CaliToday (01/11/2025): Vietnam has officially announced a comprehensive set of 15 national standards (TCVN) for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), a landmark move that establishes the critical legal and technical framework needed to unlock massive investment in the nation's renewable energy sector.
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| Vietnam has just announced 15 national standards (TCVN) on Vietnam's energy storage battery systems. |
The announcement is a direct and practical step toward realizing Vietnam's ambitious energy goals, including its net-zero emissions commitment by 2050.
This new technical framework was developed through a multi-stakeholder process, involving policymakers, the business community, and technical experts. The standards are based on established international benchmarks (such as IEC and ISO) and were formally approved according to Vietnam's Law on Standards and Technical Regulations.
The Urgent Need for Storage
The timing of this announcement is critical. In August, Vietnam's Politburo issued Resolution 70, a sweeping new decree on national energy security. This resolution set an ambitious target: renewable energy must account for 25-30% of the total primary energy supply by 2030.
Industry experts have long warned that once renewables exceed a 15% share of the energy mix, the "intermittency" (the fluctuating nature) of solar and wind power creates significant risks for grid stability and supply-demand balancing.
BESS is the foundational technology required to solve this problem. These systems act as giant rechargeable batteries, storing excess solar and wind power when it's plentiful and releasing it back to the grid when generation drops, thereby ensuring reliability, flexibility, and national energy security.
A Breakdown of the 15 Standards
The 15 TCVNs provide a comprehensive rulebook for the entire BESS lifecycle and are divided into four main categories:
Vocabulary, Specs & Testing Methods: This group unifies the language, technical parameters, and testing procedures for all types of energy storage, including electrochemical (like lithium-ion), mechanical, chemical, and thermal systems.
System Planning & Performance: These standards provide detailed guidelines for the proper design, commissioning, and operation of BESS projects, ensuring they perform safely and efficiently.
Environmental Concerns: This group addresses the two-way impact between BESS and the environment. It includes protocols for handling and disposing of used or damaged batteries, promoting battery reuse, and mitigating potential health risks.
Grid-Scale Safety: This is perhaps the most critical set of standards. It defines clear procedures for risk assessment, specifies mandatory preventive measures, and outlines safety testing for grid-integrated battery systems, with a strong focus on the unique challenges of lithium-ion batteries.
Unlocking Investment and Reducing Risk
For Vietnam, these standards are more than just a technical document—they are a crucial investment signal.
Until now, the lack of a clear regulatory and technical framework has been a major barrier for developers and international financiers, creating high technical and financial risks.
By establishing this clear legal corridor, Vietnam is "de-risking" the BESS market. This move is expected to attract a new wave of domestic and international investment, accelerate technology transfer, and create the stable, bankable conditions necessary to build the gigawatts of energy storage needed to support its green energy revolution.