ASEAN’s 30 GW of solar and wind potential along the grid interconnection route can boost energy security, economy and job growth

Regional grid interconnection is another key driver to unlocking ASEAN’s massive solar and wind potential. Cross-border interconnection offers a pathway to accelerate renewable energy deployment, lower costs and strengthen energy security. New clean energy installations could also create around 182,000 jobs across the region.

Meanwhile, rising electricity demand from data centres, transport electrification and industrial growth further highlights the need to enhance system flexibility. Comprehensive grid planning is vital to achieving ASEAN’s clean energy ambitions, including the adoption of clean flexibility solutions such as battery storage and demand-side management, reforms to create open and transparent electricity markets and the mobilisation of finance at scale.

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. This suggests that around twice as much transmission expansion is still needed by 2030 to meet national clean energy and climate targets. While some ASEAN countries have started to incorporate these priorities into their national energy strategies, stronger regional coordination will be crucial to secure financing and build investor confidence.

Currently, only Cambodia, Malaysia and Singapore have signed the Global Energy Storage and Grids Pledge, which aims to deploy 1500 GW of energy storage and 25 million kilometres of grid infrastructure globally by 2030. 

Unlocking ASEAN’s clean energy future will depend not only on the physical grid, but also on enabling cross-border data sharing, supporting new business models and addressing emerging infrastructure needs, such as electric vehicle charging. Strengthening incentives for green electricity integration, aligning investments with future energy demands and building political momentum for regional cooperation will all be essential.