Future Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Vietnam's Coal Power Generation Sector

Abstract Coal-fired power generation in Vietnam is expected to grow rapidly over the next 15 years and become the most important source of electricity in Vietnam. At present, coal accounts for about 20% of Vietnam's power generation mix and it will rise to over 50% in 2030 if the coal-fired capacity is increased from 4,360 MW to 75,000 MW as planned. In this study we contrast the current CO 2 emissions from the existing sub-critical coal-fired plants in Vietnam, based on average operating efficiencies, with scenarios that assume the use of imported coal of varying grades instead of the use of domestic coal. We also explore how emissions could change with the adoption of supercritical- and ultra-supercritical combustion technologies. The results provide clear insights for policy-makers tasked with meeting Vietnam's future emissions standards.