Plans by Vietnam’s state-owned oil & gas group to move into floating solar underlines how deploying PV panels on dams, lakes or the open sea is one of the hottest new trends in global renewables – and in Asia, a potential powerful new alternative to coal.

PetroVietnam said it aims to build solar plants on its hydro-dams as part of a wider energy transition strategy, adding to Vietnam, and the region’s, leadership role in the fast-emerging floating PV sector.