Building the Next Phase of Growth in Southeast Asia Around Renewable Energy
It is one of the fastest growing and dynamic regions in the world. A global trade hub and a strong example of the benefits of regional cooperation, Southeast Asia promises to emerge as one the most successful economic development stories of the 21st century. To fulfill its full potential however, the region should turn decisively to […]
Cleaning up a dirty industry: ASEAN is becoming more dependent on coal but it has an obligation to mitigate its environmental impact
Universal electricity access is a key pillar of ASEAN’s development goals. The regional bloc has committed to providing every citizen with an electricity supply by the early 2030s. To achieve this end, the region will need to increase its power capabilities by some 60% by 2040. To quench the thirst for power, Wood Mackenzie, an energy research company, estimated […]
Asean coal power plant construction falls
US-based climate group Global Energy Monitor reported that 1.5 gigawatts (GW) of new coal generation began in Asean in the first half of 2019, all of which was in Indonesia. Across Asean, 53.4GW of capacity is listed as at pre-construction stage but 69.6GW has been cancelled since 2015. Construction started on power stations with a capacity of […]
Even in Southeast Asia, coal is losing its lustre—only Indonesia has been building new plants in 2019
Southeast Asia is the only region in the world where coal has a growing share in the energy mix. But according to new data from San Francisco-based non-governmental organisation Global Energy Monitor (GEM) the signs are that the coal industry is on the wane, even here. In the first six months of this year, only Indonesia, the […]
While Coal Still Dominates in South East Asia, Growth of Wind Power is Urgently Needed
Around the world, there is a palpable sense of urgency to accelerate the energy transition. With millions of citizens participating in the #FridaysForFuture movement and still more facing intensifying natural hazards like typhoons, droughts and hurricanes, climate change has become an indisputable condition of our modern world. Wind and renewable energy have achieved strong progress […]
Southeast Asian conglomerates to pump US$30 million into renewable projects in Myanmar
Two Southeast Asian business conglomerates have teamed up to invest at least US$30 million in renewable energy projects in Myanmar, which has one the region’s lowest rates of access to grid electricity. Myanmar-focused Yoma Strategic Holdings, which is listed on the Singapore stock exchange, will form a 50:50 joint venture with AC Energy, the energy […]
Deal signed to meet $210 billion annual green infrastructure investments needs
The Asian Development Bank has signed an agreement with Singapore’s Infrastructure Asia to mobilise the much-needed funding for sustainable infrastructure across Southeast Asia. The two will help governments in the region to develop sustainable finance models as well as identify and develop bankable infrastructure projects. ADB and Infrastructure Asia will target state-owned enterprises and regional […]
Asia’s thirsty coal-fired power plants face water scarcity
Asia’s reliance on coal-fired power may prove unsustainable in the long run because thermal power plants need to be cooled down with large quantities of water, the sources of which are drying up because of climate change, says a new study. Coal-fired power plants in India and South-East Asia are most likely to be affected by future water shortages, says […]
Hydrogen as a clean fuel for transportation
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), ASEAN currently consumes 4.5 million barrels of oil per day, while it only produces 2.5 million barrels per day, with the remaining supply gap – over 40 percent of the demand – coming from imports. Such oil demand is mainly driven by the transport sector, especially land transport, […]
Coal remains main source of energy in Southeast Asia
The energy multinational Wood Mackenzie said in a recent study that coal would remain a major fuel source in Southeast Asia for years to come, its use expected to peak only in 2027. The Indonesian government has set a target of generating 23 percent of its power from renewable sources but has achieved only 12 […]