Solar and wind integration crucial as Southeast Asia electricity demand grows

Read the full article here.

Most Southeast Asian countries can begin to integrate higher shares of solar and wind energy this decade without requiring major system overhauls, according to the latest report from the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Rapid urbanization, population growth, industrialization and rising living standards all contributed to electricity demand growth exceeding 7% in southeast Asia last year, one of the fastest rates globally and almost double the global average.

IEA’s report says Southeast Asia is well positioned to meet this surging demand using variable renewable energy (VRE) sources of solar and wind. It adds that there is 20 TW of untapped solar and wind potential across the region, around 55 times the region’s current total generation capacity.

In the report’s forward, Sue-Em Tan, Head of the IEA Regional Cooperation Centre, writes that integrating solar and wind energy is both urgent and essential as the region grows more dependent on fossil fuel imports.

Source: Wikipedia (CIA Fact Book)