Schneider Electric Vietnam: Energy infrastructure is ready for green transportation.

Transportation infrastructure in response to the comprehensive green transformation requirements.
For many years, transport development was typically measured by the scale of investment: the number of new roads, the capacity of seaports, the capacity of airports, or the expansion of the railway network. However, along with the global trend towards sustainable development, the standards of a modern transport system are changing.

A next-generation transportation infrastructure project needs not only to meet transportation needs but also to operate efficiently, optimize energy consumption, and minimize environmental impact.

This pressure for transformation stems from the need to reduce emissions in the transport sector – an industry that contributes a large proportion to global emissions. In the maritime sector, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set a target of achieving net "zero" emissions by around 2050, prompting countries and businesses to transition in technology, fuels, and operating methods.

With its long coastline and port system playing a crucial role in the global supply chain, Vietnam is facing the need to develop green ports, reduce logistics emissions, and gradually transition to clean energy.

At the national level, the commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 at COP26 has placed a strong demand for transformation across many economic sectors, with transportation being a priority. To concretize this direction, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 876/QD-TTg on the Action Program for Green Energy Transition and Reduction of Carbon and Methane Emissions in the Transportation Sector.
The key point of this transition is that green transportation is not just about replacing fossil fuel vehicles with electric or clean energy vehicles. Behind every green vehicle, there needs to be a suitable energy ecosystem, from power sources and distribution systems to management and operational optimization capabilities.

This need is becoming increasingly evident as Vietnam implements a series of strategic infrastructure projects such as international airports, metro lines in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the development of a North-South high-speed railway, and the expansion of its seaport system and logistics centers.

These projects all share a common characteristic: an increasing level of electrification and automation. A modern airport relies on electricity, security systems, air conditioning, lighting, baggage conveyors, and ground handling equipment. A metro or high-speed rail line, on the other hand, requires a stable, continuous power supply system capable of real-time monitoring.

Speaking with the Government Online Newspaper, Associate Professor Dr. Ngo Tri Long, a senior economic expert at the Vietnam Financial Consulting Association, argued that "it is not advisable to wait until transportation projects are completed before searching for land to build power substations and lay power lines."

Associate Professor Ngo Tri Long, senior economic expert, Vietnam Financial Consulting Association

We need a change in planning mindset; we can't continue planning transportation infrastructure separately and energy infrastructure separately, only to then look for ways to connect them. With airports, seaports, metros, high-speed rail, and modern logistics centers, electricity is no longer simply an auxiliary input but is becoming an integral part of the transportation infrastructure itself.
Along with power sources and grids, experts suggest developing on-site distributed energy models such as rooftop solar power, BESS (Balanced Energy Storage System), smart charging stations, and load management. Especially for airports or metro systems, energy security cannot simply be understood as "having enough electricity," but also requires high standards for backup power sources, the ability to supply power from multiple sources, intelligent control systems, and rapid recovery capabilities in the event of a failure.

Smart energy - the foundation of next-generation transportation infrastructure.
As transportation becomes increasingly electrified and automated, the challenge is not only to ensure energy supply but also to use electricity efficiently. While previously the focus was on developing power sources and expanding the power grid, in this new phase, managing, monitoring, and optimizing electricity consumption has become a crucial factor.