Category: Knowledge Center Asia

Financing ASEAN’s Energy Transition: Report

Financing ASEAN’s Energy Transition: Report

October 9, 2026 | , ,

ASEAN has seen some success in getting capital to flow to utility-scale renewable energy projects. But that success does not extend downwards or outwards. Returns fall away sharply as project sizes shrink, storage sits at less than a third of the pipeline the region needs by 2030, and transmission earns single-digit returns that keep private capital away. Market design, more than capital or technology, is now the constraint for financing the region’s energy transition. This analysis finds that what complicates matters more is that ASEAN’s next phase of energy transition will move beyond utility-scale generation projects towards thousands of smaller distributed systems rather than a handful of large plants, on storage to absorb variable output, and on transmission to move power to where it is needed.

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Carbon Recycling Opportunities in ASEAN: Report

Carbon Recycling Opportunities in ASEAN: Report

October 1, 2026 | , ,

The report “Exploring Carbon Recycling Opportunities in ASEAN” is a collaborative study organised by the Asia Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) Network of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia to support acceleration of decarbonisation in Asia. To achieve decarbonisation and NZE, there is no single solution that fits for all countries in the region. Natural resource endowments, technical capacities, available funding, and other resources may lead to different pathways in meeting NZE. The objective of this study is to include research institutions from various countries and expose them to potential carbon recycling issues and inclusively provide their thoughts on how to harness the opportunity.

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Myanmar’s Rooftop Off-Grid Solar Market: Report

Myanmar’s Rooftop Off-Grid Solar Market: Report

September 24, 2026 | , , ,

Solar is now the most cost-effective electrification option for a growing share of Myanmar’s energy demand. Monthly average diesel prices rose by nearly 900 percent in nominal terms, from MMK 682 per liter in January 2021 to MMK 6,057 per liter in April 2026, industrial grid tariffs increased by 80 percent in February 2026, and the cost of energy from large commercial and industrial (C&I) solar-plus-battery systems is at US$0.205 per kWh, now cheaper than the industrial grid tariff of US$0.250 per kWh. The C&I segment is approaching commercial viability and is likely to continue growing largely on commercial terms.

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Impact of India’s Battery Demand on Imports: Paper

Impact of India’s Battery Demand on Imports: Paper

September 4, 2026 | ,

India’s battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales have grown rapidly, with a compound annual growth rate of 62.5% from fiscal year (FY) 2019–20 to FY 2024–25. Yet this growth has not been matched by growth in domestic battery manufacturing and India’s battery cell demand is currently met almost entirely through imports. As BEV adoption accelerates further, battery imports may continue to grow if local battery manufacturing supply chains remain inadequate, even as reliance on imported petrol and diesel declines.

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Carbon Pricing in Transport Sector for Central Asia: Report 

Carbon Pricing in Transport Sector for Central Asia: Report 

August 14, 2026 | , ,

Transport emissions in all CAREC countries are growing significantly faster than overall GHG emissions, showing the importance of introducing effective measures to curb these emissions. The report highlights how the main measures identified by CAREC countries to reduce GHG transport emissions relate to electric mobility, low-carbon fuels, expansion and improvement of public transport services, nonmotorized transport, efficiency improvements in the transport sector, and shifting road to rail and road to shipping for both freight and passenger transport.

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Bridging Climate Adaptation in Indonesia, Brazil and India: Paper

Bridging Climate Adaptation in Indonesia, Brazil and India: Paper

August 7, 2026 | , , ,

The paper examines how the vertical integration of climate change adaptation can be strengthened, using Indonesia, Brazil and India as comparative case studies. The paper provides empirical evidence on common barriers, highlights opportunities and offers practical recommendations for policymakers, planners and development partners on how coordination across governmental levels can be enhanced. The paper highlights how large, decentralised countries such as Indonesia, Brazil and India must overcome fragmented adaptation governance and ensure vertical policy coherence across all governmental levels to facilitate more robust and effective climate adaptation actions.

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China Power Market Outlook: Report

China Power Market Outlook: Report

July 30, 2026 | , ,

Provincial power spot markets now cover nearly all provinces, with spot prices emerging as the pricing anchor for medium- to long-term power and retail markets. Mechanism pricing has been implemented nationwide, with notable disparities emerging in regional implementation plans, bidding outcomes, and settlement expenses across different regions. Capacity pricing is expanding to include more types of generation-side entities, with compensation depending on peak-serving capability. Stand-alone energy storage economics improve as capacity pricing rolls out, while market-based TOU pricing reshapes industrial and commercial storage operations.

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Building Malaysia’s Clean Power System: Report

Building Malaysia’s Clean Power System: Report

July 22, 2026 | , ,

Malaysia has established strong foundations for an orderly and gradual transition away from coal power, underpinned by a commitment not to build new coal power generation and a final transition date of 2044. Its policy and regulatory framework, along with its long-term goal to reach a 70% share of renewables by 2050, provide a strong basis for the country to capitalize on its natural assets and develop cheaper and more sustainable electricity generation alternatives. This transition offers profound benefits for Malaysians, including lower-cost renewable energy, less pollution and reduced exposure to fuel import costs and volatility. However, it is not without challenges. A renewables led system will need to be stabilized with additional baseload or “firm” power as coal gradually exits.

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Carbon Pricing in the Philippines: Paper 

Carbon Pricing in the Philippines: Paper 

July 17, 2026 | , ,

The paper reviews the experiences of other governments and applies its own analysis of proposed carbon pricing and carbon market legislation filed in the Philippine House of Representatives under the 20th Congress. Specifically, this paper examines the texts of House Bills (HBs) 1817, 2055, 2481, 3685, 3820, 6407, and 6890, drawing on IISD’s technical submissions to the House Committee on Climate Change and a broader review of related bills filed before the House adjourned on 3 June 2026. The analysis considers factors that typically shape whether carbon pricing and carbon market frameworks work well in practice: whether they reduce emissions, encourage cost-effective decarbonization, remain administratively feasible, maintain support from businesses and the wider public, protect market integrity, and contribute to a just transition. 

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Global Hydrogen Review 2026: Report 

Global Hydrogen Review 2026: Report 

July 10, 2026 | , , , ,

The conflict in the Middle East has disrupted global production and trade of hydrogen-based products. The Middle East is a major producer of hydrogen-based products, and the conflict has strongly impacted their production. The consequences of the conflict reach far beyond the Middle East as the region is a major player in global trade for hydrogen-based products. Global fertiliser markets have been particularly affected, with potential implications for the food supply chain. The short-term outlook for low-emissions hydrogen remains uncertain with large differences across regions. The pipeline of announced projects for low-emissions hydrogen production has shrunk to 27 Mt by 2030, mostly due to delays post 2030 and cancellations.

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Southeast Asia Energy Outlook 2026: Report

Southeast Asia Energy Outlook 2026: Report

July 3, 2026 | , ,

Southeast Asia is a very dynamic region that is set to be a major driver of global energy demand growth, but the Middle East conflict has provided a stark wake-up call for the region’s energy system. Governments are focused on managing the short-term energy impacts of the crisis. Immediate impacts have been felt most acutely in refining, petrochemicals, power generation and cooking fuels. A stronger and more co-ordinated regional response will be essential to address these challenges. The outlook for electricity supply and emissions is increasingly shaped by the pace at which renewables and other sources of low-emissions power can be scaled up. Delivering this transition depends on an efficient build-out and use of enabling infrastructure, particularly grids and storage. 

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Floating Solar Potential in India: Report

Floating Solar Potential in India: Report

June 18, 2026 | , ,

The report presents a comprehensive, data-driven assessment of India’s FSPV potential. The study estimated India’s total floating solar potential at approximately 102.18 GWp, with a constraint of using only 20% of the reservoir area. The potential is unevenly distributed across states, with particularly high concentrations in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha, Telangana, and Gujarat, reflecting the availability of large, technically suitable reservoirs and inland water bodies. By optimising the use of underutilised water surfaces, floating solar can help overcome land constraints, enhance energy security, support water conservation objectives, and accelerate progress toward national renewable energy and climate targets.

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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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