The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), a Middle East-based intergovernmental organisation, is advancing programmes to expand renewable energy across ASEAN, with initiatives already rolled out in Malaysia and Indonesia in February (02/26).

The partnership, Accelerated Partnership for Renewable Energy in South-east Asia (Apresa), was launched in Singapore during the Singapore International Energy Week in October 2025. It aims to strengthen renewable energy infrastructure, mobilise private sector investments, and develop renewable energy projects on remote islands.

IRENA also plans to hold an investor forum in Singapore in late-2026 or early 2027 to match projects with potential financiers.

National Consultations Guide Green Growth and Industrial Integration

Gurbuz Gonul, IRENA’s director of country engagement and partnerships, said the projects will be determined through national consultations, focusing on policy analyses and technologies to support greener local value chains and industries.

“The emphasis is on linking renewable energy deployment to green growth, local value creation and employment opportunities,” Mr Gonul said.

Efforts include integrating renewable energy in industrial parks, electrifying selected industrial processes, and strengthening local supply chains for renewable components.

Renewable Energy Access for Remote Islands

IRENA is preparing capacity-building programmes in Indonesia, such as in West Nusa Tenggara, to train local communities to operate solar and micro-hydro mini-grids.

Data is being collected on household and public infrastructure energy needs, including schools and clinics, to design projects that replace diesel generators with solar, small-scale hydropower, and battery storage.

“This initiative will stabilise energy costs, improve electricity supply, and support productive energy uses that expand local livelihoods,” Mr Gonul said.

Investor Forum to Mobilise Funding for Renewable Projects

To secure financing, IRENA is planning an investor forum in Singapore in late-2026 or early 2027. The agency will assess whether projects are bankable and help developers improve them before connecting them with financiers, including multilateral development banks.

Target projects include solar panel and onshore wind developments that have secured land, permits, and feasibility assessments, as well as transmission and grid reinforcement projects to support more renewable energy adoption and cross-border electricity trade.

ASEAN Power Grid as a Regional Energy Solution

The ASEAN Power Grid aims to facilitate cross-border electricity trade by sharing renewable energy resources across countries. Infrastructure remains a key challenge, according to Mr Gonul.

Singapore is a major driver of the grid, aiming to import 6 gigawatts of low-carbon electricity from neighbouring countries by 2035. Resilient and flexible national grids are critical to integrate intermittent renewable sources and enable cross-border energy trading.

“Renewable energy can be deployed quickly, but grid development and infrastructure development cannot follow suit at that pace,” Mr Gonul said.

PHOTO: ANTARA/IRENA ASSEMBLY

This article was created with AI assistance.

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