ASEAN Aims to Secure 23 Percent Renewable Energy by 2025

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – ASEAN aims to achieve its 23 percent renewable energy target by 2025 in a bid to meet the bloc’s power demand sustainably.

This target is in line with the issuance of the 6th ASEAN Energy Outlook (AEO6) which shows the regional bloc’s interest in understanding current energy trends and landscape as well as support the development of sustainable energy.

Executive Director of ASEAN Centre for Energy Nuki Agya Utama said that the AEO6 contains energy perspectives by 2040 and its pathways for the bloc to be more resilient to enable energy affordability and sustainability.

“The 6th ASEAN Energy Outlook provides us with an overview of the current energy landscape with some possible scenarios for policymakers and stakeholders,” Nugi told a virtual press conference on Thursday, August 19.

Also read: PLN Unveils Hybrid Solar Power Plant for Jakarta Area

AEO6 reflected the ASEAN countries’ desire to learn the current landscape and explore different opportunities and possibilities. The Outlook also examined how the bloc can meet its growing economy and population’s energy needs until 2040, including different ways forward and their implications for energy security, socio-economic development, and the environment.

The project was implemented through a collaboration between ASEAN Centre for Energy collaborates with Germany through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

Development Cooperation Counsellor of the German Embassy-ASEAN Oliver Hoppe said that the AEO6 is special as it complements the outcome-based strategies of the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2016-2025 Phase II: 2021-2025. This was introduced in the 38th ASEAN Minister’s on Energy Meeting in November 2020.

Also read: East Nusa Tenggara Aims to Pioneer Solar Power in Indonesia 

The findings can also contribute to concrete action plans for various ASEAN Specialized Energy Bodies (SEBs) and Sub-Sector Networks (SSNs) in their respective Program Areas
under APAEC.

“This highly relevant publication is the result of an outstanding joint research and development effort by various well-respected energy experts in the region,” said Oliver.

Seven key strategies to enhance energy security and sustainability in ASEAN comprise:

1. ASEAN will enhance its efforts towards building an ASEAN Power Grid (APG) to expand regional multilateral electricity trading, strengthen grid resilience, modernization and promote clean as well as renewable energy integration.

2. In the gas sector, ASEAN will pursue the development of a common gas market for ASEAN by enhancing gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) connectivity and accessibility.

3. In the acceleration of energy transition and sustainability, ASEAN will optimize the role of Clean Coal Technology (CCT) in facilitating the transition towards sustainable and lower emission development.