Category: Mega Trends & Analysis Asia

Who Is Actually Powering South East Asia’s Buildings

Who Is Actually Powering South East Asia’s Buildings

September 7, 2026 | ,

Corporate power purchase agreements, on-site solar, and battery storage are moving from pilot projects to standard practice across the region’s building sector. What has not caught up is uniformity. For most of the past three decades, power procurement across South East Asia ran through a single channel: a state-owned utility signing long-term contracts with independent power producers, mostly for coal and gas. That structure delivered grid buildout at scale, but it left little room for a corporate buyer to simply choose a renewable supplier. The shift now underway, allowing companies to contract more directly with renewable generators, is a genuinely new development, and it is unfolding at different speeds in every market.

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Record capacity additions and diversification drive India’s solar sector

Record capacity additions and diversification drive India’s solar sector

August 10, 2026 | , ,

Solar has been contributing a lion’s share to installed renewable capacity additions. India added approximately 2.8 GW of solar capacity in May 2026, which resulted in around 3.4 GW of renewable capacity addition. Within the cumulative solar capacity of 157.05 GW, ground-mounted utility-scale solar plants account for the major share at 118.79 GW, followed by grid-connected rooftop solar at 27.88 GW, off-grid and PM KUSUM-linked solar at 6.31 GW, and the solar component of hybrid projects at 4.06 GW. Rajasthan leads with over 42 GW of solar capacity, followed by Gujarat at over 32 GW, Maharashtra at over 20 GW, Tamil Nadu at nearly 14 GW and Karnataka at over 11 GW. 

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Beyond roads: Inland shipping is China’s next electrification frontier

Beyond roads: Inland shipping is China’s next electrification frontier

July 24, 2026 | ,

By the end of 2024, China had more than 440 electric ships in operation, with ferries accounting for 97% of the total fleet. This is not surprising given the relatively high technical and economic feasibility of electrifying small ferries operating on short, fixed routes. Yet the real story lies beyond ferries: China has begun electrifying cargo ships—traditionally considered far more difficult to electrify due to their larger energy demand and more complex operational requirements—primarily for use along inland waterways. Electrifying China’s inland shipping industry at scale will require overcoming multiple barriers, including financial and operational constraints to the adoption of electric cargo ships. But well-designed, coordinated policy can chart the course forward.

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India’s BESS market moves towards larger-scale deployment

India’s BESS market moves towards larger-scale deployment

July 13, 2026 | , ,

India’s battery energy storage system (BESS) is witnessing growing momentum as storage assumes a larger role in supporting renewable energy integration and grid reliability. As of May 2026, Renewable Watch Research has tracked over 29,000 MWh of standalone BESS capacity under bidding. The awarded standalone BESS capacity has crossed 35,000 MWh, while more than 2,000 MWh is currently under construction. Operational standalone BESS capacity has exceeded 4,700 MWh. In the FDRE and RE+ESS segments, over 4,500 MW of capacity remains under bidding, while awarded capacity exceeds 17,000 MW. Around 9,400 MW is currently under construction, and operational capacity stands at approximately 630 MW.

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India’s Wind Sector Shows Signs of Revival

India’s Wind Sector Shows Signs of Revival

June 29, 2026 | ,

India’s wind power sector has regained momentum, recording its highest annual additions in nearly a decade. During 2025-26, the country added 6.05 GW of new wind capacity, exceeding the previous peak of around 5.5 GW achieved in 2016-17. A key driver of this growth has been the expanding commercial and industrial (C&I) market, which accounted for nearly 4.5 GW, or about 75 per cent, of total wind capacity additions during the year. Further, India’s total installed wind capacity stood at about 56 GW as of 2025-26. While recent momentum in the wind sector is encouraging, key challenges remain. These include untapped offshore wind potential, slower technology advancement compared to global markets, and persistent project execution and grid constraints.

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India’s Green Hydrogen Sector Gains Momentum

India’s Green Hydrogen Sector Gains Momentum

June 8, 2026 | ,

Green hydrogen is emerging as a key pillar of India’s transition towards a low-carbon economy, with the country increasingly focusing on building a domestic production and manufacturing ecosystem. Backed by India’s rapidly expanding renewable energy capacity, the sector is witnessing growing momentum with developments across the entire value chain. Falling renewable energy costs, technological advancements in electrolysers and rising global demand for low-carbon fuels and derivatives are further strengthening the business case for green hydrogen in India. The sector is moving beyond policy announcements and early-stage ambitions to tangible on-ground progress.

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Coal versus Renewables in Southeast Asia’s energy crisis

Coal versus Renewables in Southeast Asia’s energy crisis

April 13, 2026 | , ,

For energy-importing countries in Southeast Asia, the current oil and gas crisis has led to consumer curtailment and a scramble for affordable resources. Countries that have suspended operations or underutilised coal generation capacity now see it as a way to replace the LNG used for electricity generation. This demonstrates that coal is not insulated from geopolitical shocks: short-term switching pushes up demand, which in turn pushes up prices. Only renewables are immune to such immediate crises, as once installed, they do not require a constant supply of fuel to generate electricity.

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AI to unlock the next wave of renewable integration in ASEAN: EMBER

AI to unlock the next wave of renewable integration in ASEAN: EMBER

March 16, 2026 | ,

ASEAN’s expanding digital economy and growing data centre capacity provide a structural foundation for AI adoption. The region’s digital economy is now at around $300 billion and it is projected to reach $1 trillion by 2030. Data centres are crucial for efficient digitalisation in the power sector, enabling big data analytics, AI, and smart grid operation. However, infrastructure quality remains uneven across the region, with significant gaps in connectivity, data governance, cybersecurity and interoperability standards. Without deliberate regional coordination, ASEAN could develop pockets of digital sophistication rather than an integrated, intelligent power system.

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State of Energy Transition in Bangladesh and Pakistan

State of Energy Transition in Bangladesh and Pakistan

March 9, 2026 | ,

For Bangladesh, the next phase of the energy transition will be shaped not only by domestic policy, but by regional energy flows, costs, and infrastructure. The immediate task is to scale clean capacity while managing near-term energy security risks. Pakistan’s RE landscape is evolving rapidly, driven by shifting policies, rising consumer adoption, and growing private sector interest. Hydropower remains the largest renewable source in RE generation, supplying over 11.5 GW, followed by 2.4 GW of wind and about 1.4 GW of utility-scale solar.

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Cost economics and policy landscape for the Indian floating solar sector

Cost economics and policy landscape for the Indian floating solar sector

February 23, 2026 | ,

India’s floating solar segment is at a transition point. Having demonstrated technical feasibility through a limited number of large projects, it must now shift decisively towards more scalable deployment. The pace of deployment needs to pick up too. Achieving even 10 per cent of the 100 GW potential by 2030 would require annual additions of roughly 2 GW, a sharp increase from the current levels. Going forward, the real test for floating solar will not be how many projects are announced, but how quickly these can move from site identification to commissioning, under a standardised and reliable national framework.

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EV Market and Charging Infrastructure Development in Thailand

EV Market and Charging Infrastructure Development in Thailand

February 9, 2026 | ,

Thailand’s transport sector is undergoing a major transformation. Vehicle registrations have maintained a CAGR of 3.7% since 2008, led by passenger cars at 5.2%. As of November 2024, the vehicle stock reached 46.8 million, dominated by motorcycles (52.2%) and passenger cars (42.6%), reflecting the sector’s heavy reliance on road transport, which accounts for 80% of freight and passenger movements. By 2035, total registrations are projected to reach 68.2 million, with a motorization rate expected to reach 886 vehicles per 1,000 population by 2050. The EV market continues to expand rapidly but unevenly across segments.

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The China-Gulf Green Rush: Fueling Renewable Energy Cooperation

The China-Gulf Green Rush: Fueling Renewable Energy Cooperation

February 2, 2026 | ,

As the energy transition accelerates, China-Gulf relations are undergoing a profound transformation. Central to this shift is the evolution of energy partnerships, from the traditional fossil fuel exports that fueled China’s industrial rise, to strategic, mutually beneficial collaborations in clean energy technologies. Looking ahead, both sides should prioritize three interconnected initiatives: establishing a Middle East hydrogen hub, modernizing regional grids to enable seamless integration of renewables, and rapidly scaling EV infrastructure to promote sustainable transportation.

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Electric Vehicle Market Trends in Indonesia

Electric Vehicle Market Trends in Indonesia

January 19, 2026 | , ,

Electric vehicle sales in Indonesia have experienced remarkable growth over the past few quarters. From fewer than 150 units sold in 2020, EV sales have surged in recent years, particularly during the first and second quarters (Q1 and Q2) of 2025. Quarterly sales reached approximately 22,000 units in Q2 2025. EV uptake has been concentrated in the passenger car segment; in contrast, light commercial vehicles (LCVs) and heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) have shown minimal electric model penetration to date.

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Oman’s Green Ambitions: Scaling renewables and building a resilient national grid

Oman’s Green Ambitions: Scaling renewables and building a resilient national grid

January 5, 2026 | ,

Oman’s power sector is evolving rapidly, marked by substantial renewable energy deployment, large-scale transmission upgrades and a clear strategic vision underpinned by Vision 2040. The country’s forthcoming solar and wind projects, combined with the extensive grid reinforcements planned by OETC, including the landmark RABT interconnector, will enable Oman to integrate GWs of new clean capacity, strengthen nationwide system reliability, unlock resource-rich regions and meet growing demand across industrial and urban centres.

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Japan’s Energy Transition: Balancing surging demand with decarbonisation ambitions

Japan’s Energy Transition: Balancing surging demand with decarbonisation ambitions

December 28, 2025 | ,

Japan is at a critical juncture in its energy transition. The country is pursuing an ambitious infrastructure expansion programme. Generation capacity is projected to expand from 327.27 GW in 2025 to 366 GW by 2034, driven almost entirely by solar and wind (accounting for 95 per cent of the total addition). To support grid stability amid rising variable generation, the country is witnessing unprecedented investment, not only in transmission but also in battery energy storage systems (BESSs), with at least USD2.6 billion committed to Japanese storage projects since December 2023.

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India’s wind sector regains momentum, but challenges persist

India’s wind sector regains momentum, but challenges persist

December 15, 2025 | , ,

As per the National Institute of Wind Energy estimates, India has immense wind energy potential – about 695.5 GW at 120 metres above the ground level. As of October 31, 2025, India’s installed wind power capacity stands at 53.59 GW. The wind sector is entering a phase of meaningful but measured progress. Momentum is building through hybrids, RTC demand and a strong manufacturing base, yet execution bottlenecks, slow contracting and offshore uncertainties must be resolved for the country to stay on course toward its ambitious 2030 wind capacity target.

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Moving from coal to clean energy in Indonesia

Moving from coal to clean energy in Indonesia

November 21, 2025 | ,

Instead of considering repurposing CFPP sites for clean energy, the newly released Indonesian National Electricity Master Plan (RUKN) 2025–2060 proposes retrofitting select CFPPs with CCS, ammonia co-firing, and biomass fuel switching. While these technologies may offer incremental emission reductions, they are expensive, complex, and often incompatible with aging infrastructure. Refurbishment costs could double, as expenses include installing CCS or co-firing technology and upgrading the existing coal plant to enable continued operation.

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Energy Outlook for China 2025

Energy Outlook for China 2025

November 17, 2025 | ,

In the last five years, China has added more renewables and nuclear generation capacity than the rest of the world combined, and solar PV and wind now account for 18% of generation. Despite this, coal demand for electricity rose by more than 25% from 2019 to 2024. As a result, coal consumption in the electricity sector reached 2250 Mtce in 2024. This is more than the total energy demand from all sources combined – coal, gas, nuclear, oil and renewables – of any other country in the world, except the United States.

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State of Solar PV and Grid Infrastructure in Southeast Asia

State of Solar PV and Grid Infrastructure in Southeast Asia

October 27, 2025 | , ,

The solar energy potential in Southeast Asia far exceeds its current deployment. The region boasts an estimated 16 TW of solar energy potential, yet as of 2023, only about 26 GW have been installed. To meet net zero targets, it is estimated that annual renewable energy capacity additions must increase sevenfold for solar energy, from an average of 5 GW per year between 2018 and 2021 to about 36 GW annually from 2030 to 2050. According to the AIMS III, 18 priority interconnection projects have been identified, aiming to increase the existing transmission capacity of 7.7 GW to 17.6 GW by 2040.

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Electricity Generation Trends in China and India in 2025

Electricity Generation Trends in China and India in 2025

October 13, 2025 | ,

China, India, the EU and the US accounted for 63% of global electricity demand and 64% of CO2 emissions in the first half of 2025. Development in these countries therefore has a major influence on the global power sector. In H1-2025, fossil fuel generation and related emissions fell in China and India – a reversal of trends seen in the first half of 2024, as clean sources in both countries grew faster than electricity demand.  Meanwhile, fossil generation and emissions rose in the US as clean generation did not keep pace with demand growth.

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