MANILA, Philippines (09 October 2026) — International experts on Friday urged ASEAN to focus its bid for energy security on accelerating electrification and renewable energy adoption, as recurring global supply disruptions and price shocks expose the region’s vulnerability to imported fossil fuels.
At a forum held by the Global Renewables Alliance (GRA) the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) in the wake of the 44th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM) and the ASEAN Energy Business Forum (AEBF), speakers urged ASEAN to center regional cooperation on renewable energy and electrification, including through grid expansion and integration via the ASEAN Power Grid (APG), alongside the rapid scale-up of solar, onshore and offshore wind, and energy storage.
ASEAN energy ministers affirmed the importance of renewable energy, energy storage, electrification of end-use sectors, and distributed energy resources in the region’s energy strategy, reiterating the 30-percent renewable energy share in total primary energy supply and 45-percent renewables share target in installed power capacity by 2030 set out in the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC).
The region has its work cut out for it, however, as the 9th ASEAN Energy Outlook launched this week shows the region needs to add 31 GW of renewables every year until the deadline to achieve the 45-percent target.
The ASEAN Power Grid, which could help deliver more affordable electricity to the region’s 700 million people, remains central to regional energy cooperation. ASEAN energy ministers reached a “consensus” to accelerate its development, building on the finalization of strategic workplans by the APG Task Forces, recommendations from the ASEAN Interconnection Masterplan Study III, and a new Regional Planning Framework to coordinate power system planning across the region.
However, the urgency to move from planning to implementation is growing. According to an analysis by Ember, every year of delay beyond the APG’s 2035 target could cost the region USD 2.6 billion in economic losses.
GWEC said offshore wind offers a practical example of how renewable energy can support ASEAN’s wider priorities. Generating electricity from domestic resources can help reduce exposure to volatile imported fuel prices, while project development creates opportunities for local businesses, skilled workers and coastal communities.
ASEAN electricity demand zoomed past the global average between 2015 and 2025, rising to over 60 percent according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), highlighting the urgency of the region’s goal to reach 100 percent electrification by 2035.
The AMEM and AEBF represented an important test of whether the region’s political direction and the urgency created by the current energy crisis will translate into concrete policy and investment decisions.
The region could take advantage of falling costs in solar, wind, and storage, as well as optimistic forecasts for increased renewables capacity. GWEC’s Global Wind Report foresees over 900 GW in additional installed wind capacity by 2030, while the IEA said total renewable capacity in Southeast Asia could grow five times the current 120 GW by 2035 based on announced targets.
The Philippines is set to convene the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings on November 16-18, where it is expected to further discuss the issue of energy security and the impacts of the Iran crisis.
Quotes:
Atty. Monalisa Dimalanta, former chair of the Energy Regulatory Commission and the National Renewable Energy Board:
“The ASEAN Power Grid must move from lines on a map to projects that can be financed and built. A power grid, whether it's regional or local, that exists only on paper will not keep the lights on.”
“My fear is that stockpiles only buy us time. They do not remove exposure to volatile prices or imported supply. Every megawatt we produce with resources found locally is one less megawatt exposed to a shock generated abroad. The long-term answer is still more domestic renewable energy, electrification, storage, efficiency, and regional power trade.”
“Government response is moving in the right direction. Stronger generator accountability, batteries, island grid expansion, microgrids, rooftop solar, a smart and green grid plan, and an oil and gas contingency plan. But emergency measures must become permanent systems before the next crisis. Reliability standards need teeth, reserve obligations must be transparent, and grid plans need firm deadlines and persistent, consistent monitoring.”
Robert Cooke, Grids and Electrification Advocacy Lead, Global Renewables Alliance:
“Southeast Asia is expected to account for nearly one fifth of global energy demand growth to 2035. It is more urgent than ever that the region reduces its exposure to fossil fuel prices. The cost of this crisis is enormous. In the first six months of this crisis, fossil fuel importers have paid the equivalent of around USD 1.8 billion per day in additional costs, with the impact being felt by consumers and businesses"
“The ASEAN Power Grid is critical to strengthening the resilience of both the domestic grids of ASEAN Member States and the region as a whole. Expanded and modernised grids are fundamental to integrating greater volumes of renewable energy, whilst enhancing grid flexibility and stability.”
“The progress we have seen so far is encouraging. To deliver these projects at the pace and scale needed, it is important that ASEAN works closely with industry to strengthen the essential regulatory and commercial frameworks to mobilise investment.”
Ann Francisco, Asia Pacific Director, Global Wind Energy Council:
“ASEAN has taken encouraging steps towards a more connected and energy-secure region. These commitments matter because they are about what people and businesses need: reliable and affordable electricity, stronger local industries and more jobs. The opportunity goes far beyond generating electricity. Offshore wind can bring new business to our ports, shipyards, manufacturers and service providers. ASEAN already has many of these capabilities.”
“Working together can help us build on those strengths and create more opportunities across the region. The conversations in Manila showed continued interest and a willingness to work together. We will keep working with industry, government agencies, banks and regional institutions to turn that cooperation into investment, infrastructure and lasting jobs.”
Russell Marsh, Regional Lead for Southeast Asia, Energy Transition and Climate Finance, E3G:
“In our view, the best way to secure ASEAN's energy supply in the future is to transition away from fossil fuels, and to focus on clean electrification. I think whilst there has been progress on clean electrification and the deployment of renewable energy, there has also been this focus on securing fossil fuel supply in ASEAN. So I think my view is [there is a] mixed result from the discussions this week.”
“On the stockpiling question, it's obvious that right now, in the immediate energy crisis, it's understandable that countries would focus on securing their energy supplies in the short term. I think the challenge and the risk is that [what] we do doesn't get in the way of the medium- to longer-term need to transition away from fossil fuels and to move to clean electrification, and so that will be interesting to see how that develops.”
“From our initial analysis, it looks like [the ASEAN Energy Outlook is] now forecasting less clean capacity deployed in that period than before, so we just want to [u]nderstand what has changed in ASEAN over the last year, [because] you would think that given where fossil fuel prices have gone, particularly gas prices have gone in the last 12 months, you would have thought that actually that would mean that there should be more incentive and mean you should see more renewable energy being deployed, as it would be cheaper than LNG
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