and installing the first industrial-scale rice husk burning boiler in Mekong delta region, Vietnam. The steam produced from factory of Dinh Hai Company is currently being supplied to 8 processing companies in Tra Noc industrial zone, Can Tho. The pipeline system’s length is approximately 5km. The parameters of the boiler are as follows: steam output 20 tons/hour, steam pressure 45 bars and superheat temperature is 4500C. The total rice husk amount consumed annually is approximately 37 500 tons.

Rice husk is bought by the company from traders and carried to the power plant by boat with the capacity of approximately 20 tons/one boat. The rice husk price at the plant (in October 2011) is VND 400/kg (calories of approximately 3000 kcal/kg rice husk) including the purchasing price for rice husk at milling factories and costs of rice husk transport and loading and unloading. The below are images of transporting rice husk by boat in interlacing rivers of Mekong Delta region.

Rice/sugarcane

Power plant

Milling factory/sugar

mill

Raw biomass (bagasse)

Thermal – electricity Or both

Ashes

Transport by boat

Raw biomass (rice husk)

Thermal-electricity co-generating

plant


Figure 2-7. Transporting rice husk to power plant from rice milling

factory (photo by N.D.Cuong)


2.8 Information on potential companies which may become partners of German companies in the development of biomass energy in Vietnam

There are currently about 10 domestic investors considering the choices of location, capacity size in order to develop rice husk burning thermal power plants in key provinces for rice growing of Mekong Delta such as An Giang, Tien Giang, Dong Thap, Can Tho, etc

Beside rice husk, Vietnam Sugar and Sugarcane Association proposes to develop nearly 200MW electricity from waste of sugarcane. Existing sugar mills are the basis for expanding and increasing electrical power at these mills. Bagasse at sugar factories is currently not used or not used effectively. Leaves and sugarcane tops are not exploited and used, jute is also considered a potential source of waste.

According to Vietnam Sugar and Sugarcane Association, sugar factories want to exercise self-control a part of the power used for production but they are facing with obstacles with regard to capital due to the fact that investment unit costs for initial equipment and machinery are significant, in which the most expensive equipment is boiler and turbine + electric generator. The Association requested authorities for prompt promulgation of supporting policies for this kind of energy, considering it as renewable energy and permitting it to be generated to national grid system, subsidizing in order to achieve a stable price ensuring effect during investment, especially for modern technology. In order to promote the strength of this renewable energy source, the Government has recently promulgated the Official Dispatch No. 2553/VPCP – KTN assigning the Ministry of Industry and Trade to bring the power generated from bagasse of sugar mills into the Strategy on Planning of Vietnam new and renewable energy development, submitting for the Prime Minister’s approval.

In addition to rice husk and sugarcane trash, projects using waste in the course of their processing and production like wood, coffee, cashew and coconut also have great potential for biomass technology development thanks to the huge demand of energy of those processing establishments, the increasing price of energy and waste available on the premises, etc.


The below are relevant information on potential investors who can cooperate in biomass power development.

Table 2-12. Relevant information on potential investors who can cooperate in biomass power development

No. Company name Address Field

1 Tan Hiep Phuc Investment

Joint-Stock Company

105A, Nguyen Van Quy, Tan Thuan

Dong, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City.

Tel: 84-08-22131012

Rice husk power

project: 02 projects with

capacity of each is

10MW at Tan Phuoc

district, Tien Giang

2 Dinh Hai Thermal Power

Joint-Stock Company

Dinh Hai Thermal Power Joint-Stock

Company

Address: Road 10, Tra Noc 2 Industrial

Zone, Can Tho City

Tel: 0710 3744 295

Email: [email protected]

Rice husk power of

30MW for 03 projects in

Can Tho

3 Duy Phat Thermal Power

Joint-Stock Company

Duy Phat Power Joint-Stock Company

(Ho Chi Minh City)

Rice husk power of

approximately 20MW

for 02 projects in Lap

Vo district, Dong Thap,

Tien Giang

4

Thermal power plant

burning rice husk with

capacity of 10 MW

Dong Thanh – Song Hong Joint-Stock

Company

10 MW located at An

Hoa industrial zone,

Cho Moi, An Giang

5

Thermal power plant


capacity of 10 MW

Environmental Investment and

Regeneration 1 Company

10 MW located at Vong

Dong, Thoai Son

district, An Giang

6

Thermal power plant


capacity of 3 MW

Mekong Delta Agricultural and Rural

Development Joint-Stock Company

3MW, located at Tan

Trung industrial

cluster39. An Giang

39 Information available at: http://socongthuong.angiang.gov.vn/wps/portal/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3j3oBBLczdTEwN_XydzA0__MD8vd9dQQ_8wc_2CbEdFAEj9B54!/?PC_7_GRT97F540O0E90IOVFU9M40F66_WCM_CONTEXT=/wps/wcm/connect/socongthuong/congthongtinsocongthuong/tintucsukien/antoancongnghiep/angianguudaidautuphattriencongnghiepnangluongmoi


No. Company name Address Field

7

Thermal power plant


capacity of 11 MW

Vietnam China International Trade and

Investment Joint-Stock Company

Choosing location for

building a rice husk

power plant with

capacity of 11MW in

Kien Giang

8 Vietnam Sugar and

Sugarcane Association *

Vietnam Sugar and Sugarcane

Association, Chairman: Nguyen Thanh

Long, 172/3A Nguyen Tat Thanh,

Ward 13, District 4, Ho Chi Minh

Tel/Fax: 08.39432570

Sugarcane trash power

Note: (*): Vietnam Sugar and Sugarcane Association has 38 sugar factories and such sugar factories need for capacity expansion, installing and expanding thermal power plants burning waste from sugarcane (official letter 529/HHMD to the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development petitioning related to investment for development of 1950MW of power from sugarcane waste


3 Review, study and definition of policy framework for biomass/renewable energy development in Vietnam

The following are summary of legal documents such as laws, Government’s decrees, Prime Minister’s decisions, circulars and decisions of Ministries and branches directly or indirectly related to renewable/biomass energy in Vietnam. Those are considered as legal foundation for directing the development and cooperation, investment as well as encouraging and supporting mechanism for renewable energy in Vietnam.

3.1. Summary of legal documents with key points related to renewable/biomass energy

In order to develop sources of renewable energy, in recent years, Vietnam Government has issued policy frameworks and supporting mechanisms including documents such as Law (on Electricity); Vietnam National Energy Development Strategy; the Plan on biofuel development; Wind power development mechanism; and most recently Power Plan VII approved by the Prime Minister in July. According to Vietnam National Energy Development Strategy to 2010, with vision to 2050, Vietnam will comprehensively and effectively the energy system: electricity, oil & gas, coal, new and renewable energy, in which attention is paid to development of clean energy, giving priority for new and renewable energy. Striving to increase the proportion of new and renewable energies to about 3% of the total amount of commercial primary energy by 2010; about 5% by 2020 and about 11% by 2050.

Power Plan VII also specifies the objective of developing this highly potential energy source. Specifically, power using renewable energy in total capacity of power plants is expected to increase from 5.6% in 2020 to 9.4% in 2030, the same in total produced and imported electricity will increase from 4.5% in 2020 to 6% in 2030.

With regard to wind power, total capacity is also adjusted from the current negligible levels to around 1,000 MW by 2020, about 6,200 MW by 2030; increase the proportion of electricity production from wind power from 0.7% in 2020 to 2.4% in 2030.

Biomass power is also developed at the same time with the target of about 500 MW by 2020, increased to 2,000 MW by 2030; proportion of electricity production will increase from 0.6% in 2020 to 1.1% in 2030.

It can be said that the strategy of developing renewable energy sources brought up considerable expectation for Vietnam energy sector, as with the current developed science and technology, the exploitation and application of this energy source will become more effective. Particularly, the Government has recently approved the mechanism for supporting wind power projects in Vietnam, permitting enterprises focusing on power production, operation and trading. The Government is scheduled to issue mechanisms for other new kinds of energy.


In order to sustainably develop national energy sources, many experts are of the opinion that Vietnam should take full advantage of opportunities to exploit renewable energy sources by strengthening investment into research and application of renewable energy. In addition, the implementation of energy saving programs should be given priority, at the same time plans for importing energy through regions’ grid should be regulated for them to be corresponding with demand and strategy of Vietnam energy development.

The table below summarizes recently promulgated legal frameworks related to directing strategy and policy in order to support and create favourable conditions for development of renewable/biomass energy in Vietnam. Among these, the two most relevant legal documents relating to biomass development (roadmap for exploitation and supporting mechanism) are: i) Decree on incentives and support for environmental protection activities; No. 04/2009/ND-CP; dated 14th January 2009; and ii) National master plan for power development for the 2011-2020 period with vision to 2030; No. 1208/2011/QD-TTg dated 21st July 2011.

Table 3-1. Summary of legal frameworks for renewable energy development in Vietnam

No. Document name Document’s contents related to promotion of renewable/biomass

energy

Laws

1 Law on Electricity; Effective from 1st July 2005

Article 4. To step up the exploitation and use of sources of new, renewable energy for electricity generation. Article 13. Investment projects on development of power plants using sources or new energy and renewable energy. Article 60. To encourage organizations and individuals to invest in construction of electricity grids or electricity-generating stations using local energy, new energy, renewable energy to supply electricity to rural, mountainous or island areas. Article 61. Investment in development of rural, mountainous and island electricity 3. The State's support policies cover: a) Support in investment capital; b) Support in interest rates on investment capital loans.



energy

2 Law on Investment - 2005

Article 27. Incentive investment sectors: new and renewable energy. Article 28. Geographical areas of investment incentives: Areas with difficult socio-economic conditions; areas with especially difficult socio-economic conditions. Article 32. Applicable entities and conditions for investment incentives: Investors with investment projects in the investment incentive sectors and geographical areas stipulated in articles 27 and 28 of this Law shall be entitled to the incentives as stipulated in this Law and other provisions of the relevant laws. Article 33. Tax incentives:

3 Law on Promotion of Domestic Investment - 2003

Article 16: Investment projects in the following regions shall be granted incentives: 1. Regions with difficult socio-economic conditions; 2. Regions with especially difficult socio-economic conditions.

4

Law on Environmental Protection – 2005

Article 6. Environmental protection activities to be encouraged 4. Development and use of clean and renewable energy; reduction of ozone-layer-depleting greenhouse gas. Article 33. Development of clean energy, renewable energy and environment-friendly products 2. Organizations and individuals investing in the development and use of clean energy, renewable energy, production of environment-friendly products shall be granted by the State preferences in tax, funding support and land for building production establishments. 3. The Government shall formulate and implement clean energy or renewable energy development strategies to achieve the following objectives: a)To enhance national capacity in research and application of technologies to exploit and use clean energy and renewable energy; b)To expand international cooperation and mobilize resources for exploiting and using clean energy and renewable energy; c)To gradually raise clean and renewable energy ratios in total national energy output; ensure energy security, save natural resources, and minimize greenhouse gas emissions; d)To integrate clean energy and renewable energy development programs into programs on hunger eradication and poverty reduction and development in rural areas, mountainous areas, coastal areas and islands.



energy

5

Law on Technology Transfer No. 80/2006/QH11, dated 29th November 2006

Article 9: Technologies encouraged for transfer. Using new energy or renewable energy

Decrees of the Government

1

Decree on incentives and support for environmental protection activities; No. 04/2009/ND-CP; dated 14th January 2009

+ This Decree provides for incentives and supports in terms of land, capital, tax and charge exemption and reduction for environmental protection activities; price subsidies and supports for sale of products turned out from environmental protection activities and other incentives and supports for environmental protection activities and products turned out from these activities. A. List of environmental protection activities eligible for special incentives and supports I. Construction of works 3. Building waste treatment facilities. II. Research, production and business 10. Importing machines, equipment, means, tools and materials for direct use in collection, storage, transportation, recycling and treatment of wastes; renewable energy. B. List of environmental protection activities eligible for incentives and supports II. Scientific research, production and business 6. Generating renewable energy. C. List of products eligible for incentives and supports 4. Energy generated from waste destruction./.

2

Decree of the Government No. 151/2006/ND-CP dated 20th December 2006 on the State’s investment credit and export credit

List of Projects entitled to investment credit loans 4. Investors having production or business projects or schemes, ensuring the payment of debts; having financial plans and loan-repayment plans evaluated by the Vietnam Development Bank which agrees to provide loans. Lending term 1. The lending term shall be determined based on the capital recovery capability of a project and the loan-repayment capability of the investor in compatibility with the project's production and business characteristics but must not exceed 12 years.



energy

3

Decree No. 108/2006/ND-CP dated 22nd September 2006 of the Government providing detailed guidance and guiding the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Investment:

List of incentive investment areas A. List of sectors entitled to special investment incentives I. New energy 3. Investment for construction of establishments using solar energy, wind energy, biogas, geothermic and tidal energy. B. List of sectors entitled to investment incentives I. New energy List of incentive investment areas which are remote and difficult areas

4 Decree No. 133/2008/ND-CP

Providing detailed guidance and guiding the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Technology Transfer with regard to technology transfer contracts, technology evaluation services and measures to encourage and promote technology transfer. Dated 31st December 2008.

Decisions of the Prime Minister

1

Vietnam's national energy development strategy up to 2020, with vision to 2050 vision; No. 1855/QD-TTg, dated 27th December 2007

d) To synchronously and rationally develop the system of electricity, petroleum, coal, and new and renewable energy, paying attention to the development of clean energy and prioritizing the development of new and renewable energy. To nationally distribute the energy system across regions and areas to balance exploration, exploitation and processing stages; and to synchronously develop service and recycling systems.

+ Striving to increase the proportion of new and renewable energies to about 3% of the total amount of commercial primary energy by 2010; about 5% by 2020 and about 11% by 2050. + Completing the program on rural and mountainous energy. Increasing the rate of rural households using commercial energy for cooking to 50% by 2010 and 80% by 2020. By 2010, 95% of rural households will be supplied with electricity and by 2020, almost all rural households will be supplied with electricity. + Studying the establishment of an energy development fund to provide support for investment in the development of new and renewable energy and the implementation of public-utility projects. d) Orientations for the development of new and renewable energies: - Regarding survey and planning: New and renewable energies have not yet been adequately evaluated, therefore, it is necessary to elaborate plans on, and make proper investment in, conducting


surveys in order to obtain additional data for planning and zoning areas with these energies and preparing investment and exploitation plans. - To carry out communication on the use of new and renewable energy sources in deep-lying, remote and mountainous areas and islands. To formulate a managerial mechanism for maintaining and developing electricity sources in these areas. - To integrate the use of new and renewable energies into the energy conservation program and other national target programs such as those on rural electrification, forestation, hunger eradication and poverty alleviation, clean water, integrated fish pond-livestock pen-home garden model, etc. - To support investment in programs on survey and research into new and renewable energies, trial production of new and renewable energy products and development of models of use of new and renewable energies; to offer tax incentives for the import of equipment and new technologies and the manufacture and distribution of equipment; to protect copyright of author a of valuable inventions and technical renovations. - To allow domestic and foreign individuals and economic organizations to coordinate with one another in making investment in the exploitation of new and renewable energy sources on the basis of mutual benefits.

2

National master plan for power development for the 2011-2020 period with vision to 2030; No. 1208/2011/QD-TTg dated 21st July 2011

+ Prioritizing the development of renewable energy for electricity production, increasing to 4.5% in 2020 and 6.0% in 2030 in total electricity production. - Planning phase: newly installing approx. 13,000MW from renewable energy + Electrification – to 2020 most of households will be provided with electricity: 600 thousands of household are supplied from renewable energy + Solutions for electricity price (ensuring cost recovery + reasonable profit)


No. Document name Document’s contents related to promotion of renewable/biomass energy

3

Decision of the Prime Minister on a number of financial mechanisms and policies applicable to investment projects under clean development mechanism; No. 130/2007/QD-TTg, dated 2nd August 2007

Article 6. Rights and obligations of CDM project-formulating and –executing investors a) Incentives in terms of tax; land use levy or land rent; fixed assess depreciation; or state investment credit under the provisions of this Decision; b) Price subsidies on CDM projects’ products in priority domains; c) Financial supports in projects formulation in accordance with current provisions of law. Điều 12. Enterprise income tax for CDM projects 1. Enterprises income tax rates, exemption reduction for CDM projects are the same as those applicable to projects in the domains entitled to special investment incentives specified in Clause III, Section A of Appendix I to the List of domains entitled investment incentives, enclosed with the Government’s decree No. 108/2006/ND-CP of September 22, 2006, providing detailed guidance and guiding the implementation of a number of articles of the Investment Law; and in the Enterprise Income Tax Law and its guiding documents. Article 13. Import tax CDM project are exempt from import tax on goods imported for the formulation of the projects’ fixed assets, materials, supplies or semi-finished products which cannot yet be produce at home and imported in service of the projects’ production activities under provisions of Clause 6 and 16, Article 16 of the Government’s Decree No. 149/2005/ND-CP of December 8, 2005, detailing the implementation of the Import Tax and Export Tax Law, and current legal provision on Import Tax and Export Tax. Article 14. Land use levy, land rent CDM projects are entitled to land use levy or land rent exemption or reduction under current legal provisions applicable to projects in the domains entitled to special investment incentives. Article 16. Price subsidies on CDM projects’ products 1.Products of a CDM project are entitled to price subsidies from the Vietnam Environmental Protection Fund if meeting of the following conditions: a) Being in the list of products of CDM projects in priority domains. b) The actual cost of manufacture of products is higher than the actual selling price under the signed contract. 2. The duration for providing price subsidies on products of a CDM project is determined based on the time the project creates products and the capacity to offset expenses for the manufacture of subsidized products. 3. The Vietnam Environmental Protection Fund shall provide price subsidies on CDM projects’ products under the provision of this


Decision and guidance of the Ministry of Finance. 4. The Ministry of Finance shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in, specifying conditions for price subsidies, subsidy levels and subsidy duration for CDM projects’ products on the lists of products entitled to price subsidies.

4

Decision of the Prime Minister approving the Strategy on Development of Vietnam Electricity Industry in the 2004 – 2010 period, with orientations to 2020; No: 176/2004/QD-TTg, dated 5th October 2004

-To accelerate the research into, and development of, new and regenerated energy forms in order to meet the demands for electricity use, especially in off-shore islands and remote and deep-lying areas. - To step up the program on electricity supply for rural and mountainous areas, striving for the target that 90% and 100% of rural households will be supplied with electricity by 2010 and 2020, respectively. - To develop plants that use new and regenerated energy sources. To make full use of on-the-spot new energy sources to generate electricity for areas where electricity cannot be supplied from the national electric grid or is supplied with low efficiency, especially in offshore islands and remote and deep-lying areas.

Circulars of Ministers and Branches

1

Circular “Guiding the implementation of a number of articles of Decision No. 130/2007/QD-TTg”; No. 58/2008/TTLT-BTC-BTN&MT, dated 4th July 2008

Providing subsidy for products of CDM projects, including: + Electricity is produced from wind power, solar, geothermal energy and tide. + Electricity is produced from Methane (CH4) recovery, waste disposal sites and coal mining for disposal or electricity

2

Circular No. 97/2008/TT-BTC dated 29th October 2008 of the Ministry of Finance

Guiding the implementation of the State’s support policies for electricity development investment in rural and mountainous areas and islands



energy Decisions of Ministers and Branches

1

Decision on promulgation of Regulation on Avoided Cost Tariff and Standardized Power Purchase Agreement; No. 18/2008/QD-BCT, dated 18th July 2008

+ Stipulating conditions, procedures of preparation, amendment, supplementation and abolishment of the electricity tariff applied for small renewable energy power plants which are connected to the national power grid. + Applicable to organizations, individuals who buy or sell electricity generated by small renewable energy power plants

3.2. Obstacles limiting the development of renewable energy in general and biomass power connected to the grid in particular

Vietnam is a country with high potential for renewable energy sources but until now the number of projects carried out is still small, the proportion of renewable electricity in total electricity generated to the grid is minimal although the demand for electricity of the country is increasing rapidly and the expansion of traditional power sources from coal and oil & gas is considered as limited.

The development of biomass energy projects in particular and renewable energy projects in general in Vietnam in recent years still face with difficulties and obstacles, due to both objective and subjective reasons, the development of renewable/biomass power connected to grid in the near future is also considered as facing with many challenges left to be resolved. There are 4 groups of obstacles including: i) Obstacles on technology; ii) Obstacles on mechanism, policy and organization; iii) Obstacles on economy and finance; and iv) Obstacles on database and information. The table below summarizing detailed explanation on 4 groups of above obstacles:


Table 3-2. Groups of obstacles and explanations and illustrations

Obstacle group Obstacles Explanations and illustrations

Obstacle on technique, technology

Lack of access to international technology

market. Lack of knowledge on

technologies available on the market.

Although the biomass power technologies which are verified and having high output have been globally applied,

such technologies have not been widely known in Vietnam (such as rice husk power, gasification technologies,

and fluidized bed boilers). At the moment, there is no domestic company providing biomass power technologies.

Almost all of the technologies must be imported. Consulting and technical services with regard to biomass

power technologies are still limited.

Lack of knowledge on mechanics and

physical chemistry characteristics and

composition of biomass fuel

There is no complete research report on mechanics and physical chemistry characteristics and composition of

biomass fuel

Attention has not been paid to the effect of

energy co-generating technology At the moment, most of the projects using rice husk only for generating power

Obstacles on mechanism, policy and

organization

There exists incentives (subsidiaries) with

regard to power from traditional sources

(coal price) while sufficient attention is not

paid to other kinds of energy such as

biomass

Inter-ministerial circular No. 58/2008/TTLT-BTC-BTN&MT providing specific mechanisms subsidizing a

number of renewable energy projects. While the subsidiary policy provided does not include biomass, it allow

subsidiary for projects with very high costs such as solar or tide

Lack of awareness and access to

information on legal regulations

Biomass needs support from Government for stronger development. The basis for development is supplement to

shortcomings of the current power market.

The avoided cost tariff with regard to power from renewable energy source connected to grid only bases on

consumers’ financial costs, not economical costs and especially not taking into account the avoided social costs,

Lack of comprehensive policies and

programs encouraging development of

clean energy

At present, there is no basis and reliable data in Vietnam to determine costs of environmental damage from

generating power by fossil energy. Accordingly there is little basis for determining the specific cost (d/KWh) for

the purpose of establishing economically effective energy objectives. The avoided cost tariff which has been

applied since 2009 does not reflect such costs – although the structure of this tariff allows adjustments later on

Low electricity price

It is said that this is the biggest obstacles for investors. Electricity price has not be operated in accordance with

market mechanism and not calculated accurately and completely (including economical price, environmental

price, etc)



Obstacles on economy and

finance

The market is not open

It is necessary to evaluate and consider more specifically on “economic” obstacles with regard to renewable

energy development in general and biomass power development in particular as this term is often referred to

renewable energy due to high costs. But “high costs”, when the costs are not affected by tax and subsidiary, may

not necessarily be an obstacle. If all costs and benefits of renewable energy are calculated accurately and

completely when brought into economic analysis, the average economic cost in the entire life of the power

projects from renewable energy sources may be still higher than that of projects using fossil fuel but may not as

high as the current costs.

Lack of funding for Research and

Development

At present, the funding for research and evaluation of the source’s potential, adequate exploitation technology is

very limited, and in many cases, scattered

Lack of loans (from banks) for

implementing projects and high loan rate

It is currently very difficult for investors to borrow capital from credit institutions due to the profit from

renewable energy is not high, the risk is still high. The knowledge of lending institutions on renewable energy

projects is still limited. Commercial loan interest in Vietnam is currently very high (may up to 20%/year in

2011)

Lack of access to capital sources as well as

regulations on capital lending

Lack of access to suitable financial sources is due to the matter of lending term. The volume of investment

capital of renewable energy is high so investment capital accounts of total costs must be much bigger than those

of solar resource, meaning capital flow of developers depend largely on lending term. The typical term is

currently 5-8 year in the commercial bank system, so the cash flow to investors in initial years is smallest,

lengthening the capital recovery period thus not encouraging investors contributing shares.

High investment unit cost of biomass

power

Biomass power projects often are at small scale so the investment unit costs are often higher than traditional

thermal power plants (coal, gas, etc)

Stability with regard to supplying sources

and price of biomass fuel

This is also one of the biggest concerns of investors as supplying sources of biomass depend on harvest seasons.



Obstacles on database and information

Lack of information on supplying sources,

contracts supplying biomass energy

A number of surveys on biomass sources have been carried out. Many potential locations for biomass power

projects have been determined; however, the data on these locations are not sufficient and not reliable in order

for detailed feasible studies to be carried out. There needs to be accurate survey on biomass price, long-term

changes of such prices and characteristics of biomass, especially rice husk.

Information on biomass power price and

the necessity for promulgating a tariff

specifically for biomass power

Current power sale and purchase agreement is biggest obstacles with regard to development of biomass power

projects connected to grid. The current purchasing price is only under US cent 4.5 – 5/kWh. It is estimated that

if the purchasing price is more than US cent 6/kWh the connection to grid of biomass power projects can be

strengthened


3.3. Trends and orientations in organization structure, mechanism, economics and framework conditions for international cooperation in biomass energy market

Over the last 20 years, the Vietnam’s economy has had significant achievements. Annual economic growth rate reaches approximately 7% per year, economic structure has moved towards industrialization, and the domestic economy has highly integrated with the world. However, these achievements are not yet corresponding with the potentials. The economic development is not sustainable, growth quality, productivities, efficiencies and competitiveness of the economy are low, and the macroeconomic balances are not solid enough. Economic growths mainly rely on width-like development factors, whilst movements to depth-like development are slow. There are high growths in industries that consume extensive energies, materials and cause pollution; on the other hand, those industries that are environment friendly and that support environment protection are underdeveloped. Technology renovations are slow, usage of fossil fuel, particularly coal, is still dominant.

With aim of basically becoming a modernized-oriented industrial country by 2020, manufacturing activities in Vietnam are going to hike in the coming years, accompanied by significant energy consumption needs.

In today’s international context, Vietnam’s development cannot be separated from the reduction of greenhouse emission in order to contribute in the earth’s climate system’s protection. The measurement and management of greenhouse emission in socio-economic branches, development of renewable and new energy sources shall be promoted along with strong solutions in the time to come.

Green growth associating with green economy is a new development model that is being built and implemented by many countries. In such a context, green growth is a development method that suits the need for Vietnam’s growth model renovation and economy restructuring in the coming period.


Key problems to be solved in short and long terms that directly or indirectly relate to climate change, energy security, green growth, particularly development of renewable energy in association with reduction of greenhouse emission have been and are being implemented by the Vietnamese Government through assignment of related Ministries and branches in preparing, drafting strategies and implementation roadmaps. To be more specific:

■ Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is on the way to complete the National Strategy on Climate change

■ Ministry of Planning and Investment is preparing to develop a framework for green development strategy, with the aim to complete the green development strategy in shortest time possible40

■ Other Ministries and branches are also on progress of implementing development plans that aim towards a green economy, low carbon technologies and minimization of greenhouse emission…

■ Ministry of Industry and Trade has directed the development of “Strategy, Overall Plan for development of Vietnam’s Renewable Energy until 2015, with a vision to 2020” Project (Decision No.3606/QD-BCN dated 14 December 2006) in order to realize objectives of the national energy development strategy in the period to 2020, with a vision to 2050 that had been approved by the Prime Minister. Specific objectives of this Project on development of Strategy and Plan are: (i) assessing, analyzing and choosing renewable energy sources for exploitation and utilization; (ii) developing an Overall Development Strategy on Renewable Energy in Vietnam; (iii) developing an Overall Plan for development of renewable energy sources in Vietnam until 2020, with a vision to 2030; (iv) proposing and recommending solutions for implementation.

For the purpose illustration for trends in coming times that are related to organization structure, mechanism, economics and framework conditions for international cooperation in biomass energy market in particular and markets for renewable energies, green technologies, low carbon technologies in general, legal documents that are in effect or in the process of issuing and contents of which are related to the development of renewable energy and biomass energy markets are listed as follows:

40 Notice No.38/TB-CPCP (03/03/2011, Notice No.151/TB-VPCP (30/6/2011), and Notice No.5684/VPCP-KTN (18/8/2011)


Table 3-3. Framework orientations biomass energy development

Legal documents Related contents and indicators Prime Minister’s Decision No.1208/QD-TTg, dated 21/07/2011 approving National Power Development Planning for 2011-2030

Targets and objectives: Taking priority for developing renewable sources of electricity. Increasing renewable electricity component to 4.5% and 6.0% by 2020 and 2030, in which biomass power shall account for 0.6 and 1.1 by 2020 and 2030 respectively

Prime Minister’s Decision

No.2149/QD-TTg dated 17/12/2009

approving National Strategy on overall

management of solid wastes until 2025,

with a vision to 2050

Viewpoint: “Pollution makers must pay”. Until 2050, 100% of solid wastes shall be treated with advanced technology. Targets and objectives: + Until 2015: 60% are recycled, reused and energy recovered + Until 2020: 85% are recycled, reused and energy recovered + Until 2025: 90% are recycled, reused and energy recovered + Until 2050: 100% are recycled, reused and energy recovered

Draft of Vietnam’s Renewable energy

development strategy until 2030,

with a vision to 2050 and Overall Plan for

development of renewable energy

sources in Vietnam until 2020, with a

vision to 2030 (completed, pending

Government’s approval)

For grid-connected renewable electricity/biomass energy Strategy: From now to 2030 - Encouraging investments to develop plants for power generation from grid-connected renewable energy sources that are economically feasible. Supporting on a competitive basis, ensuring the most cost-efficient electricity source is mobilized into the system and developing renewable energy technologies for long-term purposes. - Encouraging and supporting development of some renewable energy technologies that are currently not economically feasible on the basis of selected pilots, with aims to evaluate the capabilities of developing and improving technologies, forming the market and developing resources. - Focusing resources for research, development and technology transfer of renewable energy, investing to study and strengthen the database of renewable energy sources for long-term purposes. Vision to 2050 - Focusing resources, maximizing the use of domestic renewable energy’s potentials through advanced and modern technologies that suit actual conditions of each areas and be highly efficient in terms of economy, society and environment. - Strengthening the local markets for renewable energy technologies, machineries and equipment manufacturing, and service providing. - Increasing capabilities for research, development, transfer and application of renewable energy technologies, particularly new forms of energy technologies.


Planning and investment 2011-2015 period - Newly installed capacities reach 1194MW, in which small hydroelectricity stands for 895MW, the remaining are biomass (sugarcane trash, rice husk, residential wastes) and wind power, and presenting solar power. 2016-2020 period Newly installed capacities reach 2,408MW, in which small hydroelectricity stands for 1100MW, wind power stands for 780MW, the remaining 32% shall be biomass (sugarcane trash, rice husk, residential wastes), geothermic power, and presenting solar power. 2021 to 2030 period - Newly installed capacities shall reach 9,588MW, in which small hydroelectricity stands for 2,380MW and accounts for 25%, wind power stands for 5,200MW and accounts for 54%, biomass power accounts for 16%, geothermic accounts for 2.0%, residential wastes accounts for 2.0%, the remaining shall be solar power and other renewable energies.

Draft of National Strategy on Climate Change (comments

collected)

Objectives: A low carbon economy and green growth become key tendencies in sustainable development; reducing greenhouse emission and increasing greenhouse absorption capacity shall gradually become a compulsory requirement in socio-economic development. Strategic mission: Reducing greenhouse emission + Developing sources of renewable energies, new energies - Applying advanced technologies to increase power generation efficiency and reduce greenhouse emission in all newly built thermo-electric plants; applying small-scale power generation system that uses methane collected from waste fields and other sources. Industrial manufacturing and construction - Until 2020, approximately 50% of industrial manufacturing units shall apply cleaner manufacturing technologies, saving 8-13% consumption levels of energies, materials and fuels - Until 2050, almost all industrial manufacturing units shall apply cleaner manufacturing technologies and save energies Transportation - Low greenhouse emission fuels are used for vehicles; Transformation to usage of new, low emission energies shall reach 40% in 2020 and 80% by 2050. Agriculture Changing agricultural cultivation methods, managing and processing wastes in breeding, using biogas as fuels in order to minimize pollution and reduce greenhouse emission. Rolling, communicating and widely implementing in 2020 and perfecting by 2050.

Draft of Strategy framework for green

Overall strategy Through implementation of green development, Vietnam shall change its


development for the period until 2020,

with a vision to 2030 (currently in preparation)

economic growth model that reaches a low carbon usage level, reduces greenhouse emissions, increases greenhouse absorption capacity, contributes to lightening climate change; form an economic structure with high overall economic, social and environmental effectiveness, apply more and more green technologies, form green lifestyles and sustainable consumption, contribute to improve the people’s overall living standards. Specific objectives: Until 2020: Vietnam focuses on 3 key objectives in reforming growth model and restructuring the economy: Reducing carbon emissions and broadening uses of clean energies, renewable energies; Greener production; Greener lifestyles and promote sustainable consumption. Until 2030: Vietnam shall fully establish foundations with relevant materials, technologies, human resources and mechanisms to conduct communication and implementation green growth methods.

There also been significant arrangement and adjustment in organizational structure in managing and utilizing renewable energies, including biomass, at Ministry level. On 5/9/2011, the Prime Minister issued a decision41 on establishment of the General Department of Energy working under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, functions of which are consulting and helping the Minister of Industry and Trade manage and implement governmental administration tasks in the energy industry, including renewable energies. Vietnam’s first professional Department in management of new and renewable energies has also been established. This is very good foundation for promoting plans, issuing policies and implementing national target programmes and renewable/biomass energies projects in order to realized set objectives.

41 Decision No.50/2011/QD-TTg dated 5/9/2011 regulating on functions, missions, responsibilities and organization structure of the General Department of Energy


4 Proposal on development of potential projects in the biomass energy technology market

The above mentioned information and analyses have shown that Vietnam’s biomass energy market has been opened and shaped42, including grid-connected biomass power as well as technologies for heat and fuel pellets production. However, as with wind power, investment into such a new area in Vietnam requires some delays in time as a separate price mechanism for biomass energies has not yet been established (at the moment, Vietnam only issued a subsidy mechanism for wind power43).

Therefore, for fast and strong development of the renewable/biomass power markets as planned, it is certain that a mechanism for electricity prices shall be considered for issuance in order to encourage investment for renewable/biomass energies by the General Department of Energy/Department of New and Renewable Energies that is the recently-established specialised governmental body in energy in general and renewable energy in particular.

4.1. Identifying needs for technologies, services, specific products and opportunities for Vietnam-German business cooperation

From the above mentioned contexts (current context and trends), analyses and evaluation, identification of the needs for technologies, services and opportunities in developing biomass energy market in Vietnam in cooperation with Germany can be outlined as follows:

■ Vietnam’s potentials in biomass energy sources are significant and various (see Table 4.1), but these potentials have not yet been exploited, or exploitation efficiency for energy production (electricity, heat) is low. Major biomass sources that can be exploited in large scale include rice husk, straws, and wastes from sugarcane (trash, leaves and top), coffee husk, wastes from coconut and cashew processing, wastes and by-products from wood processing.

■ Energy and electricity needs for Vietnam’s welfare and economy development in the coming time is substantial, while supply of fossil energy sources is limited, specifically:

■ Energy needs (until 2030) shall increase by 5 times in comparison with current (2010), figure 4.1 illustrates Vietnam’s energy needs and shortage in supply of domestic primary energies;

■ Electricity needs (until 2030) shall increase by 7 times in comparison with current (2010)

Domestic sources of energy supply is limited (large hydroelectricity shall be fully utilized within this decade, coals for power generation shall be insufficient and must be imported, it is expected that after 2015 imported coal for power generation shall be required and import quantity shall rise continuously year by year at high rates). Energy prices in Vietnam are going to rise and soon approach the world prices.

42 Decision No.1208/QD-TTg, dated 21st July 2011 by the Prime Minister on approving the National Electricity Development Planning for 2011-2030 period

43 Decision No. 37/2011/QD-TTg dated 29th June 2011 by the Prime Minister on support mechanism for windpower development projects in Vietnam


Subsidies for energy and electricity prices shall gradually be removed and a competitive market for energy/electricity is going to be in operation.

Figure 4-1. Balance between needs and exploitation capacities for primary energies44

In the context of shortage and unbalance in domestic energy sources of fossil nature, the Prime Minister’s Decision No.1208/QD-TTg dated 21/07/2011 on approving the National Electricity Development Planning for 2011-2030 set a foundation for investment for exploitation and robust development of biomass energy markets in Vietnam after 2011. During this period, grid-connected biomass power sources shall be developed and reach 500MW and 2000MW in 2020 and 2030 respectively.

44 Năng lượng tái tạo: renewable energy, Thủy điện: hydroelectricity;Dầu thô: crude oil; Thủy điện nhỏ: small hydroelectricity; Khí: gas; Than: coal; Tổng nhu cầu năng lượng sơ cấp: total demands for primary energies

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200000

250000

300000

2005 2008 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030

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a) Grid-connected biomass power and energy co-generating technology

Table 4-1. Potentials and possibilities for exploiting biomass energies45

Types of biomass

Potentials (million tons)

Possibility for energy exploitation (million tons)

Possibility for electricity exploitation

(MW) 1. Firewood and wooden wastes > 30 25 150 - 250 2. Agricultural wastes > 72 50 1200 -2000 3. Breeding wastes > 60 50 58 - 100 4. Urban wastes > 10 8 200 - 300 5. Bio-fuel production wastes 1,0-1,5 1

Total 134 1608 - 2650

Development needs for renewable energies in general and biomass energies in particular for grid-connected electricity are illustrated by types of biomass in the following table.

Table 4-2. Summary of grid-connected renewable electricity sources in operations 46

Capacity by technology 2011-2020 2021-2030 2011-2030 (whole period)

Renewable energies - total 3606 9588 13194 Biomass (solid) 355 1500 1855 Residential wastes 139 200 339 Biogases 35 65 100 Other renewable energies 3077 7823 10900

It can be seen that grid-connected biomass power projects (solid biomass) have total newly installed capacity of approximately 2000MW, or annual average installation capacity of about 100MW during the 20 year period from 2011 to 2030. Identified grid-connected biomass power or energy co-generating projects include rice husk power plants, sugarcane trash power plants, and power plants using other post-harvest and post-processing biomass wastes such as straw, sugarcane wastes, coffee wastes, coconut wastes, cashew wastes, wood wastes. Due to biomass’s characteristics (small density (kg/m3) and uneconomical for distance transportation), each plant’s capacity shall range from 5-20MW. Major equipment includes boiler (direct burning on grate/boiling floor or gasifying) shall depend on the types of biomass that are

45 N.D. Cuong, 2011, Institute of Energy, “Overall Plan for rewable energy development in Vietnam until 2020, with a vision to 2030” Proposal 46 N.D. Cuong, 2011, Institute of Energy, “Overall Plan for rewable energy development in Vietnam until 2020, with a vision to 2030” Proposal


separately burnt or whether raw biomass types are mixed). Turbine might be condensing (power generation only) or back pressure/extraction when applying energy co-generating technology.

b) Fuel pellet production from raw biomass

Besides grid-connected biomass power, projects for fuel pellet production from raw biomass’s pressing process have also been identified for development, for example, fuel pellets pressed from sawdust, rice husk, sugarcane trash, both when pressed separately and when mixed at appropriate proportion, have much potential for development, particularly in the South where coal supply sources are at long distance (from Quang Ninh in the North) and the current coal prices in the South are often 1.5-2 times higher than in the North due to increased costs of transportation and distribution. Demand for heat in Vietnam’s industrial zones and processing plants is significant, particularly in the future whilst at the moment heat mainly comes from oil or coal burning in these industrial boilers. Replacing coal/oil by biomass pellets shall bring about high economic and environmental efficiencies. However, this technology has not been developed in Vietnam. This can be seen as a potential market for suppliers from German or other developed countries whose experiences, technologies and equipments are available. Below are illustrative images of biomass pellets production.

Figure 4-2. Biomass pellet compressing machine (source: Amadeus-Kahl)


Figure 4-3. Biomass briquette pressing, source: N.D.Cuong,IE 47

4.2. Information on market entry possibilities and procedures for interested German companies who might join in business (import/export) or investment (license, joint venture) activities in the area of biomass energy

Interests in joining the biomass energy market in Vietnam by foreign companies in general and German ones in particular will be encouraged for the purpose of attracting foreign investors48, with key directions such as:

■ Developing new power sources along with in-depth investment, technology innovation, meeting environment standards, using advanced and modern technologies

■ Diversifying forms of power source investment

As such, key legal frameworks for developing renewable/biomass energies have basically been formed; participation in biomass market in Vietnam by foreign companies in general and German ones in particular is welcomed in various forms such as foreign direct investment (FDI)49 under BOT, BOO, joint venture with domestic companies… or providing domestic companies/other investors with equipment lines and technologies such as boilers, biomass kilns, turbines, generators of various capacities (around 5-20 or 50MW) as well as biomass pellet compressing machines.

47 General Department of Engergy, 2011, Activity No.2 – experiment on biomass briquette pressing, EEP Mekong Project 48 Item 3, part a “developing power sources with directions”, pages 2&3, Prime Minister’s Decision No.1208/QD-TTg dated 21/07/2011 on approving National Electricity Development Planning for 2011-2030 period. 49 Item 4, part b (page 10) “solutions for investment funds for Vietnam’s electricity development”, Prime Minister’s Decision No.1208/QD-TTg dated 21/07/2011 on approving National Electricity Development Planning for 2011-2030 period


In addition to providing equipment lines and technologies, German companies can participate in consulting services, including: Plan for biomass power development (national, regional or provincial levels), developing support mechanism/(feed-in tariff for biomass power, smart grid50

Therefore, for the development of biomass projects in Vietnam, all investors must import key equipments and production lines (such as boiler, turbine) as manufacturing of these is not available in Vietnam. Regarding export of biomass products from Vietnam, especially to developed countries such as Germany, at the moment, only biomass pellets pressed from wastes like sugarcane trash, rice husk, and sawdust. These kinds of products are currently used as burning fuel in boilers for thermal or electricity production in many European developed countries such as the Netherlands, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, and Germany. Initial calculations show that if modern biomass compressing machines that suit Vietnam situation are imported from Germany (each compressing machine costs about USD20,000-25,000USD plus labour costs (VND 3million/month), rental for production, raw biomass prices in Vietnam, then current costs for biomass pellets in Vietnam can be estimated at approximately 3.5-4.5 UScents/kg (0.23-0.3UScents/MJ)51

Key information regarding investment (licensing, joint venture) in the area of biomass energy can be summarized as follows: at the moment, biomass power projects in Vietnam are often at average capacity, from 5-20MW or 30-40 MW. At such capacity, each project’s total investment fund at most (40MW) is equivalent to about US$64 million only (average investment unit cost is US$1.6mio/MW52), or equivalent to about 1,320 trillion VND53. Given this total investment, as per regulation54, it is certain that most biomass power projects that can be expected to develop in Vietnam in the coming time shall belong to Group B projects55. According to investment licensing decentralization, investment certificates for biomass projects of above mentioned scale shall be issued by the People’s Committee of Province or cities that are directly under the Central. The application procedure for investment license of Group B projects (that is already within plan or plan must be supplemented) was specified in Decree No.12/2009/NĐ-CP dated 12 February 2009 by the Government on Management of Investment Projects for Construction Works.

Some illustrative key points that relate to process and procedure for investment license of biomass power projects are as follow:

■ Identify project type to apply for investment license. According to Article 2 (Decree 12) stipulates classification and state management of investment projects for construction of works, foreign investment or joint venture for biomass power shall be classified as “Projects funded by other capital sources, including private capital, or a combination of funding sources”. In such cases, investors shall decide by themselves on forms and contents of project management. For projects

50 Item 3, part b (page 5) “Vietnam’s grid development plan”, Prime Minister’s Decision No.1208/QD-TTg dated 21/07/2011 on approving National Electricity Development Planning for 2011-2030 period 51 Exchange rate: 1US$ = 20600VND; Biomass pellet’s calorie is about 15MJ/kg 52 See table 2.4, section 2.5 “Investment unit costs of biomass burning power plant ($US/kW)” 53 Exchange rate: 1US$ = 20600VND 54 Appendix 1, classification of construction investment projects, issued together with Decree No.12/2009/ND-CP dated 12 February 2009 by the Government on Management of Investment Projects for Construction Works 55 Being investment projects for construction works: power industry, oil and gas extractation, chemicals, fertilizer, machinery manufacturing, cement, metallurgy, mineral extraction and processing, transportation projects (bridges, seaports, river ports, airports, railways, highways), constructrion of residential buildings with total investment from VND75 to 1,500 trillion.


funded with capital of mixed sources, capital contributors shall reach agreement on methods of management, or manage these projects under regulations applicable to the capital source which accounts for the highest percentage (%) in the total investment.

■ Formulate, evaluate, and approve investment projects for construction of works. As regulated, such a biomass power investment project must have a feasibility study report formulated (article 6, decree 12). Project content covers explanatory section as stipulated in Article 7 and basic designs section as stipulated in Article 8 of the same Decree.

■ For projects that are not or not yet within the master plan for branches that is approved by authorized body, the investor must report to the governing Ministry to the branch or the locality as per decentralization rule for consideration and approval of master plan supplementation, if within authorization, or submission to the Prime Minister for approval of master plan supplementation, before formulating the investment project for construction of works.

■ File for submission for evaluation of an investment project on the construction of works shall contain:

■ Submission for evaluation of the project in the form of Appendix II to this Decree. ■ Project including explanatory section and basic designs section. ■ Relevant legal documents.

■ Authority to evaluate investment projects for construction of works. The person making investment decisions shall be responsible to arrange evaluation of the project prior to approval. Evaluation of basic designs shall be conducted concurrently with evaluation of the investment project without requiring to be arranged separately. State administrative bodies shall be responsible to give their opinions on basic designs. In the case of biomass power, Departments of Industry and Trade of provinces/cities (who manage professional construction of works for Group B projects) shall be responsible for evaluation.

■ Authority to make decision on investment in construction of works. Investors shall themselves make investment decisions for projects funded by other capital sources, including a combination of funding sources, and shall be liable for such decision.

■ Construction permits. Before commencing construction works, the investor must have a construction permit.


4.3. Information of Vietnam’s related organisations and their contact details – information on roles and responsibilities of related bodies and various organisations in the biomass field

Below are information of Vietnam’s related organisations and their contact details – information on roles and responsibilities of related bodies and various organisations in the biomass field.

Table 4-3. Information of key related organizations in biomass energies

No. Name Contact detail Key related roles and

responsibilities Notes

1

Ministry of

Industry and

Trade

54 Hai Ba Trung, Ha Noi,

Viet Nam

State administration in the power

industry

Under the

Government

2

General

Department of

Energy


Viet Nam

Functions: consulting, supporting the

Minister of Industry and Trade in

state administration and performing

state administrative tasks in the

power industry (including new and

renewable energies)

Missions and roles (new and

renewable energies):

+ Developing, submitting to the

Minister of Industry and Trade for

approval of new, renewable energies’

development master plan of

provinces and cities that are directly

under the Central, mechanisms and

policies for encouraging development

of new energy sources, renewable

energy sources.

+ Organizing administration and

inspection the implementation of

national target programs, new and

renewable energy development

programs

Under the

Ministry of

Industry and

Trade

3

Department of

New and

renewable

energies


Viet Nam

Functions and missions of this

Department have not been issued

Under the

General

Department of

Energy


4 Vietnam

Electricity (EVN)

18, Tran Nguyen Han, Ha

Noi, Viet Nam

Managing, arranging connection of

electricity works into the national

grid, negotiating buying-selling

prices of electricity when there is no

standard electricity price list

Under the

Ministry of

Industry and

Trade, the

Government

5 Institute of

Energy

6 Ton That Tung, Ha Noi,

Viet nam

+ Establishing the master plan of

developing new and renewable

energies in the whole country,

regions, areas, provinces and districts

+ Participating in shaping strategies

and policies for Vietnam’s new and

renewable energy development

+ Consulting on investment of

renewable energy construction

projects

+ Research, hand over renewable

energy technologies

Under the

Ministry of

Industry and

Trade

6

People’s

Committees of

provinces and

cities that are

under the Central

authority

In the provinces, cities

Arranging investment, evaluating

investment, licensing investment and

construction for works of Group B

and lower

Contact pints

are Department

of Industry and

Trade

7

Power

Engineering

Consulting Joint

Stock Company 1

Km 9+200 Nguyen Trai

Road, Thanh Xuan Nam

Ward, Thanh Xuan District,

Ha Noi

Advisory for technical services and

construction of power works,

residential industrial works, building

and investing on power sources

Under EVN

8

Power

Engineering

Consulting Joint

Stock Company 2

32 Ngo Thoi Nhiem, Ward

7, District 3, HCM City


construction of power works Under EVN

9

Power

Engineering

Consulting Joint

Stock Company 3

32 Ngo Thoi Nhiem, Ward

7, District 3, HCM City




10

Power

Engineering

Consulting Joint

Stock Company 4

11 Hoang Hoa Tham – Nha

Trang – Khanh Hoa

Province



11

Vietnam Sugar

and Sugarcane

Association

172/3A Nguyen Tat Thanh,

Ward 13, District 4, HCM

City

+ With about 38 members being

Vietnamese sugarcane and sugar joint

stock companies (sugarcane and

sugar plants)

+ Supporting sugar plants in

participating in power generation and

selling exceeded power to the

national grid

NGO

12 Sugar mills In various provinces Directly managing bagasse burning

plants for energy co-generating

Under Vietnam

Sugar and

Sugarcane

Association

13

Hanoi University

of Science and

Technology

No. 1 Dai Co Viet, Hai Ba

Trung, Ha Noi

Researching and consulting on topics

related to power plant technologies

Under Ministry

of Education

and Training

14

HCM City

University of

Science and

Technology

268 Ly Thuong Kiet,

District 10, Ho Chi Minh

City



Under Ministry

of Education

and Training

15

Danang

University of

Science and

Technology

Nguyen Luong Bang

Da Nang, Vietnam



Under Ministry

of Education

and Training

16

Research Center

for Energy and

Environment

4th Floor, Hacinco Hotel,

110 Thai Thinh, Dong Da,

HN, VN

Advisory on topics related to clean

development mechanism (CDM) NGO

17 Enerteam 273 Dien Bien Phu, District

3, Ho Chi Minh City

Advisory on topics related to energy

saving, efficient use of energy NGO


References

■ Pham Khanh Toan, Nguyen Duc Cuong, Institute of Energy and associates, 2005, Quantitative research report on feasibility of industrial use of solar power, small hydroelectricity and biomass energies in Vietnam.

■ Institute of Energy, 9/2010, Draft of National Electricity Development Plan for 2011-2020 period, with consideration to 2030.

■ Ninh Binh Women’s Union, 2005, Final report of “Rolling out technical advance in enhanced cooking fires using agricultural-forestry by-products in rural households in Ninh Binh province” project.

■ Institute of Energy /EVN, 2000, Master Plan on New energy sources for 2000-2005-2010 period.

■ Prime Minister, 2011, Decision No.1208/QD-TTg dated 21st July 2011 approving “National Electricity Development Planning for 2011-2020 period, with consideration to 2030”

■ General Statistic Office, Statistical Yearbook from 2000-2010

■ Institute of Energy /FAO, 2001, “A study on data collection and situation evaluation for wood power and planning for areas in Vietnam” report.

■ Institute of Energy, 1999, A study on using rice husk, straw, bagasse and other wastes and by-products for generating power in Vietnam.

■ Decision No.709/2004/QD-NLDK dated 3/4/2004: Guidance on economic and financial analyses for investment projects and price list for power source projects, amended by Decision No. 2014/2007/QD-NLDK dated 13/6/2007

■ Decision No.1267/QD-BNN-KL, dated 4th May 2009 by MARD.

■ Decision No.18/2007/QD-TTg, dated 5th February 2007

■ Institute of Energy, 2009, Master Plan on Vietnam’s Renewable Energy

■ Institute of Energy, 7/2011, mission report 1, EEP Mekong Project

■ Vietnam Sugar and Sugarcane Association, Official Dispatch No.529/HHMD to the Prime Minister, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on some recommendations regarding investment for development of 1,950MW power from bagasse

■ Activities and Achievements of a Biomass Briquetting Project in Vietnam. Pham Khanh Toan, Nguyen Duc Cuong, and M. Augustus Leon.

■ Nguyen Duc Cuong, 2009, Calculating the greenhouse emission coefficient for Vietnam’s DNA for application announcement

■ Source: http://danviet.vn/54183p1c34/khac-phuc-o-nhiem-bang-lo-gach-dot-trau-hoffman.htm

■ Source: http://danviet.vn/54183p1c34/khac-phuc-o-nhiem-bang-lo-gach-dot-trau-hoffman.htm

■ Sources: http://vaidiakythuat.net/nung-gach-bang-trau.html and other websites


Annex 1 Listed capacities of power plants in 2010 by owership

No Plant No of

turbines Installed

capacity (MW) Ownership

Total 21,541.5

I. Hydropower 7,633

1 Son La 1 400 EVN

2 Hoa Binh 8 1920 EVN

3 Thac Ba 3 120 EVN

4 Tuyen Quang 3 342 EVN

5 Ban Ve 2 320 EVN

6 Quang Tri 2 64 EVN

7 A Vương 2 210 EVN

8 Cua Dat 2 97 JSC Vinaconex

9 Vinh Son 2 66 EVN

10 Song Hinh 2 70 EVN

11 Pleikrong 2 100 EVN

12 Ialy 4 720 EVN

13 Se San 3 2 260 EVN

14 Se San 4 3 360 EVN

15 KrongH'nag 2 64 JSC

16 Buon Tua Srah 2 86 EVN

17 Song Tranh 2 1 95 EVN

18 Srepok 3 2 220 EVN

19 Srepok 4 2 80 EVN

20 Buon Kuop 2 280 EVN

21 Huong Dien 2 54 JSC

22 Song Ba Ha 2 220 EVN

23 Tri An 4 400 EVN

24 Da Nhim 4 160 EVN

25 Thac Mo 2 150 JSC

26 Ham Thuan 2 300 EVN


No Plant No of

turbines Installed


27 Da Mi 2 175 EVN

28 Dai Ninh 2 300 EVN

II. Coal thermal power 2,745

1 Pha Lai 1 4 440 JSC

2 Pha Lai 2 2 600 JSC

3 Uong Bi 2 105 EVN

4 Uong Bi expansion 1 300 EVN

5 Ninh Binh 4 100 JSC

6 Hai Phong 2 600 EVN

7 Quang Ninh 2 600 EVN

III. Oil thermal power 537

1 Thu Duc 3 169.5 EVN

2 Can Tho 1 37.5 EVN

3 O Mon 1 330 EVN

IV Gas turbine + steam generator

3,197

1 Ba Ria 8GT+S9+S10 388 JSC

2 Phu My 21 4GT+ST23,26 949 EVN

3 Phu My 1 3GT+S14 1140 EVN

4 Phu My 4 2GT+ST3 468 EVN

5 Thu Duc 4GT 102 EVN

6 Can Tho 4GT 150 EVN

V. Diesel power and small hydropower plants

500 Private investors

VI. Non EVN 6,929.5

1 Nam Chien 2 32 Northwest Power Investment

& Development JSC

2 Ban Coc 3 18 Que Phong Hydropower JSC

3 Na Duong 2 111 TKV

4 Cao Ngan 2 115 TKV

5 Cam Pha 2 600 TKV


No Plant No of

turbines Installed


6 Son Dong 2 220 TKV

7 Binh Dien 2 44 Binh Dien Hydropower JSC

8 Song Con 3 63 Geruco - Song Con Hydropower JSC

9 Se San 3A 2 108 JSC

10 Za Hung 2 30 Za Hưng JSC

11 Bac Binh 2 33 Vietnam Power Development JSC

12 Da Dang 2 2 34 Southern Hydropower JSC

13 Can Don 2 78 Song Da

14 Srokphumieng 2 51 IDICO

15 Hiep Phuoc 3 375 International investor

16 Formosa 1 150 International investor

17 Phu My 3 2GT+ST3 740 International investor

18 Phu My 22 2GT+ST3 740 International investor

19 Nhon Trach 1 2GT+ST3 465 PVN

20 Nhon Trach 2 1GT 250 PVN

21 Ca Mau 1 2GT+ST1 771 PVN

22 Ca Mau 2 2GT+ST4 771 PVN

23 Amata 2 13.5 International investor

24 Vê Đan 2 72 International investor

25 Bourbon 2 24 International investor

26 Nitrogen Phu My 1 21 PVN

27 Chinese power 1000 Imports


Annex 2 - Retail rates of power in 2011

Applied to manufacturing sectors

No Voltage Rate

(VND/kWh) Rate

(UScent/kWh)56

1 110 kV and higher

a) Mid-peak hours 1,043 5

b) Off-peak hours 646 3.1

c) On-peak hours 1,862 8.94

2 Between 22 kV and 110 kV

a) Mid-peak hours 1,068 5.12



3 Between 6 kV and 22 kV




4 Below 6 kV




Applied to irrigation pump stations

No Voltage Rate

(VND/kWh) Rate

(UScent/kWh)57 1 6 kV and higher a) Mid-peak hours 956 4.6 b) Off-peak hours 497 2.4 c) On-peak hours 1,415 6.8 2 Under 6 kV a) Mid-peak hours 1,023 4.9 b) Off-peak hours 521 2.5 c) On-peak hours 1,465 7.03

56 Vietcombank-offered VND-USD exchange rate on September 30th, 2011: 1USD=20,830 VND 57 Vietcombank-offered VND-USD exchange rate on September 30th, 2011: 1USD=20,830 VND


Applied to administrative agencies and public service providers

No User Rate

(VND/kWh) Rate

(UScent/kWh)58

1 Hospital, nursery, kindergarten, general school

a) 6 kV and higher 1,117 5.4

b) Under 6 kV 1,192 5.7

2 Public lighting


b) Under 6 kV 1,291 6.2

3 Administrative agencies and public service providers


b) Under 6 kV 1,291 6.2

Applied to businesses

No Voltage Rate

(VND/kWh)

Rate (Uscent/kWh) 59

1 22 kV and higher a) Mid-peak hours 1,713 8.2 b) Off-peak hours 968 4.6 c) On-peak hours 2,955 14.2 2 Between 6 kV and 22 kV a) Mid-peak hours 1,838 8.8 b) Off-peak hours 1,093 5.2 c) On-peak hours 3,067 15 3 Under 6 kV a) Mid-peak hours 1,862 8.9 b) Off-peak hours 1,142 5.5 c) On-peak hours 3,193 15.3

58 Vietcombank-offered VND-USD exchange rate on September 30th, 2011: 1USD=20,830 VND 59 Vietcombank-offered VND-USD exchange rate on September 30th, 2011: 1USD=20,830 VND


Tiered prices of residential power

No Monthly consumption by a household Rate

(VND/kWh)

Rate (UScent/kWh) 60

1 First 50 kWh (poor and low-income households) 993 4.8 2 From kWh 0 – 100 (average household) 1,242 5.9 3 From kWh 101 – 150 1,304 6.3 4 From kWh 151 – 200 1,651 7.9 5 From kWh 201 – 300 1,788 8.6 6 From kWh 301 – 400 1,912 9.2 7 kWh 401 and higher 1,962 9.4

The residential power retail rates for rural, mountainous and island areas that have no access to the national grid are dictated by the Provincial People’s Committee but must be between the ceiling and floor, which are as follows:

a) Floor: 1,863 VND/kWh (equivalent to 8.9 UScent/kWh)

b) Ceiling: 3,105 VND/kWh (equivalent to 14.9 UScent/kWh)

60 Vietcombank-offered VND-USD exchange rate on September 30th, 2011: 1USD=20,830 VND


Annex 3 – Roadmap to competitive power market a. Step 1 - Level 1: to pilot a competitive power generation market (from 2005 to 2008)

■ To create a competitive power generation market for power plants under the EVN as a basis to pilot a competitive power generation market that will run with a single power buyer. Meanwhile, power plants, power transmission companies and power distribution companies under the EVN will become independent financially.

■ IPPs outside the EVN will still sell power to the EVN under the long-term PPAs.

■ At the end of this piloting phase, the bigger plants under the EVN will become State-owned IPPs and smaller plants, joint stock companies in preparation for the next stage of a complete competitive power generation market.

b. Step 2 - Level 1: to complete the competitive power generation market (from 2009 to 2014)

■ To complete the competitive power generation market after all pre-conditions for such a market have been met.

■ Those IPPs outside the EVN will start offering prices on the competitive power generation market (still, to a single buyer); power producers will sell their power under the PPA and offer on the instant delivery market their selling prices that come in two options regulated by the Power Regulation Department.

c. Step 1 - Level 2: to pilot a competitive wholesale market (from 2015 to 2016)

■ To pilot a competitive wholesale market when all pre-conditions for this level have been met.

■ Some power distributors and large customers will be selected to start a pilot competitive wholesale market. A number of new wholesalers will be formed to strengthen the competitiveness in power wholesaling. The current power transmission companies will be merged into a single national power transmission company under the EVN; the current power distributors, system operators and power market regulators will remain under the EVN.

d. Step 2 - Level 2: to complete the competitive power wholesale market (from 2017 to 2022)

■ To complete the competitive power wholesale market after all pre-conditions for this level have been met.

■ To change the current power distributors under the EVN into independent companies (State-owned or joint-stock) that will buy power direct from power producers and the power producers will compete against each other to sell ther power to these companies. The wholesalers will also join in selling power to distributors and large customers.


e. Step 1 - Level 3: to pilot a competitive power retail market (from 2022 to 2024)

■ To pilot a competitive power retail market when all pre-conditions for this level have been met.

■ To select a number of distribution areas of proper size for piloting. Within the range of power consumption permitted by the Power Regulation Department, customers are to select their own power provider (power retailer); the power distributor will have their power retail business separated from their distribution grid management and operation fuction; power retailers will compete with each other to sell their power to customers and so will they in buying power from power wholesalers.

f. Step 2 - Level 3: to complete the competitive power retail market (from 2024 on)

■ Within the range of power consumption regulated by the Power Regulation Department, customers nationwide are to select their own power provider (retailer) or buy power direct from the market.

Any individual or organization that just meets requirements for power operation can establish as a power retailer to compete in retailing. They are free to buy power from any power producer or the market to sell to power users.

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