For many years, Vietnam has been a key driver of renewable energy growth in ASEAN, accounting for 69% of the region's solar and wind power output by 2022, according to a report by Ember, a UK-based non-profit energy consultancy.
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| On November 9, Indonesia inaugurated Southeast Asia's largest floating solar power plant at Cirata Reservoir, West Java Province. Photo: AFP |
The Ember report, released on November 16, noted that ASEAN's total solar and wind power output increased from just 4.2 TWh in 2015 to more than 50 TWh last year, largely thanks to policies encouraging renewable energy deployment by governments in the region.
However, the growth rate of solar and wind power generation in ASEAN is slowing down, to just 15% in 2022 compared to an average annual growth rate of 43% since 2015.
“We have seen some tremendous progress in clean energy development in several ASEAN countries, supported by strong policies,” said Dr Dinita Setyawati, senior electricity policy analyst at Ember and author of the report.
Setyawati assessed that solar and wind power are the most promising technologies with the potential to create new markets, promote jobs, facilitate a just energy transition and ensure an energy-secure ASEAN.
Ember's report identified Vietnam as a key driver of ASEAN's growth in recent years, accounting for 69% of the region's total solar and wind power output by 2022.
In 2017, Vietnam introduced the Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) mechanism, ushering in a golden era for domestic solar energy. Investments increased rapidly after solar plant owners were guaranteed attractive fixed prices and tax incentives.
However, the FIT is being phased out from 2021 to 2022 and that is a major factor in the overall slowdown in solar growth in the region, Ember's report said.
Still, solar and wind power still accounted for 13 percent of Vietnam’s total electricity output last year, the highest share in Southeast Asia. Regional trends in solar and wind power growth do not necessarily reflect growth trends in specific countries.
“If we look at the trends by country, the growth rate of solar power generation will increase in 2022 compared to 2021 in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Singapore,” Setyawati said.
According to Ember, Thailand has the largest solar potential and the third largest potential wind capacity in the region. In 2022, the country will contribute 16% of ASEAN's total solar and wind power output.
Thailand has a per capita electricity demand that is nearly double the ASEAN average. Its heavy dependence on fossil fuels is driving Thailand to accelerate clean energy production.
The Thai government plans to add new capacity from renewable energy power plants by 2037, as well as implement a new pricing structure for renewable energy.
As the second-largest nickel producer in Southeast Asia, the Philippines is seeing a surge in energy demand from its mining sector, and the growth of renewable energy offers an opportunity to decarbonize the sector, Ember reports. Last year, the Philippines accounted for 5% of ASEAN’s total solar and wind power generation.
Ember forecasts that the region’s solar and wind power output will return to positive growth in 2023. This is due to the commissioning of large solar projects, including Indonesia’s 192 MW floating solar plant that began operations in early November. Meanwhile, Thailand launched a feed-in-tariff (FIT) scheme for renewable energy last year. Vietnam is proposing an auction scheme to develop renewable energy projects.
Ember’s report notes that more than 99% of ASEAN’s solar and wind potential remains untapped. “ASEAN countries have traditionally relied on a variety of energy sources such as gas, coal or hydropower to shape their national energy mix,” Setyawati said, adding that the region’s grids are too reliant on large power plants to transmit electricity.
Going forward, she said, strong policy support and government commitment remain crucial to driving progress in renewable energy deployment in ASEAN.
“The ASEAN region is expected to drive clean energy growth through policy support such as auction mechanisms in Vietnam, green electricity prices in Malaysia, and incentives for rooftop solar systems and battery energy storage development in Thailand,” according to the Ember report.
( According to thesaigontimes.vn )
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