Category: Knowledge Center Asia

EV Policy Landscape in Vietnam: Brief 

EV Policy Landscape in Vietnam: Brief 

June 12, 2026 | , ,

The brief reviews Vietnam’s existing EV policies, including fiscal incentives, supply-side regulations, and supplementary policies supporting EV infrastructure and access, alongside current EV market conditions for passenger cars, two-wheelers, and heavy-duty vehicles. The brief highlights sales volumes grew from 162,000 vehicles in 2019 to 288,000 in 2021 but have since plateaued at approximately 9 percent market share, highlighting the need for supporting policies to drive wider adoption. It also recommends developing a clear, science-based definition of green energy, quick implementation of  mandatory fuel consumption standards for passenger vehicles and two-wheelers, enforcing EV production and sales mandates, providing financial and non-financial incentives to stimulate EV adoption.

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Electric Vehicles in ASEAN: Report 

Electric Vehicles in ASEAN: Report 

June 5, 2026 | , ,

The report examines ASEAN’s potential to emerge as a regional hub for the production and adoption of battery electric vehicles (BEVs), with a focus on the sustainability of the supporting ecosystems. It analyses the role of total cost of ownership in determining the competitiveness of BEVs relative to conventional vehicles, alongside the need to reduce lifecycle carbon emissions and address negative externalities associated with the value chain, including those arising from nickel mining. The report explores how regional production networks and supply chains must be developed and coordinated to support the electric vehicle transition.

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South Asia’s Energy Transition amid Global Disruptions: Report 

South Asia’s Energy Transition amid Global Disruptions: Report 

May 29, 2026 | , ,

From India to Bhutan and Sri Lanka to Nepal, countries in South Asia are making a big push towards their energy transition. Energy developments in the region, however, are unfolding in a geopolitical environment that has heightened concerns around energy security and strengthened the case for renewable energy as a strategic imperative for economic stability and national security. This report brings together perspectives from South Asia on the emerging trends and challenges for a just energy transition. The report highlights several challenges facing South Asia’s energy transition, including complex trilemma with respect to high-cost, high-risk, and massive-scale capital needs, bottlenecks in electricity markets, infrastructure, and governance systems.

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India’s AgriPV Potential: Report 

India’s AgriPV Potential: Report 

May 15, 2026 | , ,

The report presents India’s GIS-Based AgriPV potential assessment, evaluating the country’s agricultural lands through multiple filters-slope, soil productivity, solar resource, flood risk, landuse, and protected area buffers. 47.35 million hectares of “restricted cropland” considering all crop categories, out of which around 2.835 million hectares of land is available for selected crop categories suitable for AgriPV. Considering validated AgriPV power density values ranging 0.42-0.75 MW/ha, the national AgriPV potential ranges from 1,192 GW to 2,129 GW.

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Asia-Pacific’s Green Steel Demand Opportunity: Report

Asia-Pacific’s Green Steel Demand Opportunity: Report

May 1, 2026 | , ,

As the biggest steel-producing and consuming region, Asia-Pacific is key to transitioning the global steel industry to clean energy. This report analyses the steel buyer landscape in seven steelmaking countries in the APAC region to estimate the size of regional near-zero emissions steel demand by 2030. The report also explores the opportunities, barriers, and key levers that can affect offtake in this region, drawing on interviews with steel buyers, steel producers, and other market stakeholders.

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Green Hydrogen Market Opportunity in India: IHA Presentation

Green Hydrogen Market Opportunity in India: IHA Presentation

April 24, 2026 | , ,

India has commissioned six green hydrogen projects so far, with a total eletrolyser capacity of 70 MW and an output of 10,000 TPA output. On the pipeline side, the 13 SECI green ammonia tenders  that concluded last year are expected to add 1,485 MW of electrolyser capacity over the next 3 years, indicating steady near term growth. These tenders together translate into 637,400 tonnes of green hydrogen supply.

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Global Energy Review 2026: IEA Report

Global Energy Review 2026: IEA Report

April 24, 2026 | , , , , ,

Solar PV, the largest single source of growth, met more than 25% of higher demand, followed by natural gas, which contributed 17%. This was the first time on record that a modern renewable source contributed the largest share of global energy demand growth. Demand for oil, natural gas and coal all grew in 2025, but at a slower rate than in 2024. Low-emissions sources combined – solar, wind, nuclear, hydropower and other renewables – contributed nearly 60% of the growth in global demand. Coal demand in 2025 grew only modestly above 2024 levels, rising by around 0.4%.

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Global Energy Outlook 2026: Report

Global Energy Outlook 2026: Report

April 10, 2026 | , , , , ,

Electricity demand is surging. Projections for power consumption around the world have been revised upward in recent years, incorporating rising demand from data centers and the electrification of end-use sectors such as transportation. Although these trends vary across regions, they add up to a rapidly electrifying world. World coal demand has grown faster than expected. Under most scenarios, wind and solar grow to account for more than half of global electricity generation by 2050.

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Energy and AI in East Asia: Report

Energy and AI in East Asia: Report

April 2, 2026 | , ,

The rise of AI puts East Asian countries in the spotlight. While AI is expected to be a significant driver of electricity demand, it also has major use cases in the energy sector and can contribute to more efficient and optimal processes. A major area of use is in the electricity system, specifically more optimal integration of VRE sources such as solar PV and wind. Utilising AI effectively in this field is particularly relevant for East Asia since countries have all set net zero targets, even though the targets and timelines for expanding renewable energy sources vary between countries. 

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Sheltering from Global Oil Shocks: Report

Sheltering from Global Oil Shocks: Report

March 26, 2026 | , , , , , ,

The report details demand-side options open to households, businesses and governments to shelter themselves from today’s oil shock and relieve the strains on affordability, based on the agency’s energy security expertise as well on specific country examples. Governments can take the lead, both by setting an example and by facilitating these actions, but many can be adopted by individuals and businesses directly. Most of these options relate to consumption of road transport fuels, but they also cover fuel use for air transport, cooking and industry.

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Carbon Pricing in Southeast Asia: Brief

Carbon Pricing in Southeast Asia: Brief

March 20, 2026 | ,

Southeast Asian countries have been exploring effective ways of introducing carbon pricing in their economies. In 2023, Indonesia launched IDXCarbon, the country’s first official carbon exchange. The Philippines is evaluating the feasibility of introducing an emissions trading system. VietNam announced its plan to pilot an ETS starting in June 2025, with the target of full operation by 2029. This brief summarises the current status of carbon pricing, including the most recent developments; discusses the challenges; and highlights the opportunities for making progress.

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EV Technology Pathways for Indonesia: Paper

EV Technology Pathways for Indonesia: Paper

March 6, 2026 | , ,

This paper evaluates the current status and projected evolution of low- and zero-emission vehicle powertrains in terms of cost, emissions, and infrastructure needs in the vehicle segments that account for most of Indonesia’s road transport emissions. By identifying which vehicle technologies offer sufficient emission reductions and any associated technical or economic barriers, this study provides evidence to inform policy decisions about which powertrains to prioritize to meet Indonesia’s net-zero target.

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Bioenergy Market in India: Report

Bioenergy Market in India: Report

February 27, 2026 | , ,

Bioenergy is particularly important for India’s rapidly growing energy market. It can strengthen energy security, reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels, create economic development and employment opportunities – especially in rural communities – and contribute to lowering greenhouse gas emissions. India’s ethanol industry has emerged as one of the country’s most successful policy-driven energy stories. This report examines the current supply and demand of liquid and gaseous biofuels in India and their forecasted growth to 2030.

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Navigating Energy Transition in Brazil, Indonesia and South Africa: Briefing

Navigating Energy Transition in Brazil, Indonesia and South Africa: Briefing

February 20, 2026 | , , , ,

Brazil, Indonesia, and South Africa diverge in important ways: Brazil is a net crude oil exporter with a commodity-dependent growth model; Indonesia relies heavily on domestically produced coal but remains a major importer of oil products; and South Africa is a net importer of most fossil fuels and faces a protracted electricity crisis driven by the decline of its coal-based utility system. This briefing provides a snapshot of political economy insights relating to dynamics around energy security in Brazil, Indonesia, and South Africa.

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Power Sector Transition in Southeast Asia: Report

Power Sector Transition in Southeast Asia: Report

February 13, 2026 | , ,

The power sector in Southeast Asia is central to the region’s economic development and decarbonization pathway. Accounting for 65 percent of the emissions reductions needed to meet national commitments, the sector presents both substantial transition risks and major investment opportunities. Yet, clean-energy investment in SEA remains insufficient to align with national and global climate goals. This report provides a technical reference to support financial institutions in conducting robust transition assessments of power sector companies in SEA.

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Global Electricity Trends and 2030 Forecast: Report

Global Electricity Trends and 2030 Forecast: Report

February 13, 2026 | , , , ,

Global electricity demand is forecast to increase at a brisk average annual rate of 3.6% over the 2026-2030 forecast period, supported by rising consumption from industry, electric vehicles, air conditioning and data centres. Half of the world’s electricity is forecast to come from renewables and nuclear by 2030. Although coal generation is set to lose ground globally, it remains the single largest source of electricity in 2030. The Age of Electricity requires a fast and efficient expansion of grids and system flexibility.

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Cyber Security for ASEAN Smart Grids: Report

Cyber Security for ASEAN Smart Grids: Report

January 30, 2026 | , ,

The potential of smart grids, particularly those utilising renewable energy such as solar, wind, and biomass, cannot be overstated. These DERs provide flexibility, reduce transmission losses, and can help mitigate the volatility of energy supply. Nevertheless, as energy grids become more decentralised, the accompanying risk of cyberattacks increases. This research project seeks to address the dual challenge of promoting the use of distributed energy resources while enhancing the cybersecurity of distributed energy systems.

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Decarbonising India’s Aluminium Sector: Report

Decarbonising India’s Aluminium Sector: Report

January 22, 2026 | , ,

The aluminium sector is hard-to-abate, owing to its high electricity consumption, met by coal-based electricity. Hence, reducing its carbon footprint is vital, not only to support India’s net-zero goals but also mitigate export risks from emerging trade regulations, i.e. the EU’s CBAM. As other nations develop low-carbon technologies & create trade measures based on embedded emissions, India’s aluminium industry is presented with an opportunity to lower its emission intensity to be a global leader in sustainable metal manufacturing. This will also drive India’s clean energy transition in the longer run.

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Industrial Transformation in ASEAN: Paper

Industrial Transformation in ASEAN: Paper

January 16, 2026 | , ,

ASEAN countries have set bold renewable and net-zero targets not just to cut emissions but to strengthen energy and fiscal resilience. Implementation, however, remains uneven. This white paper by the World Economic Forum highlights that fragmented governance, high financing costs and divergent national priorities continue to slow progress, leaving a gap between regional ambition and tangible outcome. Closing this gap requires greater alignment, coordination and practical mechanisms for collective action.

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Bangladesh’s Energy Efficiency Goals: Report

Bangladesh’s Energy Efficiency Goals: Report

January 2, 2026 | , ,

In less than a decade, Bangladesh improved energy efficiency by 13.64%, an annual gain of 1.52%. In FY 2023-24 alone, fossil fuel consumption of 7 Mtoe was avoided, slashing import bills by USD3.3 billion. This sustained national effort created a framework for energy efficiency. However, after initial gains from FY 2016-17, progress slowed until FY 2020-21 when energy supply disruptions and higher tariffs made efficiency a priority. Bangladesh is on course to achieve its energy efficiency targets a year early. With households and industry consuming two-thirds of the country’s energy, these sectors should be the focus for greater energy efficiency gains.

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