Energy Transition Update: 14.9 - 21.9.2026
Energy Transition Update: 14.9-21.9.2026
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Energy Transition Update: 14.9-21.9.2026 ---
VIETNAM BECOMES SOUTHEAST ASIA’S LARGEST EV MARKET AS SALES SURGE
VietnamPlus – 21 September 2026
Vietnam became Southeast Asia’s largest electric-car market in 2025, with electric vehicles (EVs) accounting for nearly 40% of new-car sales, up from a marginal share in 2020. This was well above the regional average of about 20% and the global average of 25%, according to the International Energy Agency. Growth has been supported by government incentives, expanding domestic production and more affordable models, with VinFast alone delivering 175,099 electric cars in Vietnam in 2025. Charging infrastructure is also expanding, with V-Green operating more than 150,000 charging ports nationwide. The rapid transition is creating a need for further investment in charging networks, including at petrol stations, apartment buildings, commercial centres and roadside rest areas. The IEA expects EVs could account for more than 80% of Vietnam’s new-car sales by 2035, highlighting the country’s rapid shift towards lower-emission transport.
43 DAYS AND NIGHTS AT SEA: “MADE IN VIETNAM” OFFSHORE WIND SUBSTATIONS HEAD TO EUROPE
CafeF – 16 September 2026
Vietnam has completed and exported four offshore substations for the 1.5 GW Baltica 2 offshore wind project in the Baltic Sea, marking the first time a Vietnamese company has delivered offshore wind infrastructure of this kind to Europe. Built by PTSC M&C in cooperation with Denmark’s Semco Maritime, the four structures weigh a combined 16,000 tonnes and will travel more than
15,000 km to Europe. More than 2,000 workers and around 200 engineers and managers were involved, with the complex load-out operation lasting 43 days and nights. The project also achieved five million working hours without a lost-time accident and met demanding European technical standards. Baltica 2, developed by Ørsted and Poland’s PGE, is expected to supply green electricity to about 2.4 million Polish households and reduce CO₂ emissions by around five million tonnes annually from 2027. The achievement shows that Vietnamese firms are developing the engineering and manufacturing capabilities needed to participate in higher-value segments of the global offshore wind supply chain.
VIETNAM LIFTS ROOFTOP SOLAR RESALE CAP TO 50%, BOOSTING GREEN TRANSITION
VietnamPlus – 16 September 2026
Vietnam has raised the amount of surplus electricity that self-generation and self-consumption rooftop solar systems can sell to the grid from 20% to 50%. The change under Decree 243/2026/ND-CP could improve investment returns by allowing households and businesses to earn more from electricity they do not use. Ho Chi Minh City already has more than 22,000 rooftop solar systems, including around 6,300 used for self-generation and self-consumption. The new rules also allow power companies that own grid infrastructure to purchase surplus electricity and give commune-level authorities a greater role in handling administrative procedures. However, further support is needed, particularly for households, while rooftop capacity must remain consistent with electricity demand and local grid conditions. Clearer rules for combining rooftop solar with battery storage could further encourage investment and help distributed renewable energy play a larger role in Vietnam’s green transition.
Summarised by Phan Le and Hai Thanh Nguyen
In collaboration with the ANU Institute for Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions