Publication of 15 National Standards (TCVN) on Battery Energy Storage Systems in Vietnam
Post date: Thursday, Oct 16, 2025 | 14:50 - View count: 725
The completion and publication of 15 national standards on Battery Energy Storage Systems not only contribute to establishing a legal and technical foundation for this emerging field, but also serve as a catalyst to promote innovative initiatives, develop domestic supply chains, and expand the energy storage market in Vietnam.
The conference was co-hosted by the Vietnam Standards and Quality Institute (VSQI) under Committee for the Standards, Metrology and Quality Of Viet Nam (STAMEQ), the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), and the Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership (ETP).
Attendees of the conference included Mr. Nguyễn Văn Khôi, Head of the Standards Department under The Commission for the Standards, Metrology and Quality of Viet Nam (STAMEQ); Mr. Triệu Việt Phương, Director of Vietnam Standards and Quality Institute; Ms. Nguyễn Ngọc Thủy, Project Coordination and Management Officer for the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Project, representing ETP–UNOPS, and Mr. Vũ Văn Diện, Vice President of the Vietnam Association of Standards and Quality Science and Technology. The conference also welcomed representatives from ministries, government agencies, enterprises, research institutes, international organizations, and experts in the field of renewable energy.
The event marked the completion of the technical assistance package and the official publication of a set of 15 National Standards (TCVN), built on the basis of reference to international standards, public consultation, appraisal and approval according to the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations and Circular No. 11/2021/TT-BKHCN of the Ministry of Science and Technology.
The development of technical standards requires the continuous cooperation of many relevant units, from policy-making agencies to the business community and technical experts groups. The standards published today are a clear demonstration of sustainable, effective and in-depth cooperation between the parties.
Addressing the conference, Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Thuy – Coordinator and Project Manager of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), ETP-UNOPS representative said that Vietnam has committed to bringing net emissions to zero by 2050. Notably, on August 20, 2025, General Secretary To Lam, on behalf of the Politburo, signed and issued Resolution No. 70-NQ/TW (Resolution 70) on ensuring national energy security by 2030, with a vision to 2045. Resolution 70 has a major goal that by 2030, the proportion of renewable energy in the total primary energy supply will be about 25 – 30%.
According to analyses by many experts, a renewable energy share exceeding 15% will lead to several supply and demand challenges, creating the need for battery energy storage systems. These systems play a fundamental role in handling the intermittency of renewable energy, enhancing the flexibility of the system, and improving the reliability and resilience of the grid, thereby contributing to the development of a smart power transmission system and ensuring national energy security.
As a result, the development of national standards and technical regulations for BESS plays a crucial role in reducing technical and financial risks, providing a clear legal framework for mobilizing domestic and international investment in energy transition projects in Vietnam.
BESS is playing an increasingly vital role in ensuring energy security, integrating renewable energy sources, and optimizing the national power grid. After nearly two years of implementation, the project on developing standards for BESS has been completed with 15 national standards developed by a consortium led by the Institute for Standards and Quality Development Studies (ISSQ), in collaboration with Pondera Vietnam Co., Ltd. (a member of Royal HaskoningDHV Group) and a team of experienced experts from Phenikaa University.
“The event marks a significant milestone in establishing the legal framework that supports the development of battery energy storage systems, as Viet Nam is entering the era of green transition and international integration,” said Dr. Nguyễn Ngọc Thủy.
In presenting the outcomes of the Project on 15 Standards for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) in Vietnam, Ms. Phung Thi Thu Hang, Project Manager and Coordinator of the BESS Project (the Institute for Standards and Quality Development Studies), highlighted that Vietnam currently lacks an adequate set of national standards (TCVN) applicable to energy storage systems, particularly in the renewable energy sector. The project is aligned with the objectives of Vietnam’s Power Development Plan VIII and contributes to the country’s efforts toward fulfilling its commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
According to Ms. Hằng, the project focused on conducting comprehensive research and developing draft National Standards (TCVN) for BESS. During the implementation process, the project team developed these TCVN standards in close consultation with domestic and international technical experts, and with professional support from The Commission for the Standards, Metrology and Quality of Viet Nam (STAMEQ).
The project also included organizing technical consultation meetings and workshops to collect comments from relevant units. In addition, the team conducted research, surveys, studied international experiences and evaluated the feasibility of standards through a testing and conformity assessment system.
The entire process is implemented in full compliance with the steps of development, appraisal and promulgation according to the provisions of the Law on Technical Standards and Regulations and Circular No. 11/2021/TT-BKHCN. It can be seen that the project has laid the foundation for the formation of the TCVN system on Energy storage battery systems in Vietnam and integrated into renewable energy projects in Vietnam.
Sharing about the project’s achievements, Ms. Phung Thi Thu Hang, Project Manager and Coordinator of the BESS Project, emphasized that the project has successfully completed the development and publication of 15 National Standards (TCVN) on Battery Energy Storage Systems, marking an important step forward in standardizing this field in Vietnam. The newly issued TCVN standards ensure compatibility with international standard systems while contributing to strengthening the country’s capacity in the development and application of standards.
“The completion of these standards has established a unified reference framework for relevant stakeholders, providing a solid legal and technical foundation for the development, management, and application of BESS. The project’s outcomes not only hold technical significance but also foster investment attraction, international cooperation, and technology transfer, opening up opportunities for sustainable development in Vietnam’s renewable energy sector,” she added.
At the conference, Mr. Ngo Kien Cuong – Deputy Head of BESS Project, Offshore Wind Power Expert, representative of Pondera Vietnam introduced in detail the content of the set of standards and the roadmap for application in accordance with Power Development Plan VIII (PDP VIII). Accordingly, the project of 15 standards on BESS has been deployed and completed. This set of standards was built to standardize concepts, technical parameters, testing methods and safety instructions, ensuring compatibility with international standards.
“The completion and publication of these 15 TCVNs has created a unified legal and technical framework, improving national capacity in developing and applying standards, while promoting investment, technology transfer and sustainable development of the renewable energy industry in Vietnam. The project also recommends continuing to research and supplement standards on equipment testing, operating instructions, maintenance, grid connection and fire prevention and fighting for BESS systems in the next phase”, said Mr. Ngo Kien Cuong.
TCVN are divided into four main groups: Vocabulary – technical parameters and testing methods; planning and performance evaluation of systems; environmental issues; safety for grid-integrated energy storage systems.
In particular, the standards on vocabulary and technical parameters help to unify the understanding and testing procedures for many different types of energy storage systems such as mechanical, electrochemical, electrical, chemical and thermal. The standards group on planning and performance evaluation provides detailed guidance for the design, testing and operation of the system, ensuring performance and safety throughout its life cycle.
In addition, the environmental standards group focuses on addressing the two-way impacts between the system and the environment, including the handling of damaged batteries, reused batteries and health risks. In particular, the safety standards clearly stipulate the risk assessment process, precautions and safety testing for battery storage systems, especially lithium-ion batteries.
Within the framework of the conference, Ms. Doan Thi Thanh Van, Head of the Electrical and Electronic Standards Department at the Vietnam Institute of Standards and Quality (VSQI), also presented the results of stakeholder consultations and outlined further recommendations.
At the conference, Mr. Nguyen Minh Ngoc, Director General of the Institute for Standard and Quality Development (ISSQ), shared that the development of the BESS standards has been a journey of collaboration, bringing together the knowledge, experience, and dedication of numerous organizations and experts both in Vietnam and abroad.
“The 15 standards released today mark an important milestone, laying the foundation for the sustainable development of the renewable energy industry, contributing to national energy security, and demonstrating Vietnam’s strong commitment to the green energy transition,” said Mr. Nguyen Minh Ngoc.
Mr. Nguyen Minh Ngoc added that the set of standards will continue to be disseminated, implemented and updated periodically to ensure compliance with the rapid development of technology and practical needs in the energy transition process. This is an important premise to help Vietnam move closer to the goals of energy security, sustainable development and net zero emissions by 2050.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Nguyen Van Khoi, Head of the Standards Department, stated that the event not only marked an important technical step but also affirmed the role of the standards system in promoting the energy storage market, an essential component in Vietnam’s renewable energy ecosystem in the next decade. The completion and publication of 15 national standards on energy storage battery systems not only contributed to forming a legal and technical foundation for this new field, but also created a driving force to promote innovative initiatives, develop domestic supply chains and expand the energy storage market in Vietnam.
He stressed: “The standards will continue to be disseminated, implemented, and periodically updated to ensure alignment with rapid technological development and practical demands throughout the energy transition. This is an important step for Vietnam to advance toward its goals of energy security, sustainable development, and net-zero emissions by 2050.”
