Geothermal potential and opportunities in Vietnam

Located between the Pacific Ring of Fire and Alpide Belt, Vietnam possesses significant potential geothermal resources, with more than 300 hot spring sites with temperatures from 40oC to 100oC have been detected in the territory. Based on available data, Vietnam is estimated to have a geothermal potential of up to 400 MW power generation. A pilot 25MW power plant was constructed in 2013 in Đakrông - Quảng Tri Province, central of Vietnam. From geothermal measurements in oil and gas exploration boreholes, heat flow anomalies have been identified that are higher than the average heat flow of the Earth 100 mW/m2 in the Southeast of the Red River Delta (at a depth of 3,000 m temperature reaches more than 140oC) and coastal Binh Thuan (volcanic activity in Tro island in 1923) has an area of hundreds of square kilometers. High heat flow anomalies have been identified in some places like Phu Tho, Hue, Quang Ngai, Kon Tum, associated with active tectonic geological structures and have many hot water eruptions on the surface. Therefore, geothermal resources in Vietnam are prosperous, belonging to low to medium potential heat sources, with conditions for small capacity power generation. In Politburo's resolutions regarding the national electricity development plan, Vietnam will develop breakthrough mechanisms and policies to encourage and promote renewable energy sources, with the capacity of renewable energy plants reaching 30% by 2030 and 40% by 2045. Overall assessment of geothermal energy's potential and development orientation will be established; then deploy several application models and conduct experimental exploits to evaluate the effectiveness. Geothermal energy can be as base-load electricity and offers an opportunity for a country with naturally free-resource and less dependence on fossil fuel. To jump-start the geothermal exploitation rather than solely relying on knowledge, introducing the techniques outside Vietnam is needed.