The ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) launched Thursday their joint report titled Renewable Energy Outlook for ASEAN: A REmap Analysis during the Singapore International Energy Week 2016.
The joint report looks at ASEANs renewable energy potentials, costs and benefits by applying IRENAs REmap analytical methodology and tools at a country level. Most importantly, it provides detailed technological and sectoral options for ASEAN Member States to close the gap between the current and targeted share of renewables in the regional energy mix.
According to the report, the combined energy demand of the 10 (ten) ASEAN Member States will grow by around 50% by 2025. This will increase emissions by 60% and generate USD 225 billion per year in associated health and pollution costs. When considering these costs, the savings generated through achieving the aspirational renewable energy target of 23% in the regions total primary energy supply by 2025 (decided in the 33rd ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting, Malaysia 2015), are far greater than the associated costs required to do so.
The launch of Renewable Energy Outlook for ASEAN: A REmap Analysis was organised with a roundtable discussion moderated by IRENAs Deputy Director General, Mr. Sakari Oksanen. ASEAN has set an aspirational target to source 23% of energy from renewables, and according to current planned policies the region would only achieve 17%, leaving a 6% gap. To close that gap, a concerted effort to deploy renewables across all sectors from power, buildings, industry and transport is needed. The REmap Analysis shows that closing this gap is feasible and cost-effective, resulting in significant savings when accounting for lower levels of CO2 and air pollution, and also in a more secure and sustainable energy system said Mr. Oksanen.
ACEs Executive Director, Dr. Sanjayan Velautham, explained during his presentation that this report is part of ACEs efforts to step up collaboration with international organisations to benefit from their expertise and enhance capacity building in the regions experience-sharing. This fits particularly with the direction the 10 ASEAN Member States are heading to with renewable energy, as set under the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation 2016-2025, he added.
To date, the study has engaged all 10 ASEAN Member States and more than 60 experts through in-depth technical workshops and review webinars. It has also received support from the Renewable Energy Support Programme for ASEAN, a project jointly implemented by ACE and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
