In Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, where a 7.4-magnitude earthquake disabled the Panau coal plant in 2018 and forced the rehabilitation of 1,192 distribution units, the provincial energy plan still includes 2.25 gigawatts (GW) of additional coal capacity by 2030. Ember’s modelling shows that 600 megawatts (MW) of solar paired with 720 MWh of battery storage could offset 250 MW of that planned coal capacity, or 1.4 terawatt-hours (TWh) of coal generation, while also being faster to deploy and to repair after a disaster.
In the Philippines, Catanduanes province has experienced repeated power outages after typhoons due to its isolated, diesel-dependent grid. A planned 58 megavolt-ampere (MVA) interconnection with Luzon is projected to supply up to 22% of the island’s electricity demand by 2030, illustrating how interconnection supports quicker recovery in emergency situations.
In Viet Nam, limited grid flexibility and storage led to around 405 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of solar curtailment in 2020, at a cost of roughly US$26 million. The report finds that upgrading transmission infrastructure alongside smart grids and battery storage would allow the country to capture more of its solar potential while strengthening the grid’s ability to recover from disruption.
The report suggests a whole-system resilience planning is vital for ASEAN. This is marked by an integration of energy planning into regional disaster frameworks such as the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER), and by investing in the interconnection, grid flexibility and storage needed for distributed renewables to function as one resilient network.
“As we confront intensifying climate and system risks across Southeast Asia, strengthening power system resilience must be at the core of ASEAN’s energy transition,” said Felix William B. Fuentebella, Undersecretary and Philippine Senior Official on Energy. “Ember’s report underscores that scaling investments in renewables, storage and grid interconnection are not only pathways to decarbonisation, but essential safeguards against disruption, an approach already evident in the Philippines, from Catanduanes to the Palumbanes Islands. As AMEM-SOME Chair in 2026, we call for deeper regional cooperation to build power systems that can withstand, adapt and rapidly recover from future shocks.”
“This report makes a timely and compelling case that ASEAN’s energy transition must be designed around resilience as much as decarbonisation. By showing how renewable energy integration, storage, grid interconnection, and diversified energy supply can reduce exposure to fossil fuel disruption, hydropower variability, and climate-driven shocks, the report offers practical guidance for building power systems that can withstand worsening extremes. As El Niño and broader climate risks intensify across Southeast Asia, the report provides an important roadmap for ASEAN governments to strengthen preparedness, protect energy security and accelerate a more resilient clean energy future.” Said Brian Eyler, Southeast Asia Program Director at Stimson center.
