Category: Policy Watch Asia

Philippines’ Grid Expansion: NGCP’s TDP 2026-50 targets a fully unified national grid

Philippines’ Grid Expansion: NGCP’s TDP 2026-50 targets a fully unified national grid

October 1, 2026 | ,

The Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,600 islands across rugged and mountainous terrain, remains one of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) fastest-growing economies. The Department of Energy (DOE) is targeting a renewable energy share of 35 per cent by 2030 and 50 per cent by 2040, up from about 25 per cent today, while system peak demand (SPD) is projected to more than quadruple from 20 GW in 2026 to over 80 GW by 2050. This expansion is being driven by a strengthening economy, a rising population, urbanisation, increasing electrification and a growing digital economy, including data centres.

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India launches PM-SSY Floating Solar scheme

India launches PM-SSY Floating Solar scheme

August 31, 2026 | , ,

India is giving a fresh impetus to floating solar with the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY). Approved by the Union Cabinet on July 31, 2026, the scheme seeks to address one of the growing constraints to large-scale solar development: the availability of suitable land. It envisages the development of 5,000 MW of floating solar photovoltaic (FSPV) capacity, with a total financial outlay of Rs 50.70 billion. The projects will be sanctioned during FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31, with financial assistance continuing to be disbursed through FY 2032-33.

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Policy Roadmap for Variable Renewable Energy Integration in SEA

Policy Roadmap for Variable Renewable Energy Integration in SEA

October 6, 2025 | , , ,

Southeast Asia can successfully transform its power system to reliably and affordably meet growing electricity demand. This is possible with a progressive approach that aligns VRE integration measures with local contexts. It also involves building the technical and institutional capabilities to manage effectively higher VRE penetrations. This extract outlines a practical implementation roadmap with actionable steps for key stakeholders in Southeast Asia. These include policymakers, regulators, regional bodies and utilities. The roadmap draws on the regional opportunities, global experience in navigating from low to higher phases of VRE integration and the current readiness assessment. 

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Energy Transition Policies in China

Energy Transition Policies in China

June 30, 2025 | ,

In the past decade, China has accelerated its energy transition significantly. China has added more than 1000 GW of renewable capacity between 2014 and 2023, representing a jump of over 250% in its national renewable energy capacity and accounting for one-third of global investment in clean energy in 2023. However, in terms of reflecting justice in policy sample, this cutting-edge role is missing. Besides limited sample size, it was also the policies’ wording that left many aspects of justice ambiguous.

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EU’s Draft Findings on EV Imports from China

EU’s Draft Findings on EV Imports from China

August 25, 2024 | , ,

As part of its ongoing anti-subsidy investigation, the European Commission has disclosed to interested parties the draft decision to impose definitive countervailing duties on imports of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) from China. This draft decision reflects the comments received from interested parties on the provisional countervailing duties published on 4 July 2024, as well as the conclusion of a number of investigative steps that had not been finalised at provisional stage.

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Strong Clean Energy Policy Momentum in China

Strong Clean Energy Policy Momentum in China

August 12, 2024 | ,

Government policy has played a central role in China’s stunning success in expanding its clean energy industries. China’s largest clean energy sectors – namely wind, solar PV, batteries, and new energy vehicles – straddle the line between being state-owned and the market economy. China’s central government began targeting manufacturing in each of these clean energy fields for various forms of support, initially starting with pilot projects or narrow efforts to popularize technologies in small niches, such as rural electrification for solar PV, or buses as EVs. China’s success in the fields of batteries and electric vehicles is more recent than that of wind and solar, and shows both similarities and differences. The role of public policy has been prominent in all cases.

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Policy initiatives to harness the potential of offshore wind in India

Policy initiatives to harness the potential of offshore wind in India

July 16, 2024 | , ,

With a long coastline and numerous high potential wind sites, India has huge opportunities to set up offshore wind projects. Unfortunately, however, this segment remains largely untapped, with no offshore wind project having been set up. There are several reasons for this lack of progress. Offshore wind projects have high initial construction and operations and maintenance costs, they require complex clearances from various authorities, and the grid infrastructure for offshore connectivity is very limited.

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Just when you most expected it: The EU’s new duties on Chinese EVs   

Just when you most expected it: The EU’s new duties on Chinese EVs   

June 17, 2024 | , , ,

On June 12, 2024, the EU notified carmakers that it would impose countervailing duties ranging from 17.4% to 38.1% on imports of Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) starting in July. This decision follows an anti-subsidy probe into Chinese EVs initiated last September and comes after the US’ recent move to increase tariffs on Chinese EVs to 100%. The EU’s decision aims to prevent material injury to its industry from subsidized Chinese EVs but will have long-term consequences for the EU’s transition to a clean economy.

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Impetus to Rooftop Solar in India

Impetus to Rooftop Solar in India

May 13, 2024 | , ,

The government has launched a landmark scheme for the rooftop solar segment – PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. The scheme, with a total outlay of Rs 750 billion until 2025-26, aims to provide free electricity up to 300 units every month to 10 million households across the country. The scheme has received an overwhelming response, with over 10 million registrations within one month of its launch in February 2024.

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EV Policies in ASEAN Countries

EV Policies in ASEAN Countries

April 15, 2024 | , ,

This provides an overview of electric vehicle (EV) policies in selected Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries. It investigates the EV policies and targets, the current status of EV introduction, EV reuse plans, and battery reuse policies. While EVs have gained traction in many countries due to policy support, few nations have a long road ahead to scale up EV adoption.

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Hydrogen is developing fast in Japan, edging nearer to wider use in society

Hydrogen is developing fast in Japan, edging nearer to wider use in society

April 15, 2024 | , ,

Hydrogen, largely expected to be the next-generation energy source, holds its greatest promise in generating electricity and heat without emitting carbon dioxide while being abundantly available in water and diverse sources, including fossil energy. Japan, where energy resources are limited, has led globally by formulating the Basic Hydrogen Strategy in 2017 and advancing the development of hydrogen-related technologies. Tokyo aims to enhance the development of large-scale hydrogen stations and establish facilities on publicly-owned coastal land to produce and supply green hydrogen using renewable energy sources.

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Recent Developments and Future Prospects in India’s Green Hydrogen Space

Recent Developments and Future Prospects in India’s Green Hydrogen Space

February 17, 2024 | , ,

Green hydrogen is critical for meeting India’s energy security needs while reducing emissions in hard-to-abate sectors. Recognising this, the Indian government launched the National Green Hydrogen Mission in early 2022. The aim is to spur green hydrogen production and consumption through roughly $2.3 billion in incentive funding, to be distributed between 2022 and 2030. Recently, the sector witnessed key auction results and policy announcements by the government.

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