The German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) has said it will hand over 1 million euros to help Vietnam develop a plan to convert wind power into electricity after signing an agreement with the Ministry of Industry and Trade in Hanoi on July 21.

Accordingly, GTZ will assist Vietnam to create the necessary legislation, draw up a plan to develop this kind of energy and provide advisors for wind farm projects across the country from now to 2011.

At the signing ceremony, the GTZ Resident Representative in Vietnam , Guenter Riethmacher, said that Vietnam has a huge amount of potential to develop wind power.

However, he urged the country to complete its legal framework regarding the development of renewable energies to attract foreign investors in the field, particularly in the development of wind power.

The GTZ representative also expressed hopes that with their experience in developing renewable energies, Germany will be able to help Vietnam develop wind power in the future.

After thanking Germany for its assistance, the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Huu Hao stressed that the Vietnamese government is aware of the importance of energy security and the need to develop renewable energies in a sustainable manner.

The government has also adopted a series of policies that support projects to develop renewable energies, the official confirmed.

The ministry has recently submitted to the Government a plan to develop renewable energies, setting a target of producing a power output from renewables that accounts for 5 percent of the total power output by 2020.

Initial surveys found that 8.6 percent of Vietnam ’s land area, mostly in the south, boasts a lot of potential for developing wind power, with an estimated output of over 1,780 MW.

Coastal provinces such as Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Tra Vinh, and Soc Trang, could generate up to 800 MW of electricity from the wind.

The districts – Phuoc Hai, Phuoc Nam and Phuoc Huu in Ninh Thuan province, are viewed as suitable for positioning wind farms that would be capable of generating 235 MW of power in total./.