FY 2024 QUARTER 1 REPORT: USAID Vietnam Urban Energy Security

The project aims to achieve three expected high-level results: deploying at least 400 megawatts of advanced, distributed energy systems, mobilizing at least $600 million in public and private investment for advanced, distributed urban energy systems, and demonstrating and/or commercializing at least 20 innovative solutions to address urban energy and environmental issues. The project is working with the Department of Industry and Trade (DOIT) in both target cities to achieve several objectives, including improving the enabling environment for the deployment of advanced, distributed energy systems, mobilizing public and private sector investment for these systems, and increasing adoption of innovative technologies, business practices, and financing models for advanced, distributed urban energy solutions. In Quarter 1 of FY 2024, the project team completed all technical support activities as outlined in the Year 5 Work Plan. Key highlights from this quarter include the completion of the Net Zero Strategy for HCMC, which lays out a roadmap for the city to reach Net Zero by 2050. The project also delivered a training course and certification for professional energy managers in HCMC, with 20 trainees from diverse industrial and commercial sectors and public facilities participating in the training and receiving certification from the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT). The project's technical activities are focused on three components: Strengthening the Local Enabling Environment, Unlocking Capital, and Spurring Innovation. Component 1, Strengthening the Local Enabling Environment, focuses on working closely with DOITs and other Government of Vietnam (GVN) counterparts in Danang and HCMC to strengthen their ability to promote and encourage the adoption of renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE) measures. During this quarter, the project team finalized ongoing technical assistance activities, including supporting the development of Net Zero city strategies and promoting the adoption of and compliance with EE regulations. The project also continued to provide significant support for the implementation of city-level EE frameworks in HCMC, working closely with DOIT and DONRE to deploy these frameworks. The project's efforts in HCMC have been focused on promoting the adoption of and compliance with EE regulations, with the aim of achieving targets set out in the HCMC EEAP. The project has supported HCMC DOIT to implement various activities, including organizing professional energy managers training and certification. The project has also continued to work with HCMC DOIT to develop the Net Zero Action Plan, which will contribute to the project's results in terms of mobilization of public and private investment and deployment of advanced, distributed energy systems. Overall, the project's technical activities in Quarter 1 of FY 2024 have been focused on strengthening the local enabling environment, promoting the adoption of and compliance with EE regulations, and supporting the development of Net Zero city strategies. The project's efforts in HCMC have been focused on promoting the adoption of and compliance with EE regulations, with the aim of achieving targets set out in the HCMC EEAP.