Swiss money for Vietnamese renewables

The Vietnam Renewable Energy Development Programme (REDP) has been given a USD2.4 million boost by the Swiss. The cash will be used to both enhance energy security and develop clean energy sources.

The aid, from Switzerland's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, has been ear-marked for between 15 to 25 smaller renewable energy projects. Seven micro-hydroelectric power projects have been approved with a price-tag of USD55 million for 94 MW output, with another ten hydroelectric projects on the drawing board at a cost of USD65 million

Vietnam's REDP will have financing of just over USD318 million, with a grant of over USD200 million from the World bank's International Development Association, to be split between building renewable energy projects, developing future projects and establishing a policy framework.