On June 16, 2025, the Electric Power University (EPU) held a working session with a delegation from the Danish Embassy and the Danish Energy Agency to discuss the cooperation plan for establishing a Center of Excellence (COE) for Energy Efficiency. This initiative stems from the support of the Vietnam-Denmark Energy Partnership Program (DEPP3), aimed at enhancing energy efficiency and promoting international cooperation, particularly in applying Denmark's advanced experiences and technologies in Vietnam.

Representatives from the Electric Power University included: Dr. Duong Trung Kien – Vice President; Mr. Do Huu Che – Director of the Center for Communication, Business Relations, and Training on Economical and Efficient Use of Energy; Dr. Nguyen Dat Minh – Head of the Department of Industrial Management and Energy; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Duc – Head of the Department of Control & Automation; Dr. Nguyen Dang Toan - Head of the Department of New Energy; and Dr. Le Thanh Doanh – Deputy Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering.

From the delegation, there were: Mr. Rahul Raju Dusa – Special Advisor of the Danish Energy Agency (participating online), Mr. Emil Reenberg – Advisor of the Danish Energy Agency (participating online), Mr. Jorgen Hvid – Long-term Advisor of the DEPP3 Program, along with the DEPP3 working group and domestic consulting experts.

At the working session, both sides exchanged and agreed on many important contents in the roadmap for building and implementing COE activities. Specific topics of interest included: the operational model and development orientation of the COE; capacity-building activities, technical support, and connecting stakeholders to promote energy efficiency projects in industrial enterprises; and the plan for transferring the COE to EPU for reception and operation.

EPU representatives also raised questions regarding the sustainability of the model after 2025 when the DEPP3 Program concludes and technical support for COE activities ceases, such as: financial, organizational, and management models, specialized human resources, and the potential for long-term cooperation with Danish and international experts...

On behalf of the DEPP3 Program, Advisor Jorgen Hvid stated that Denmark is currently supporting the Ministry of Industry and Trade in piloting mechanisms to promote energy efficiency in industry, such as the VAS Program and the COE model. Initial activities have yielded some positive results. The DEPP3 advisor noted that the draft amended Law on Economical and Efficient Use of Energy features a prominent mechanism for incentives and a fund to promote economical and efficient use of energy, which is expected to be approved in the next few days. This will be an important prerequisite to ensure the sustainability of technical support models and accelerate the realization of energy efficiency projects like the COE. In the long term, if Vietnam requires support, Denmark will continue to accompany Vietnam in researching and developing suitable mechanisms to achieve the goals of efficient use of energy, carbon reduction, and green transition.

At the end of the working session, EPU representatives agreed to closely coordinate with the DEPP3 Program in the upcoming period. From now until the end of 2025, the University will send its lecturers to provide technical support for several high-quality energy audit projects, pre-feasibility studies, and feasibility studies of the Program. EPU also expressed its desire to engage more deeply and contribute ideas regarding the operational orientation of the COE to support the establishment of a sustainable model.

 A few images from the working session: