The latest report from the International Energy Agency says that solar and wind energy are well placed to meet the growing electricity story of Southeast Asia. It adds that although extra implementation will create flexibility challenges, most countries in the region can integrate more solar and wind energy without the need for important system changes.
Most Southeast Asian countries can start this decade with integrating higher shares of solar energy and wind energy without requiring an important system overhaul, according to the Final report of the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Rapid urbanization, population growth, industrialization and rising standard of living have all contributed to the growth in electricity of electricity of more than 7% in Southeast Asia last year, one of the fastest rates worldwide and almost double the worldwide average.
The IEA report says that Southeast Asia is well positioned to meet this rising demand with the help of variable renewable energy (freed) sources of solar and wind. It adds that there is 20 twe of unused solar and wind potential in the region, about 55 times the current total generation capacity of the region.
In the attacker of the report, Sue-EM Tan, head of the IEA Regional Cooperation Center, writes that the integration of solar and wind energy is both urgent and essential as the region becomes more dependent on the import of fossil fuels.
“In the coming decade, it is expected that renewable energy will meet a third of the growth of the electricity story of Southeast Asia,” Tan added. “Achieving this requires investments in system flexibility, modernization of grid, connections and well-aligned market and policy frameworks.”
The report says that most of the ten countries of the Association of Southeast Asian countries (ASEAN) can accelerate solar and wind integration by learning from two decades of global experience and without major system revision.
Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand are all currently working in phase one or two of the IEAs Vre Integration FrameworkWhich means that solar and wind installations have little influence on the existing energy system. IEA says that integration -challenges at this level can be manageable, with most of these countries being expected to stay in this phase until the end of the decade.
Vietnam is currently the only Asean member who is currently working in Vre Integration Phase Three, where solar and wind installations start determining the functioning of the food system. More Southeast Asian countries are expected to reach this phase by 2035 and will start with larger flexibility needs due to changes in net charging patterns powered by the variable output of solar PV.
Elsewhere, the IEA report emphasizes that modern schedules and regional mutual connections will be essential for the safe and affordable integration of renewable energy sources. In synchronization, grid infrastructure must evolve with the growing demand, increased solar and wind penetration and the expansion of regional power trade, says the agency, which adds that coordinated action requires both national and regional level.
The modernization of national schedules is cited as particularly crucial to prevent schedule congestion and long connecting queues for new projects. IEA also says that investments in the schedule infrastructure must be weighed with affordability to maintain both public support and political feasibility. Countries can manage this relationship by optimizing existing assets, performing competing tenders and diversifying financing sources.
With the ASEAN countries in different stages of ready-made for the implementation of renewable energy sources, the IEA report offers recommendations spread over at the early stage, the center of the stage and high lectures.
The countries at an early stage prepare for solar and wind energy, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, must focus on improving energy efficiency instructions, setting up grid codes and coordinating government-utility planning. In the meantime, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, must develop countries that are considered at the center of the Stadium for Renewable Energy Sources, flexible purchasing mechanisms, improve the scheduling infrastructure, the planning of the reform system and invest in a broader range of flexibility sources.
The Philippines and Singapore are the only two Asean countries that are currently ready to prepare for deeper system transformation, says IEA. It recommends these countries to prepare flexibility input route maps, the progress of grid services, market and regulations Reform and sector planning.
The IEA report will be presented on 15 October on the Asean Energy Business Forum, which is held in the capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.
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