Japanese renewable energy company Erex is set to begin trial operations for coal and biomass co-firing at two thermal power plants in Vietnam starting this August, reported Argus Media.
According to a company statement issued on 20 June, test runs will commence at the 110MW Na Duong power plant in August, followed by the 115MW Cao Ngan plant in September. Both facilities are owned and operated by Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin).
Erex had previously announced its intention to conduct co-firing trials at the two sites in April, though the specific timeline for the test runs had not been disclosed until now.
The trials will involve burning domestically sourced wood chips, starting with a 5% biomass mix, gradually increasing to 20%. The test phase is expected to last several months.
Following the completion of these trials, Erex and Vinacomin plan to carry out plant renovations between 2026 and 2027. Commercial co-firing operations at the Na Duong and Cao Ngan plants are targeted to begin between 2027 and 2028.
Erex also plans to launch similar test runs at Vinacomin’s larger 670MW Cam Pha plant in 2027–28, with commercial operations expected to follow around 2029–30. In total, Erex aims to implement co-firing at six Vinacomin-operated plants with a combined capacity of 1,585MW, including the three mentioned facilities.
The initiative aligns with Vietnam’s national strategy to achieve net-zero emissions. Erex is also aiming to generate carbon credits through these projects, which the company hopes to sell in part to the Japanese market. Discussions with the Vietnamese government regarding carbon credit certification and sales are currently ongoing.
Beyond co-firing projects, Erex is expanding its renewable energy portfolio across Vietnam and Southeast Asia. The company’s first biomass-fired power plant in Vietnam—the 20MW Hau Giang facility—began commercial operations in April. It also plans to develop a total of 19 biomass plants in the country.
In Cambodia, Erex is planning to build up to five biomass power plants as part of its broader regional strategy. By 2030, the company expects more than half of its total earnings to come from its operations in Vietnam and Cambodia, up from minimal levels in 2024.
