ALBAY — As the 46th ASEAN Summit wrapped up on May 27 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, should discussions on inclusivity and sustainability beyond the event also consider an energy analyst’s suggestion for ASEAN grid interconnection?

“Given the importance of the power grid as a lifeline of modern society, it would be beneficial for ASEAN leaders to prioritize a modern and interconnected system to achieve greater economic prosperity for the region,” Dinita Setyawati, senior energy analyst at independent global energy think tank Ember, told Bulatlat. 

As Southeast Asia and the world embrace the digital era with rising transport electrification and data centers, there is a need for a modern, flexible grid that seamlessly adapts to shifting energy demands and diverse power sources.

The report Wired for Profit: Grid is the Key to Unlock ASEAN Energy Investment co-authored by Setyawati shows how the rapid energy transformation in the historically fossil fuel reliant ASEAN presents a crucial opportunity to expand and strengthen grid infrastructure.

By 2030, solar and wind are expected to make up at least 23 percent of ASEAN’s power mix, a significant rise from just 4 percent today, according to the report, adding that “The grid routes for interconnections are home to as much as 30 GW of solar and wind potential, creating new jobs, boosting economic growth and opening major market opportunities.” The latter refers to selected interconnection areas in Indonesia-Sumatera, Malaysia-Sarawak, Cambodia, and Brunei where values were assessed by comparing planned infrastructure with estimated economic potential.

According to the report, a reliable interconnected grid relies on six key components. These are modernization, expansion, flexible energy options (given the diverse and seasonal variabilities), regional integration, market reforms, and financial mobilization. While the authors observed that some ASEAN countries have adopted these priorities, they said that a stronger policy action can help secure financing and enhance investor confidence in grid infrastructure.

In a statement, Ember stressed that regional coordination is crucial for securing funding to meet national clean energy and climate targets by 2030. It noted that twice as much transmission expansion is still needed to achieve these goals. “Between 2023 and 2030, Indonesia, Viet Nam, the Philippines and Thailand plan to add 45,076 km of transmission lines, covering roughly 45% of the expansion envisaged in the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) grid Announced Pledges Scenario.”

Ember added that comprehensive grid planning is vital to achieving ASEAN’s clean energy ambitions, including the adoption of clean flexible solutions such as battery storage and demand-side management, reforms to create open and transparent electricity markets and the mobilisation of finance at scale. 

Caveat

IBON Foundation Executive Director Sonny Africa said that while the proposal appears to promote environmentalism and regional cooperation, it may ultimately serve corporate profiteering.

Africa said that ASEAN countries have varying degrees of energy liberalization, affecting who benefits from integration. He warned that large transnational power firms could reinforce corporate control, increase reliance on imported power, and potentially create a regional energy cartel that prioritizes profits over public interest.

He said that the Philippine remains vulnerable given its geographic separation and oligarch-dominated energy sector. He stressed that the solution lies in democratizing energy through community-led renewable projects, decentralized generation and storage, and stronger public utilities rather than privatization.

Consumer advocacy groups like Kuryente.org echoed the need for energy sovereignty and public accountability to prevent corporate dominance in ASEAN’s energy future. “The transition to green energy must not undermine consumers’ welfare and interests,” national coordinator Bas Umali, said in an email interview.  

According to him, simply responding to shortages without tackling the underlying causes of demand spikes, like inefficient energy use and peak load challenges, will only prolong issues related to affordability, environmental harm, and social impact.
He said that the country’s usable land is limited and fragmented, posing challenges for pumped hydro and solar facilities, which would compete with food production. “We are set to flood so many communities—but for whose gain?” (RTS, DAA)