Energy Transition Update: 19.10-26.10.2026
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Energy Transition Update: 19.10-26.10.2026 ---
HO CHI MINH CITY TO SWITCH STATE-OWNED VEHICLES TO CLEAN ENERGY BEFORE 2030
VietnamPlus – 22 October 2026
Ho Chi Minh City plans to convert all cars and motorbikes owned by state agencies and used by public officials and employees to clean energy before 1 January 2030, excluding specialised vehicles. The city currently has around 12.82 million vehicles, with motorbikes accounting for 90%, making transport emissions a major contributor to urban air pollution. The transition aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, fine dust and noise while lowering energy and maintenance costs. To support adoption, the city is prioritising charging infrastructure, parking facilities, financial incentives and assistance from vehicle manufacturers. At a sustainable transport event on 22 October, Honda Vietnam handed over its first electric motorbikes to public employees under an incentive programme and conducted pilot motorcycle emissions testing. Public-sector adoption is expected to encourage wider use of cleaner vehicles, supporting the city's ambition to achieve net-zero emissions before 2045.
OVER 100,000 TONNES OF FLY ASH FROM WASTE-TO-ENERGY PLANTS REQUIRE LONG-TERM TREATMENT SOLUTIONS
VnEconomy – 23 October 2026
Hanoi is seeking solutions to manage more than 100,000 tonnes of fly ash accumulated at its Soc Son and Seraphin waste-to-energy plants. The two facilities currently hold around 85,000 and 15,764 tonnes respectively, creating storage pressures and raising concerns about land use. Although the ash has been treated and stabilised to meet environmental standards, landfill disposal remains the immediate solution, with temporary arrangements expected to be implemented by December 2026. In the longer term, Hanoi aims to shift towards recycling fly ash into construction materials, including lightweight products and foam ceramics. Technologies under consideration include plasma treatment, high-temperature processing and co-processing in cement kilns, although high costs remain a barrier. Waste-to-energy plants will be required to develop alternative technical treatment solutions within two years of implementing landfill disposal. This transition could reduce reliance on landfills, recover valuable materials and support Hanoi’s circular economy ambitions.
HAI PHONG’S GROUNDWATER SHOWS MICROBIAL CONTAMINATION, WHILE COASTAL WATERS EXCEED AMMONIUM LIMITS
VnEconomy – 23 October 2026
Environmental monitoring results for 2025 reveal widespread microbial contamination of groundwater across 22 communes and wards and one special administrative area in eastern Hai Phong. The highest rates of samples failing water-quality standards were recorded in Hong An and An Duong (26.9%), followed by Dong Hai and Hai An (21.2%). Coastal water quality is also concerning, particularly in Do Son, where 65% of samples exceeded ammonium limits and 36.7% exceeded total coliform standards. At ports, ferry terminals and river mouths, all samples exceeded total coliform limits, while 62.5% exceeded ammonium limits. Pollution was generally more severe during summer and rainy periods, potentially due to contaminated runoff and increased tourism activities. Stronger controls on wastewater discharge, groundwater extraction and abandoned wells, alongside expanded monitoring and centralised wastewater treatment, are needed to protect water resources and coastal ecosystems.
ROOFTOP SOLAR POWER HELPS BUSINESSES GO GREEN
VietnamPlus – 24 October 2026
Businesses in Dong Thap province are increasingly adopting rooftop solar and solar-powered equipment to reduce electricity costs, improve production efficiency and meet environmental standards in export markets. P&K Development has introduced solar-powered drying technology for medicinal herbs, cutting drying time from six to seven days to just 12 hours and saving more than 200 kWh per cycle. Meanwhile, Mekovet’s 173.6 kWp rooftop solar system can meet around 65% of its electricity demand, while animal feed producer Mavin Austfeed expects its new installation to reduce energy costs by 25–30%. By September 2026, Dong Thap had 6,150 rooftop solar customers with a combined capacity of 287.09 MWp, including 751 customers using self-generation and self-consumption systems. Interest is also growing among seafood processors, rice mills and cold-storage operators, with battery storage offering additional protection against power disruptions. Wider adoption could help businesses lower operating costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen their competitiveness while supporting Vietnam’s green energy transition.
PROMOTING REFRIGERANT RECOVERY AND RECYCLING TO PROTECT THE OZONE LAYER
VnEconomy – 24 October 2026
Vietnam is strengthening refrigerant management to protect the ozone layer and reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment. By August 2026, measures to control and phase out harmful substances had contributed to an estimated reduction of 260 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent. However, less than 0.1% of refrigerants from end-of-life equipment are currently recovered, leaving most at risk of being released into the atmosphere. Recycling infrastructure remains limited, with only one refrigerant recycling facility in southern Vietnam and two destruction facilities nationwide. Regulatory gaps also persist, particularly in Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requirements and collection arrangements for small repair businesses and independent technicians. Proposed improvements include clearer recovery obligations, more collection points, expanded recycling capacity and better tracking of refrigerants throughout equipment lifecycles. These measures could reduce harmful emissions, support more sustainable cooling technologies and strengthen Vietnam’s circular economy.
Summarised by Phan Le and Hai Thanh Nguyen
In collaboration with the ANU Institute for Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions