Asean Power Grid: Accelerating the region’s energy transition

Read the entire article here.

Southeast Asia is entering a decisive stage in its energy transition. As energy demand grows, governments are looking for ways to deliver affordable, reliable and clean electricity to homes, businesses and industries. One long-standing initiative offers a practical path forward: the Asean Power Grid (APG).

Energy connectivity is an important part of decarbonizing the region’s power systems. The International Energy Agency estimates that countries around the world need to double investments in power grids to meet climate targets. The APG aims to link all ASEAN Member States into a single, integrated system by 2045. By facilitating cross-border electricity trade, this will strengthen energy security and reliability, maximize renewable energy potential and, and create a larger and more stable market for power in the region.

The idea of a regional power grid first emerged in the mid-1980s. Since then, ASEAN has taken a phased approach, beginning with bilateral and sub-regional connections. These links provide the foundation for more advanced, multilateral electricity trade in the future.