Wind power has been one of growingly clean energy sectors that has attracted many countries and has been strengthened the implementation, establishment, and development.
Wind turbines off the Yorkshire coast. (The UK).
Reference source:https://www.ecowatch.com/worlds-largest-offshore-wind-turbines-2640815811.html
In present times, there are two types of turbines: vertical-axis turbines and horizontal-axis turbines. For a wind turbine, the proportion of electricity generation depends on the length of the turbine blades. A horizontal axis turbine is normally designed with three propeller-like blades. According to the EIA (Environmental Investigation Agency), the biggest horizontal axis turbine has the size of a 20-storey building with long blades that are more than 100 feet long (about more than 30.48 meters). High turbines with long blades generate more energy. Vertical axis turbines have a shape similar to an enormous egg beater with two blades attached to the top and bottom of the rotor. A vertical axis turbine has a height of about 100 feet (about 30.48 meters) with approximately 50-feet blades (about 15.24 meters). Horizontal-axis turbines have apparently been widely used across the world. Horizontal axis turbines are located in groups on a mass scale (wind farms), in order to distribute a great deal of power to electricity grids. Nowadays, there are numerous large-scale wind farms in the world such as: Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center in Texas, USA with 422 wind turbines used , covering an area of 47,000 acres ( more than 190,200 km2); Jiuquan Wind Power Base (or The Gansu Wind Farm Project), China with a number of 7,000 wind turbines established in the provinces of Jiuquan, Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Xinjiang, Jiangsu and Shandong ; offshore wind farm with a capacity of 659MW located 19kilometers away from Walney coast and sized in an area of 145km2 on Irish Sea; onshore Muppandal Wind Farm with a capacity of 1,500MW in India…
Construction of offshore wind turbines of Yorkshire coast, UK (Photo: V.Schlichting).
Reference source: https://geographical.co.uk/nature/energy/item/813-uk-approves-world-s-biggest-offshore-wind-farm
Avedøre Power Station, Ørsted, with offshore wind turbines (Photo: Ørsted).
Reference source: https://renewablesnow.com/news/rsted-moves-to-offtake-offshore-wind-power-for-hydrogen-project-742945/
The amount of conventional fuel sources (coal, petrol, etc.) is declining continuously due to human exploitation; every continent of the world is facing various environmental issues. Under the circumstances, wind energy is considered one of the renewable resources contributing to ease exploitation intensity on those conventional fuel sources and to protect the environment. Additionally, wind energy generation has been one of the leading sectors for effective power production using modern technology. Wind power has been increasingly used in many places in the world, particularly in countries owning favorable terrain for abundant and stable wind supply all year round. According to Ember and Bloomberg, during the period of 2015-2020, wind generation was doubled in quantity at global scale. According to electricity generation from energies report of 2020 by Statista, global wind power generation increased about 11%, in that the former grew 14%, 11%, 236%, 11% respectively in the USA, EU, Russia, and China. In developed countries such as the USA, Denmark, the UK, Germany, Spain, etc., even in emerging countries in Asia (such as China or India), wind energy has been exploited and used increasingly. Also, according to Statista, in the year of 2019, Denmark was the leading nation in wind generation and transmission to national grids (48%); after Denmark positions were Ireland (33%), Portugal (27%), Germany (26%), the UK (22%) respectively.
Wind generation contribution to national grids in several countries in 2019.
Reference source:https://www.statista.com/statistics/217804/wind-energy-penetration-by-country/
Percentage changes in power production from wind and solar sources at certain countries in the period of 2019-2020.
Reference source: https://www.statista.com/chart/22590/global-electricity-production-changes/
Wind power has been evaluated as a clean energy source to help reduce usage of fossil fuels (petroleum, gas, coal, etc.), hence, it contributes to ease CO2 pressure upon the environment. Moreover, wind power generation endows with occupation opportunities with well-skilled laborers. Besides those pros, wind power consists of cons as well, that is issues related to noise, aesthetics, impacts (if any) of offshore wind turbines to marine environment, birds and marine creatures at wind turbines established areas. A fact shows that, in many countries, wind farms were located offshore or remote residential areas (if onshore). For instance, the UK has been known as one of leading countries in wind power generation and usage. Located in such favorable terrain for wind generation, the UK has been considered the windiest country in the EU, and its wind farms are established offshore.
Within this global context, wind power has been developed in many developing countries, particularly in the context that many countries have been mitigating challenges of climate change. Owning a long coast, Vietnam holds a possibility for wind power to emerge. Current wind power projects are located in the Middle and South areas (Binh Thuan, Ninh Thuan, Quang Tri, Binh Dinh, Soc Trang, Ben Tre, Bac Lieu, Tra Vinh, Gia Lai, etc.). At a conference on the National Power Plan for the period of 2021-2030, vision to 2045 (in short: Power Plan VIII), the target for offshore wind electricity is 2-3 GW by 2030, contributing 1.45% to 2% to national total electricity capacity by 2030. According to expert evaluations in the renewable energy sector, the aforementioned target has been still modest compared with the potential of wind energy in Vietnam. In February 2020, the Politburo launched Resolution no. 55-NQ/TW directing national energy development strategies of Vietnam by 2030, vision towards 2045, in which it identifies targets of renewable energy sources development including prioritized wind energy for electricity generation. The birth of the Resolution has facilitated renewable power development including wind energy that would make a contribution to national electricity grids and energy security. Meeting an increasing growth of electricity demands domestically and regionally and offshore wind power potentials, Vietnam would be able to become one of the big wind energy generation countries in the region in the future.
Representatives of Hai Phong People Committee and related departments were working with Denmark Embassy’s delegate and Ørsted Group’s representative at the Vietnam Office.
Reference source: https://haiphong.gov.vn/tin-tuc-su-kien/Tap-doan-Orsted-Dan-Mach-mong-muon-dau-tu-du-an-Dien-gio-ngoai-khoi-tai-vung-bien-Hai-Phong-61105.html
In June 2021, the leadership representative of Hai Phong People’s Committee hosted a meeting with delegates of the Denmark Embassy and representatives of Ørsted Group at the Vietnam Office. Deputy of Ørsted Group at Vietnam Office expressed the company’s interest in a feasible study project on offshore wind generation in the area of Tonkin Gulf under Hai Phong City’s administration. Also, according to the Ørsted Group’s representative at Vietnam Office, Hai Phong has owned pros to be able to become an offshore wind center at Vietnam, and offshore wind energy would become one of crucial renewable energy sources respond about 16% of electricity demand of the Northern area of Vietnam./.