FNCA 2023 Study Panel: Outlook of Next Generation Reactors Development
Tokyo, 20th June 2023

Nuclear power in Viet Nam:
Future prospects for introduction ofadvanced nuclear power reactors

Nhu Viet Ha Pham1,2, Chi Thanh Tran2
1Institute for Nuclear Science and Technology (INST),
2Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute (VINATOM)

Presentation outline
1. Nuclear power program in Viet Nam
2. Role of nuclear power in energy transition

3. Future prospects for advanced reactors
4. Concluding remarks

21. Nuclear power program in Viet Nam
Establishment ofNationalAtomicEnergyInstitute(VINATOM now)

1976

1979

Study on first
NPP introduction
into Vietnam

1984

Establishment
ofDalatNuclear Research Institute(DNRI),
basedontheResearch Reactor (TRIGAPHASE ONEMark II) which was built andstarted operation in 1963

Contracts for
Ninh Thuan 1(NT1)
andNinh Thuan 2
(NT2)
NPPs
Feasibility
Studies (FS)

Establishing
Vietnam
Agencyfor
Radiation andNuclear Safety(VARANS)

1996-2002 2002-2009 2003

OperationofDalat Nuclear
ResearchReactor (DNRR)

2008

Pre-FS on
constructionof first NPPs

2010

National
Assembly
decidedtopostpone theNPP projects

Dec. 2013 Nov. 2016

Atomic Law wasapproved (to bechanged)

Completion ofFS (NT1 andNT2)

PHASE THREE

DNRR

3

Current status after NPP projects•

Deploying the Center for Nuclear Science and Technology, CNST
(MOST and VINATOM) during 2018-2026-•

New research reactor (RR) with power of 10 MW, imported from Russia
Feasibility Study (FS) stage: planned from 2023

Viet Nam targets carbon neutrality by 2050

– In 2020, the Party passed Resolution No. 55 on "Vietnam's National
Energy Development Strategy Orientation to 2030 with a Vision to 2045",
creating a political basis for Vietnam's transition to renewable energy.
– Commitments of Viet Nam at COP26 (2021)– Vietnam’s Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP): politicaldeclaration (Dec. 2022)– Power Development Plan 8 (PDP8) for the period of 2021-2030 with avision to 2050 for clean energy transition (approved May 2023)– Viet Nam may reconsider nuclear power?
 Tendency: new RR; advanced light water reactors; SMRs; Gen-IV reactors;
nuclear power R&D; HRD in nuclear power.
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2. Role of nuclear power in energy transition•

Towards global net-zero emissions– Nuclear re-appreciation in the context ofclimate change and Russia-Ukraine war– Nuclear and innovations, e.g., SMRs andmicro reactors, can help tackle climatechange, enhance energy security andcontribute to achieving the UN SDGs.

•Climate commitments of Viet Nam– Phasing out coal by 2040s

IAEA– Net-zero emissions by 2050

5

Power Development Plan 8 – by 2030
•Increase renewables to 30.9-39.2% share of the capacity by 2030

•Reduce coal dependency to 20% share by 2030

 Nuclear power is not mentioned in PDP8.

Gas fired
9.5%

Oil fired
2.0%

Others
0.8%Flexible powersource
0.2%
LNG
14.9%

Wind
5.3%

Imports
3.3%

Onshore wind
14.5%

Offshore wind
4.0%

Solar (incl.
rooftop: 9.8%)
21.2%
Gas fired
9.9%

2021

Solar (excl.
rooftop)
8.5%

2030

Biomass
0.4%

Biomass &waste
1.5%

Coal fired
32.5%
Coal fired
20.0%

Hydro
19.5%

Hydro
28.3%

2021 power structure(total capacity: 78,121 MW)
Source: PECC2CHP (waste
heat to power)
1.8%

Storage battery
0.2%Storedhydropower
1.6%2030 projected power structure(total capacity: 150,489 MW)

6Power Development Plan 8 – oriented by 2050•

Strong transition to renewables: 67.5-71.5% share by 2050

•Phase out coal by 2050

 Nuclear power can play a crucial role in the energy transition.
Imports
Flexible power source
LNG & full hydro
LNG & partial hydroGas fired TPP & full hydroGas fired TPP & LNG
Biomass & ammonia TPP
Coal fired TPP
CHP (waste heat to power)
Stored power source
Hydro
Biomass & wasteSolar
Offshore wind
Onshore wind

2.3
6.3
3.3
1.8
1.4
1.6

Option 1

6.6
0.0
0.9
6.2
7.3
1.2

34.414.3
12.2
051015202530

Percent

Option 1: 2050 oriented power structure(total capacity: 490,529 MW)

3540

Imports
Flexible power source
LNG & full hydro
LNG & partial hydroGas fired TPP & full hydroGas fired TPP & LNG
Biomass & ammonia TPP
Coal fired TPP
CHP (waste heat to power)
Stored power source
Hydro
Biomass & waste
Solar
Offshore wind
Onshore wind

1.9
8.1
3.6
0.8
1.2
1.4
4.5
0.0
0.8

Option 27.9
6.3
1.0
33.0
16.0
13.4
05

1015202530

Percent

Option 2: 2050 oriented power structure(total capacity: 573,129 MW)735

Nuclear power: a large and stable energy source•

Nuclear power has large capacity and high capacity factor.

•A large and stable power supply like nuclear power source is critical toeconomic and industrial development in Viet Nam.

U.S. Capacity Factor by Energy Source - 2021
Nuclear92.7

Geothermal

71

Natural Gas

54.4

Coal49.3

Hydropower

37.1

Wind

34.6

Solar PV24.6

0102030

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Percent

Source: https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/what-generation-capacity8

Nuclear power: a low carbon energy source“Nuclear is ideal for dealing with climate change,
because it is the only carbon-free, scalable energy
source that’s available 24 hours a day.” – Bill Gates

CO2 emissions comparison between
different types of power sources
Source: Nuclear for Climate

By 2021 nuclear power accounts for 50% of US
low-carbon electricity generation
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration9

Nuclear power promotes science, technology
and industry
 Basic sciences: nuclear physics,

thermal hydraulics, fluid dynamics …

NUCLEAR POWER

 Mechanics, design, construction …

 Chemical technology

Other sectors

 Control and instrumentation
 Steel, alloy materials

 Other fields•

Capacity in science,technology andindustry

Examples are the countries with nuclear power, e.g., US, Russia(the former USSR), UK, France, Germany (before April 2023),
Canada, Japan, Korea, China, India …
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3. Future prospects for advanced reactors•

What has been done for the Vietnam Nuclear Power Program (VNPP)
‒‒
‒‒‒
‒

VNPP: From 1955 (President Ho Chi Minh visited Obninsk) to 2016
HRD: E&T in USSR, Russia, Eastern Europe, Japan, Korea, etc.; Universities;
Recently sent 400+ students to Russia, (15+8) key experts to Japan
International cooperation: IAEA, EU, Russia, Japan, Korea, France, US, etc.
8 sites for NPPs planned; 2 sites in Ninh Thuan investigated and evaluatedAtomic Energy Law (2008); Nuclear regulation system set up
Pre-FS (2002-2009); FS (2011-2016); EVN PM Board

Three actors’ functions and interactions in NPP projects implementation

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Moving away from coal by 2040s•Nuclear can be combined with renewable energy to replace coal.
– NPPs can be more flexible (e.g., quickly ramped up or down as necessary)
than coal and gas fired TPPs.

 Advanced LWRs can be introduced after 2030; light water SMRs and otheradvanced reactor technologies can be considered when they are mature.
Plant output
Nuclear reactor
designLarge water cooled

Electricity

Low temperature
heat (300oC) (district
heat, industry, H2)



High temperature
heat (600-700oC)(industry, H2)

Coal replacement
applications

Technological andcommercial maturity

Multi-unit power plant

Mature; more than 300 units
in operation

Single unit, power or CHPDemonstration; precommercial; conventional
nuclear licensing process
widely applicableSMR, water cooled

SMR, advanced(gas/sodium cooled)







Single unit, power, CHP,industrial boiler, H2

Design phase; demonstratedtechnology; pre-commercial

SMR, advanced (saltor lead cooling;micro-reactors)Single unit, power, CHP,industrial boiler, H2

Research, development anddemonstration

Categorizing selected reactor technologies suitable for replacing coal
Source: IAEA, Nuclear Energy for a Net Zero World (2021)

12Flexible nuclear power for energy transition•Nuclear is evolving to provide greater flexibility, which can be considered to help
Viet Nam manage high renewable integration during 2031-2050.

 Those flexibility attributes can be considered for its first NPPs, once the country
reconsiders nuclear power to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
Beyond Base Load Power: New Flexibility Attributes for Tomorrow’s Nuclear Energy
Systems (Source: NEA based on EPRI framework)
Main Attribute

OperationalFlexibility

DeploymentFlexibility

ProductFlexibility

Sub-Attribute

Benefits

Maneuverability

Load following

Compatibility with Hybrid Energy
Systems and Polygeneration

Economic operation with increasing penetration ofvariable generation, alternative missions

Diversified Fuel Use

Economics and security of fuel supply

Island Operation

System resiliency, remote power, micro-grid,
emergency power applications

Scalability

Ability to deploy at scale needed

SitingAbility to deploy where needed

Constructability

Ability to deploy on schedule and budget

Electricity

Reliable, dispatchable power supply

Industrial Heat

Reliable, dispatchable process heat supply

District Heating

Reliable, dispatchable district heating supplyDesalination

Reliable, dispatchable fresh water supply

Hydrogen

Reliable, dispatchable hydrogen supply

Radioisotopes

Unique or high demand isotopes supply

Ref.: NICE Future, Flexible Nuclear Energy for Clean Energy Systems (2020)13

Roadmap envisioned for nuclear power introduction•Introduction of advanced nuclear power could be key to helping Viet Nam

meet national energy, economic, climate, environmental, and security goals.
For the period of 2031-2050, a roadmap can be envisioned as follows.
‒ By 2030s, implement the first NPP project (advanced LWRs): constructand put Unit 1 into operation in 2035 and Unit 2 in 2036; and create
favourable conditions for the implementation of the following projects.
‒ By mid-2040s, implement the NPP projects No. 2 and No. 3: constructand operate the No. 2 and No. 3 NPPs; and fully prepare for theimplementation of the subsequent projects.
‒ Consider implementing NPP projects using SMRs once they areproven through the practical operation (possibly by 2040s).
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Current main R&D directions in VINATOM•Enhancing capacity to support the new RR project(CNST) in the FS phase– Analysis of the DNRR and new RR design using

computational codes– Reactor physics experiments and relevant ones

with the DNRR
– Proposing and building T-H test facility in

Model of CNST

support of safety assessment of the new RR•Studying advanced reactor technologies which canbe introduced to Viet Nam in future– Conceptual design study of light water SMR– Study on advanced LWRs, SMRs, etc.
– Nuclear-renewable hybrid energy systems

A hybrid energy system model
Image: iStockphoto.com
15Current main R&D directions in VINATOM (cont’d)•Applying INPRO methodologyand tools to address andassess the sustainability ofpotential advanced nuclear
energy systems and deployment

scenarios to Viet Nam– The possibility to introduce

nuclear power into theelectricity mix to support
renewable energy
Essence of IAEA INPRO task areas
Source: Wiki-INPRO
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4. Concluding remarks•

Nuclear technologies which are and will be popular in the world are advanced
LWR (and maybe PHWR) Gen III+ and SMRs (possibly in future). Viet Nam isrecommended to start (restart) from advanced LWRs.

•Viet Nam has prepared and tried to implement the Ninh Thuan NPP projects.
If the country goes back to the Nuclear Power Program (VNPP), it isrecommended to continue from what has been done before November 2016.

•Implementing PDP8 and Resolution No. 55 will lead to high integrationof variable renewable sources during 2031-2050 while phasing out coal.
To this end, nuclear power is recommended to be carefully considered in thenext PDP to help replace coal and support renewable energy.

Thank you !

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