Koustav Saanta and Fathin Ugku

SINGAPORE (Reuters). Several Southeast Asian countries have increased their plans for renewable energy transmission through a proposed regional grid. First trials are scheduled for 2022. This is in response to climate change targets. Officials from the government and companies stated that this will help them meet these goals.

Officials at the Singapore International Energy Week said that some members of ASEAN are exploring carbon capture and storage technology (CCS), to help reduce their emissions. ASEAN proposed that by 2025, 23% of primary energy would come from renewable sources.

These announcements are made ahead of U.N. COP26’s climate summit, which begins Oct. 31 in Glasgow. This is considered to be one of last chances for countries for announcing firm targets for reducing emissions for the decade.

Gauri Sing, Deputy Director-General at the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), stated that “we’ve heard some very encouraging announcements in terms investment going into renewables.”

“ASEAN is really focused on bringing in nearly one-quarter the renewable energy by 2025. That’s an ambitious goal, but I believe the international cooperation and regional cooperation will play a very, very significant role.”

Singapore will start importing renewable electricity from Malaysia by 2022 and later that year utilities in ASEAN will start transmitting the first 100 megawatts (MW) of electricity under a Laos-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore power integration project as part of a regional grid project.

ASEAN Grid, an idea that was first suggested in 1999 as a way to increase regional energy security will allow for renewable power transmission. Australia was also tapped to supply green energy to Singapore.

Gan Kim Yong from Singapore, Minister of Trade and Industry, stated that “the power sector is responsible for more than a quarter the world’s emissions.” He spoke at the event.

Singapore is dependent on low-carbon electricity for nearly all its power generation. It plans to import as much as 4 gigawatts of low-carbon electricity (GW) by 2035 or 30% of its total supply.

Sunseap Group, Sembcorp Industries, Singapore’s Sunseap Group, and Sembcorp Industries as well as Indonesia’s PLN batam and PT Trisurya Mitra Bersama (“Suryagen”) signed this week agreements for new solar power project development.

Singapore also plans to launch guidelines and standards for renewable energy certificates. These will permit companies to acquire credits to prove that they are renewable.

However, ASEAN members must work together to reduce dependence on fossil fuels in power generation mixes to achieve their climate targets.

CCS may be an option for countries still dependent upon coal power. Arifin Tasrif from Indonesia, the minister of energy, natural resources and environment, stated that it could help reduce emissions.

Tasrif explained that “the ASEAN region continues to be in some ways dependent upon coal power…this situation must be carefully considered as we chart our way towards carbon neutrality and substantial efforts should be made.”

For Indonesia to meet its net-zero emission goals, carbon capture technology is vital. He stated that the country would begin using it by 2030.

Exxon Mobil Corp (NYSE 🙂 pursues CCS hubs throughout Asia. It has also begun discussions with other countries regarding potential carbon dioxide storage.

The region will need to be subjected to additional regulations, massive investments and new rules for connecting the grids.

ASEAN Secretary General Lim Jock Hoi revealed that it will require $367 billion to meet its energy goals over the next five-years.

He said that the bloc must improve its investment climate and expand its sources of financing to achieve its energy transition goals.

Lim indicated that there is still much to do. Lim stated that there is an urgent need for improved investment conditions in order to support energy transition and expand on existing sources of financing.