Paper Title
FUTURE DECARBONIZATION POTENTIAL IN THE THERMAL POWER GENERATION SECTOR IN VIETNAM USING RENEWABLE AND SUSTAINABLE ENERGY ALTERNATIVES

Abstract
Abstract - In Vietnam, electricity generation is primarily fossil fuel-oriented. As of 2020, in total electricity production, the most substantial share (48%) was from coal-fired thermal power plants, while renewable sources contributed only 5% (excluding hydropower). It is apparent from the existing power development plan of the Vietnam government that reliance on coal-fired TPPs will intensify until 2030 to meet growing electricity demand, resulting in substantial greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. To reduce future GHG emissions to comply with international agreements (e.g., COP21, COP26), the government initiated/approved different projects focusing on renewable and green alternatives in the thermal power sector. For instance, electricity generation using municipal solid waste (MSW) and solar power are the prioritized strategies. Based on the current policy decisions, this study estimates and evaluates the electricity generation and GHG emission reduction (in CO2eq) potential of the MSW-to-electricity and solar-to-electricity strategy. The Life cycle assessment (LCA) has been performed to estimate potential emission reduction per unit of electricity generation (kg CO2eq/ kWh) from the MSW-to-electricity strategy under various scenarios until 2030, considering multiple factors such as MSW collection, operation, and disposal. The study projected that solar power can generate a maximum of 11,759 GWh electricity in 2030 and the projected emission reduction in the thermal power sector could be 10,113 Gg CO2eq. Results show that the large volume of generated MSW has considerable potential to generate electricity (max. 18,342.2 GWh in 2030) and eventually reduce the reliance on coal-fired electricity. The findings could provide insight into Vietnam's potential in green energy production and carbon emission reduction in the thermal power sector. These could be vital for the Vietnam government to evaluate and revise future policy decisions towards the decarbonization target and sustainability in electricity generation and could also be a model for other Southeast Asian countries. Keywords - Electricity, Emission, Life Cycle Assessment, Municipal Solid Waste, Solar Power.