Southeast Asia's Clean Energy Transition

Though not the most widely deployed solution, floating solar farms bypass land and social constraints, making efficient use of available space to potentially help achieve Malaysia’s renewable energy target – one that would otherwise be difficult or too costly to reach.

Google will also buy renewable energy for its Malaysian data centres from another solar project in the northern Kedah state from Japan-based firm Shizen Energy.

Floating solar deals, cross-border energy plans and a new carbon credit framework highlight early progress, but achieving net zero will require rapid capacity expansion and a more resilient, modernised grid.

Redirecting the energy funding Indonesia receives from China entirely into renewables could mobilise up to US$9 billion over the next decade. But enabling Chinese investment will require stronger industrial policies, a study finds.

As the Philippines gears up to chair Asean next year, Michael Sinocruz says the government will push offshore wind to bolster cross-border renewable energy trade, while protecting marine life impacted by infrastructure.

The city-state will generate no more than 10 per cent of its energy from solar by 2050, and is exploring geothermal, biomethane and regional energy-sharing to decarbonise, Singapore's energy minister said. The country is also planning a "low-carbon" data centre park – its first since a moratorium on data centres ended in 2022.

If they are serious about a sustainable future, they must close loopholes and extend coal policies across clients’ entire value chains, denying new financing to companies using coal unless they have credible, time-bound clean energy plans.

Financing of up to US$ 10.7 billion is needed to modernise the regions’ power systems. Outage costs weigh mostly on the Philippines, Indonesia and Myanmar. However, Singapore, where power interruptions are rare, even has higher lost value, found a new report by Ember.

Southeast Asian energy ministers will meet in October to discuss the future of the region’s power grid. GEAPP’s Kitty Bu tells the Eco-Business podcast what areas they must collaborate on, and how finance and industry can help.

Southeast Asian energy ministers are scheduled to sign an enhanced MoU for the Asean Power Grid at their mid-October meeting, which will focus on boosting interoperability between member states’ electricity grids.

Survey finds Singapore’s status as regional energy transition leader is fading as Asean's clean energy push shifts focus from ambition to pragmatism amid finance gaps and rising geopolitical turbulence.

The Department of Energy is preparing for its inaugural offshore wind auction, accompanied by a roadmap for the country's capacity expansion. The Philippines, however, won't yet be ready to supply to the Asean Power Grid, says Sharon Garin.