The GIZ Energy Support Programme (ESP), in cooperation with the Oil, Gas and Coal Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade - MOIT), organized a workshop on “Development Trends of the Global Green Hydrogen Industry and Orientations for Vietnam” under the PtX Outreach project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).

The workshop aimed to raise awareness of green hydrogen's pivotal role in the energy transition, while providing a collaborative forum for experts and policymakers to discuss strategic development roadmaps for the Power-to-X (PtX) and green hydrogen industries in Vietnam.

Mr. Tran Thanh Tung, Deputy Director General of the Oil, Gas and Coal Department.

Sharing insights on Vietnam's national hydrogen strategy, Mr. Tran Thanh Tung, Deputy Director General of the Oil, Gas and Coal Department (MOIT), noted: Hydrogen is identified as a prioritized clean energy carrier to substitute fossil fuels and is projected to account for a substantial share in Vietnam's future national energy matrix. Vietnam is strategically oriented toward aggressively expanding offshore wind power, integrated with onshore renewables (solar and onshore wind), to produce green hydrogen and green ammonia for both domestic industrial demand and high-value exports.

Domestic technical experts also presented practical research findings regarding ammonia co-firing and direct utilization in Vietnam's power generation sector, as well as core engineering requirements for developing the domestic PtX and green hydrogen value chain.

Experts emphasized that developing a robust PtX and green hydrogen ecosystem requires adherence to a comprehensive sustainability framework across four pillars—environmental, economic, social, and governance (ESG)—aligned with national Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Recommendations highlighted that to foster a sustainable hydrogen industry, Vietnam must formulate comprehensive national technical standards and green certification frameworks for PtX, while piloting and operationalizing carbon compliance and voluntary credit markets. Simultaneously, priority must be given to domestic specialized workforce development, attracting international technical talent, building integrated port and pipeline infrastructure, adopting global best-in-class technologies, and facilitating targeted financial incentives for domestic PtX projects.

Overview of the workshop.

From the international perspective, commercial trends and market dynamics within the global PtX economy were thoroughly analyzed.

According to international consulting expert David Jacob (IET/GFA): National green hydrogen development strategies should initially prioritize "low-hanging fruit" applications to mitigate technological and commercial risks. Early-stage investments should concentrate on hard-to-abate sectors that currently lack electrification alternatives or already consume hydrogen as an industrial chemical feedstock, notably fertilizer manufacturing (ammonia synthesis) and refinery hydrodesulfurization.

Regarding export potential, experts noted that with roughly 85,000 km² of land suitable for renewable energy development, Vietnam has the potential to deploy up to 3,400 GW of solar PV and 840 GW of onshore wind capacity. Theoretical projections estimate Vietnam's green hydrogen export potential from dedicated renewable power at up to 23 million metric tons per annum. Major international import markets seeking clean hydrogen off-takers include South Korea, Japan, Germany, the UK, France, and Italy.

International experts also proposed medium- and long-term strategic roadmaps for Vietnam's oil, gas, and energy sector, including:

- Conducting detailed levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) and PtX product cost analyses at prioritized coastal locations.

- Establishing dedicated renewable energy and green hydrogen development hubs integrated with spatial transport and deepwater logistics corridors.

- Undertaking specialized feasibility studies on green maritime bunkering fuels (e-methanol, green ammonia) and evaluating domestic market competitiveness versus regional exporters.

Mr. Markus Bissel, Project Director of PtX Outreach.

Speaking at the workshop, Mr. Markus Bissel, Project Director of PtX Outreach, stated: “For Vietnam to achieve its net-zero emissions target by 2050, besides scaling up renewable power generation and enhancing energy efficiency, concrete decarbonization actions must be implemented across transportation, power generation, and heavy industries. Central to this strategy is the adoption of green hydrogen produced from renewable power and its power-to-X derivatives. GIZ, in close coordination with the PtX Hub in Berlin, implements the PtX Outreach project to support Vietnam in shaping policy frameworks, securing bankable financing, building international partnerships, and unlocking domestic renewable potential toward a sustainable green hydrogen industry.”

The seminar brought together over 70 delegates representing MOIT's Oil, Gas and Coal Department, research institutes, domestic and international engineering consultancies, thermal power plants, and major national energy corporations.

The workshop forms part of the PtX Outreach project implemented by GIZ ESP, structured around four primary mission pillars:

(1) Developing human resource capacity to meet PtX industry standards.

(2) Fostering multi-stakeholder dialogue on sustainable green transition.

(3) Providing policy advice and strategic framework design for the PtX sector.

(4) Analyzing national techno-economic potential and off-take opportunities.

Source: Vietnam Energy Magazine Editorial Board