Vietnam Bets Big on Offshore Wind to Power Green Future

Vietnam just proved that fighting climate change and building economic prosperity aren't opposing forces. The Southeast Asian nation is racing to harness powerful ocean winds along its massive coastline, turning what could have been another fossil fuel dependency story into a blueprint for green industrial revolution.

With winds averaging over 7 meters per second along 21 coastal provinces, Vietnam has the natural resources to become a regional offshore wind powerhouse. The country aims to develop up to 17 gigawatts of capacity by 2035, enough to power millions of homes while slashing reliance on imported fuels.

But Vietnam isn't just building wind farms. It's building an entire industry from the ground up.

PetroVietnam Technical Services Corporation already exported 33 massive offshore wind turbine foundations last June, demonstrating that Vietnamese companies can compete globally. Over five years, the firm has contracted for offshore substations with 6 gigawatts of combined capacity, proving local expertise is real and growing.

The numbers tell an inspiring story. A single offshore wind foundation project brought in between $300 and $400 million in export revenue while creating jobs for 3,000 workers spread across 100 domestic enterprises over three years. Commercial General Manager Nguyen Tuan emphasizes that without building this homegrown capacity, Vietnam couldn't possibly achieve its 2035 targets relying on foreign sources alone.

Each standard 500-megawatt offshore wind farm requires around $2 billion in total investment. With 21 coastal provinces each capable of hosting similar projects, the economic momentum could be transformative for communities that have traditionally relied on fishing and small-scale tourism.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hoang Long sees the bigger picture. Vietnam isn't just generating electricity but creating an entire offshore wind industrial chain that includes manufacturing, technical services, green hydrogen production, and potentially green electricity exports.

International interest confirms Vietnam's potential. Investors from Denmark, the United States, and Japan have already received marine survey licenses covering projects with 10 gigawatts of combined capacity. State-owned Vietnam Electricity and the National Industry-Energy Group have launched surveys in northern and southern regions.

The Ripple Effect: As Vietnam localizes offshore wind technology, the benefits cascade through the economy. Mechanical engineering advances, supporting industries strengthen, construction expertise deepens, and maritime transport expands. Workers gain technical skills that position them for the global green economy. Coastal communities that might have been left behind in the digital economy now find themselves at the center of the renewable energy revolution, with stable jobs building the infrastructure that will power Asia's future.

Legal frameworks are catching up with ambition. Both the Electricity Law and the Law on Marine and Island Resources and Environment are slated for revision this year, addressing marine spatial planning, licensing mechanisms, and policies that will smooth the path for investors while protecting ocean ecosystems.

Vietnam's offshore wind bet is paying off in jobs, exports, and energy security today while positioning the country as a green technology leader tomorrow.