Energy Transition Update: 21.9 - 28.9.2026
Energy Transition Update: 21.9-28.9.2026
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Energy Transition Update: 21.9-28.9.2026 ---
HAI LY RUINED CHURCH BECOMES VIETNAM’S FIRST CLIMATE CHANGE HERITAGE SITE
VnExpress – 21 September 2026
Hai Ly ruined church in Ninh Binh has been officially recognised as Vietnam’s first tourism site preserving evidence of climate change. The nearly 100-year-old church now stands on the beach, outside the current sea dyke, after decades of coastal erosion pushed the shoreline inland. Over almost a century, Hai Hau has lost around 0.5-1 km of coastal land due to the combined effects of waves, currents, wind and storms, with climate change identified as one contributing factor. The remaining bell tower provides a striking visual record of how the coastline and local settlements have changed over time. Authorities plan to preserve the site while developing it for tourism, research and public education. If carefully managed, it could help visitors better understand coastal erosion, climate risks and how communities have adapted to environmental change.
EV AND PLASTIC RECYCLING BUSINESSES ELIGIBLE FOR 2% INTEREST-RATE REDUCTION
VnExpress – 23 September 2026
Vietnam has introduced guidelines allowing green, circular and qualifying environmental, social and governance (ESG) projects to receive a 2 percentage-point annual reduction in borrowing rates. Under Decision 46, 19 types of circular projects and 45 types of green projects across seven sectors can qualify. Eligible activities include electric vehicles, solar and biomass power, plastic recycling, eco-tourism and agricultural-waste recycling, as well as low-emission farming that recycles more than 50% of agricultural by-products. The ESG requirements vary by business size. Individuals and household businesses must choose and meet at least three criteria from the applicable ESG list, while micro and small enterprises must meet at least six. Businesses must also comply with basic requirements covering waste and emissions management, labour contracts, social insurance and responsible business conduct. By linking cheaper finance to clearly defined green and ESG criteria, the policy could encourage private investment in cleaner production and Vietnam’s circular economy.
MORE THAN 2,400 EMITTING FACILITIES REQUIRED TO CONDUCT GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORIES
VnEconomy – 24 September 2026
From 25 September 2026, 2,441 facilities across six sectors will be required to conduct greenhouse gas inventories under Vietnam’s updated list, up by 275 from 2024. Industry and trade account for nearly 80% of the total, with 1,916 facilities, including large numbers in plastics, rubber, textiles, metals and steel. Listed facilities must measure their emissions, prepare mitigation plans and submit their next inventory reports by 31 March 2027, with inventories generally required every two years. Facilities receiving emission allowances, including those in steel, cement and thermal power, face additional reporting requirements linked to Vietnam’s developing carbon market. Penalties can reach VND 20 million for inaccurate or incomplete reports and VND 100 million for failing to prepare one. Beyond regulatory compliance, reliable emissions data can help businesses identify carbon-intensive operations, reduce energy and resource use, meet increasingly strict green standards and improve access to green finance.
WHEN AGRICULTURAL BY-PRODUCTS BECOME INDUSTRIAL INPUTS FOR NEW MATERIALS
VnEconomy – 25 September 2026
Vietnamese businesses and researchers are finding new ways to turn agricultural by-products such as coconut cores, coffee grounds, bagasse and rice husks into higher-value industrial materials. One company is developing biodegradable bioplastics from organic waste, brewery residue and agricultural by-products, while researchers have converted coconut cores and coffee grounds into activated carbon for treating saline water. Other circular agriculture models use organic waste to raise black soldier fly larvae or process rice straw into cattle feed. These approaches can reduce waste while creating new products and additional economic value from materials that were previously discarded. However, scaling up remains difficult because agricultural residues are seasonal and dispersed, while supply chains, financing and market connections remain limited. Building reliable collection, processing and supply systems could help turn agricultural waste into a stable source of secondary raw materials and strengthen Vietnam’s circular economy.
HANOI SETS UP INTER-AGENCY MECHANISM TO OPERATE CARBON MARKET
VietnamPlus – 26 September 2026
Hanoi has established an inter-agency working group to coordinate greenhouse gas inventories, emissions reduction and participation in Vietnam’s carbon market. City departments will share responsibilities for emissions data, carbon-credit projects, finance, technology and benefit-sharing arrangements. Potential carbon-credit activities include waste treatment and methane recovery, low-emission agriculture, forestry, rooftop solar, energy efficiency, cleaner transport and low-emission construction materials. The Department of Finance will develop rules covering revenues from carbon-credit transfers, ownership of credits and benefit sharing, particularly for projects involving public assets. Hanoi also plans to build digital databases and explore sensor-based emissions monitoring to strengthen measurement, reporting and verification. The mechanism aims to connect emissions management, finance and technology more systematically, laying the groundwork for Hanoi’s participation in the developing national carbon market.
ELECTRICITY PRICING FOR DATA CENTRES: A NEW CHALLENGE FOR VIETNAM’S POWER SECTOR
Năng lượng Việt Nam – 26 September 2026
Vietnam is facing growing debate over how electricity should be priced for data centres as AI and digital infrastructure create a new type of large, continuous power demand. Viettel and CMC have reported inconsistent treatment, with some electricity providers applying industrial tariffs while others classify data centres under higher commercial tariffs. The issue goes beyond price: large data centres require highly reliable electricity, operate almost continuously and can place significant pressure on local grids. Vietnam’s data-centre capacity is estimated at around 104 MW and could approach 600 MW by 2030, although these figures have not yet been standardised in official power planning. Electricity pricing will need to be transparent and consistent nationwide, while better reflecting capacity, consumption patterns and the cost of providing reliable power. Data centres and AI loads also need to be incorporated more explicitly into power-demand forecasting and grid planning so that electricity infrastructure can develop alongside Vietnam’s digital economy.
Summarised by Phan Le and Hai Thanh Nguyen
In collaboration with the ANU Institute for Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions