Hydrogen production and role in energy transition in Vietnam

Title : Hydrogen production and role in energy transition in Vietnam

Abstract:

This paper highlights the role of hydrogen production in Vietnam’s energy transition roadmap from both scientific and policy perspectives. Now hydrogen produced domestically is mainly derived from oil refining and fertilizer manufacturing processes, serving primarily the internal needs of these industries, with a total production volume of approximately 500 thousand tonnes per year. The majority of hydrogen consumption in Vietnam is concentrated in fertilizer plants (approximately 316,000 tonnes/year), the Dung Quat Oil Refinery (39,000 tonnes/year), and the Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Complex (139,000 tonnes/year), all of which rely on on-site hydrogen production. In addition, a very small amount of hydrogen is used in steel manufacturing, float glass production, electronics, and food processing industries, accounting for about 0.5% of total domestic hydrogen demand.

Currently, hydrogen has not yet been widely applied, and therefore hydrogen storage, transportation, and distribution infrastructure in Vietnam remains underdeveloped. In most cases, hydrogen is produced and consumed on-site at refineries and fertilizer plants, transported through internal pipelines without intermediate storage. On March 30th, 2023, Tra Vinh Green Hydrogen Joint Stock Company held the ground-breaking ceremony for Vietnam’s first green hydrogen production plant utilizing renewable energy sources. The project covers an area of 21 hectares, with a total investment of nearly VND 8 trillion. The plant has a designed capacity of 24,000 tonnes of hydrogen gas per year and 195,000 tonnes of oxygen per year, employing seawater electrolysis technology powered mainly by renewable electricity. Currently, several green hydrogen production projects have been initiated by investors. Notably, four representative green hydrogen plants include:

• The Tra Vinh Green Hydrogen Plant, with a designed capacity of 24,000 tonnes of hydrogen per year, 182,500 tonnes of ammonia per year, and 195,000 tonnes of oxygen per year, expected to commence commercial operation in the second quarter of 2027
• The Ben Tre Green Hydrogen Plant, with the same design capacity, scheduled to operate in the second quarter of 2028
• The Bac Lieu Green Hydrogen Plant, with a capacity of 70,000 tonnes of hydrogen per year, expected to operate Phase 1 in 2029 and Phase 2 in 2032
• The Tien Giang Green Hydrogen Plant, with a capacity of 5,294 tonnes of hydrogen per year, expected to begin operation in September 2028.

The Vietnamese Government promulgated Decision No. 165/QD-TTg dated February 7th, 2024, approving the “Strategy for Hydrogen Energy Development of Vietnam to 2030, with a Vision to 2050”. Vietnam has set a target to produce 20 million tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2050

Biography:

Nguyen obtained bachelor's degree of Chemistry at Hanoi University of Science, Vietnam in 1995. He worked in Institute of Materials Science - Vietnamese Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) from 1995. He obtained Master 's degree of Hanoi University of Science, Vietnam in 1998. He was the only VIP of Petro Vietnam Conference in 2000. From March 2006 he worked in Centre of Severe Materials and Environment (CSME) – IFTECH – Institute of Mechanics (VAST). From April 2019 he became Director of CSME. He obtained Dr's degree of Mie University, Japan in 2023. He has published more than 37 research articles.