90 MW waste-to-energy plant inaugurated in Hanoi – world’s second largest

The Soc Son Waste-to-Energy Plant which is world’s second-biggest facility of its kind has been inaugurated in Trung Gia commune, Hanoi, Vietnam. The WtE plant is capable of processing 5,000 tonnes of waste per day and generate 90 MW of electricity. The plant has been connected to the national grid since July 2022, marking a major step forward in the city’s waste management and clean energy strategy.

At the inauguration ceremony, Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Tran Sy Thanh called the project a “crucial milestone” in modernising the capital’s waste collection, transport, and treatment systems. He urged authorities to devise an action plan for treating nearly one million cubic metres of long-buried waste at the Nam Son solid waste complex within the next five to seven years.

Developed by Hanoi Thien Y Environmental Energy JSC, a subsidiary of CNTY–EUZY Group, the $320 million project began construction in August 2019. The facility employs advanced Belgian mechanical grate furnace technology that complies with both European and Vietnamese environmental standards.

CNTY–EUZY Group’s General Director, Tao Duc Tieu, said that Hanoi generates around 7,500 tonnes of household waste daily, posing environmental and health challenges. The new facility, he said, offers a sustainable solution by converting waste into clean energy, thereby contributing to socio-economic progress and the city’s green transformation.

According to Nguyen Thi Hong Van, General Director of VNTY — the plant’s operator — the facility has entered full-scale operation after three years of trials. It now handles about 70% of Hanoi’s daily household waste, reducing dependence on traditional landfills. Van added that the next phase would focus on treating long-buried waste and reclaiming land for public use.

Waste to energy projects are picking up in Vietnam to manage the waste sustainably. Tam Sinh Nghia waste-to-energy project in Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam is being developed by a consortium led by SUS ENVIRONMENT. Erex has begun the construction of two 50-MW biomass power plants in the country. The company also plans to launch its 20MW first biomass power plant in Vietnam in Hau Giang.