Southeast Asia looks to renewable power for energy security

Published

2 years ago

October 17, 2023

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The floating solar photovoltaic power plant by EDPR Sunseap Group, a unit of Energias de Portugal SA, in Woodlands, in Singapore, on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022.

Bryan van der Beek | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Southeast Asia is home to some of the world’s fastest-growing economies. As energy demand grows, the region is turning to renewable energy to safeguard its energy security.

Energy demand in Southeast Asia has increased by an average of 3% each year over the past two decades — a trend that will continue to 2030 under current policy settings, according to the International Energy Agency.

But fossil fuels still dominate the region’s energy mix, making up about 83% in 2020 compared to renewables’ share of 14.2% in the same period, research from the ASEAN Center for Energy showed.

By 2050, oil, natural gas and coal will account for 88% of the total primary energy supply, the center said.

This “huge dependence” on fossil fuels increases the region’s vulnerability to energy price shocks and supply constraints, said Zulfikar Yurnaidi, manager of energy modeling and policy planning at the ASEAN Center for Energy.

Global events such as the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have driven up prices in recent years, with benchmark oil prices reaching its highest level in over a decade in March last year. Just last week, oil prices popped nearly 6% as Middle East tensions soared following Hamas militants’ air, sea and land assault on Israel.

“Our fiscal capacity is different from Europe. We can’t outbid everyone to get our own gas supply,” said Yurnaidi.

In particular, Southeast Asia’s gas and coal power sectors have expanded as power grows, increasingly exposing these markets to volatile fossil fuel prices on the international market, said David Thoo, power and low carbon energy analyst at BMI Fitch Solutions.

Overall, the region’s policies and trends show countries are eager to transition to clean energy.

Zulfikar Yurnaidi

ASEAN Center for Energy

If Southeast Asian nations do not make significant discoveries or add to existing production infrastructure, the region will become a net importer of natural gas by 2025 and coal by 2039, the ASEAN Center for Energy estimated. That’s going to raise fossil fuel prices and exert further strain on consumers.

To prevent this, the region must diversify its energy sources for economic growth and security, said Yurnaidi.

Most, if not all, Southeast Asian markets have taken strides to announce renewable energy targets and formulate their low-carbon energy transition plans, said Thoo.

“Overall, the region’s policies and trends show countries are eager to transition to clean energy,” said Yurnaidi.

Energy transitions from Malaysia to Indonesia

Malaysia launched its National Energy Transition Roadmap in July, which will scale up its renewable energy capacity and reduce its growing dependence on natural gas imports, according to the Ministry of Economy.

The roadmap identified 10 flagship projects, including plans to build a one-gigawatt solar photovoltaic plant — Southeast Asia’s largest — that can directly covert sunlight into energy, the ministry said.

Solar power has remained the most encouraging segment of Malaysia’s renewable energy landscape since 2011, with an installed capacity compound annual growth rate of 48%, according to the authorities.

Other planned developments include an integrated renewable energy zone, five centralized large-scale solar parks and three green hydrogen production plants. These projects will leverage Malaysia’s estimated 290 gigawatts of technical renewable energy potential to create a more resilient, low-carbon power system, said the ministry.

In May, Vietnam announced its Power Development Plan 8, a commitment to boost wind and gas energy while reducing its reliance on coal.

Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are projected to account for at least 31% of national energy needs by 2030, the government said, according to Reuters.

Under the plan, all coal plants must be converted to alternative fuels or cease operations by 2050, said the release. Although coal will remain an important energy source in the near term, accounting for an estimated 20% of the country’s total energy mix in 2030, it would be a decrease from nearly 31% in 2020, said Reuters.

Singapore’s Green Plan 2023 similarly emphasizes an uptake in renewable energy. It targets an increase in solar energy deployment to at least 2 gigawatts of capacity by 2030, which will meet about 3% of projected electricity demand, said the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment.

About 95% of Singapore’s electricity is generated from natural gas, a fossil fuel energy source, according to the ministry.

Although Singapore’s geographical constraints limit its renewable energy options, the plan will implement measures like rooftop solar panels as well as importing electricity and hydrogen from other Southeast Asian countries to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Last year, Singapore’s Keppel Electric signed a two-year agreement with Laos to import up to 100MW of renewable hydropower through Thailand and Malaysia. This marked Singapore’s first renewable energy import, as well as the first multilateral cross-border electricity trade involving four ASEAN members, reported local media.

“It is clear that the region understands the role of energy reliability and resilience amidst various energy shocks,” said Yurnaidi.

The Philippines

Southeast Asian markets are also looking to attract foreign companies with expertise on renewable energy to develop their renewables sectors, said BMI’s Thoo.

“Renewables [here] are fairly less developed than China and Western markets,” he added.

In November, the Philippines removed Filipino ownership requirements in certain renewable energy resources, allowing foreign investors to fully own projects involving solar, wind, hydro or ocean energy resources, according to international law firm Baker McKenzie. Foreign firms could own only up to 40% of such energy projects in the past.

Foreign ownership is essential in facilitating renewable wind generation projects in the Philippines, which has the potential to install 21 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2040, according to a report by the World Bank. That’s equivalent to about one-fifth of its electricity supply, the report pointed out.

The Philippines relies heavily on imported fossil fuels, putting it at risk of supply constraints and price increases, said the report.

But the World Bank said foreign companies can bring their knowledge and experience to the table, especially in helping renewable energy projects move from pre-development to later stages that involve higher expenditure.

Indonesia has also relaxed some foreign ownership restrictions to generate momentum in renewable energy investments.

For example, it now allows 100% foreign ownership of power transmission, power distribution and power generation (with a capacity of more than 1 megawatt) projects, according to the Asia Business Law Journal.

“We are optimistic that a lot of foreign investment will come in over the next few years, resulting in more renewable energy projects in the region,” said Yurnaidi.

Environment

Toxic Pennsylvania mineland is about to become a big solar farm

Published

16 hours ago

December 13, 2025

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Toxic Pennsylvania mineland is about to become a big solar farm

Pennsylvania mineland solar — Photos of the existing contaminated minelands that will be converted to solar under the recently approved Black Moshannon solar project in Rush Township, Centre County PA (Photo: PennEnvironment)

Rush Township supervisors in Centre County, Pennsylvania, voted this week to greenlight a key permit for the Black Moshannon Solar project – a large solar development that would turn toxic former mineland into a major source of clean power.

If built, the Pennsylvania solar project would generate 265 megawatts of electricity – enough to power about 200,000 homes annually – on nearly 2,000 acres of toxic mineland. Developers deliberately chose the site, as the project is designed to reclaim land left behind by mining and fold environmental cleanup into the solar buildout.

According to project plans, the site would be restored with pollinators and pollinator-friendly ground cover planted beneath the solar panels. Developers have also committed to ongoing water quality and soil testing during construction and operations, along with soil improvements such as applying lime to help neutralize mining-related contamination and support vegetation growth.

Beyond the environmental cleanup, the project is expected to deliver a financial boost to the region. Black Moshannon Solar is projected to generate more than $5 million in tax revenue for the Phillipsburg-Osceola Area School District, along with more than $700,000 in direct tax payments to Centre County.

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Environmental and energy advocates praised the township’s decision. David Masur, executive director of PennEnvironment, called the vote a model for other communities across the state. “We are hopeful that other local government officials across Pennsylvania will follow Rush Township’s lead and implement similar, much-needed solar projects all across the Keystone State.”

Jim Gregory, executive director of the Conservative Energy Network-Pennsylvania, also applauded the approval. “In 40 years, their forward-thinking decisions will be recognized as catalysts for environmental protection, public health improvements, and economic prosperity.”

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Environment

Genesis GV90 leaks as breathtaking ultra-luxe SUV with coach doors [Video]

Published

19 hours ago

December 12, 2025

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Genesis GV90 leaks as breathtaking ultra-luxe SUV with coach doors [Video]

Genesis is gearing up to launch the stunning new flagship SUV. Ahead of its official debut, the GV90 leaked during an internal presentation, revealing our first look at the ultra-luxe electric SUV.

Genesis GV90 leak reveals coach doors and more

The GV90 is arriving as the largest, most luxurious Genesis SUV to date. Based on the Neolun Concept, the new flagship SUV will sit above the GV80 as Genesis expands into new segments.

As Genesis calls it, the “ultra-luxe, state-of-the-art SUV” stole the spotlight at the New York Auto Show last March.

It wasn’t the stunning, reductive design inspired by Korea’s moon-shaped porcelain jars or the premium Royal Indigo and Purple silk materials that caught most people’s attention at the event, but the B-pillarless coach doors.

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The SUV was showcased with Rolls-Royce-like coach doors, offering a new level of luxury for Genesis. Although we’ve seen the GV90 spotted out in public testing a few times now with coach doors, we wondered if they would make it to the production model.

After the full-size SUV reportedly leaked during an internal presentation, it looks like we’ve found our answer. The Genesis GV90 leak reveals two versions: a standard model and a coach-door model.

The leaked images from our friends at ShortsCar offer our first look at the production version in full. Earlier this month, a GV90 prototype was spotted out in public with the coach doors wide open, providing a sneak peek of the interior.

From what was shown, the cabin will feature a similar layout to the concept, with high-end purple and indigo materials. The GV90 was also caught with an all-black interior, which is expected to be the standard version.

A new video from the folks over at HealerTV offers a closer look at the breathtaking interior ahead of its official debut.

The GV90 appears to retain the gear selector located near the top of the steering wheel from the Neolun concept.

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Another report, from TheKoreanCarBlog, confirms the new gear selector after the first interior spy shots surfaced.

From what we’ve seen so far, the GV90 is shaping up to be a near replica of the ultra-luxe Neolun concept. Genesis has yet to announce a launch date for the GV90, but it is expected to make an official debut by the end of the year with sales starting in mid-2026.

Prices and final specs, like driving range, will be revealed closer to launch, but the Genesis GV90 is rumoured to be the first vehicle to ride on Hyundai’s new eM platform.

Hyundai said the new platform will deliver a 50% improvement in range compared to its current E-GMP-based EVs, such as the IONIQ 5. It’s also expected to offer Level 3 autonomous driving as well as other advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) features.

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Environment

Battery storage hits $65/MWh – a tipping point for solar

Published

20 hours ago

December 12, 2025

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Battery storage hits /MWh – a tipping point for solar

solar battery storage — Photo: Enel North America

Turning cheap daytime solar into electricity you can actually use at night just got a lot cheaper. A new analysis from energy think tank Ember shows that utility-scale battery storage costs have fallen to $65 per megawatt-hour (MWh) as of October 2025 in markets outside China and the US. At that level, pairing solar with batteries to deliver power when it’s needed is now economically viable.

Battery storage costs have fallen dramatically over the past two years, and the decline continues. Following a steep decline in 2024, Ember’s analysis indicates that prices continued to fall sharply again in 2025.

The findings are based on real-world data from recent battery and solar-plus-storage auctions in Italy, Saudi Arabia, and India, as well as interviews with active developers across global markets.

According to Ember, the cost of a whole, grid-connected utility-scale battery storage system for long-duration projects (four hours or more) is now about $125 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) as of October 2025. That figure applies to projects outside China and the US. Core battery equipment delivered from China costs around $75/kWh, while installation and grid connection typically add another $50/kWh.

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Those lower upfront costs have pushed down the levelized cost of storage (LCOS) to just $65/MWh. Ember’s calculation reflects real-world assumptions around financing costs, system lifetime, efficiency, and battery degradation.

Cheaper hardware isn’t the only reason storage costs are falling. Longer battery lifetimes, higher efficiencies, and lower financing costs, helped by clearer revenue models such as auctions, have all contributed to the sharp drop in LCOS. Ember has published a live calculator alongside the report, allowing users to estimate LCOS using their own assumptions.

Why this matters comes down to how solar is actually used. Most solar power is generated during the day, so only a portion needs to be stored to make it dispatchable. Ember estimates that if half of daytime solar generation is shifted to nighttime, the $65/MWh storage cost adds about $33/MWh to the cost of solar electricity.

With the global average price of solar at $43/MWh in 2024, adding storage would bring the total cost to about $76/MWh, delivering power in a way that better matches real demand.

As Ember global electricity analyst Kostantsa Rangelova put it, after a 40% drop in battery equipment costs in 2024, the industry is now on track for another major fall in 2025. The economics of battery storage, she said, are “unrecognizable,” and the industry is still adjusting to this new reality.

“Solar is no longer just cheap daytime electricity; now it’s anytime dispatchable electricity. This is a game-changer for countries with fast-growing demand and strong solar resources,” Rangelova added.

Together, solar and battery storage are increasingly emerging as a scalable, secure, and affordable foundation for future power systems.

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