The strongest political will in recent years has changed the momentum behind the long -term network that has been divided. Energy leaders said at a modern regional summit in Bangkok, that there is now a need to accelerate the region to the process of building a unified network because it is the most realistic way for the member states in the mass to achieve its national climatic goals while ensuring the ability to withstand the cost of energy.

“Owning a stable and fully interconnected network gives Asian the most pragmatic track to achieve its goals (zero zero),” said Gagan Bourwal, head of international operations and software in Southeast Asia.

Speaking in a conversation on the fire side at Enlit ASIA 2025, the Bangoual Energy Players Gathering pointed out to the “asymmetric” in the region in their arrival at energy resources – with some countries rich in renewable crosses while others still depend on fossil fuels – as a major reason for linking national networks.

“If I am not associated with anyone else, I always need to build energy for myself,” he said, adding that the pressure will force countries to make “low -cost decisions that may not be climate friendly”, especially in the face of volatile global energy prices.

At the same time, these countries will have to consider their national obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The presence of a regional network “opens the possibility of taking renewable energy sources a greater share of the power mix to meet the energy demands.”

At the summit, industrial players acknowledged that the Asian Energy Network (APG), which is a contract of contracts to enable electricity trade across the border, is gaining renewed attention. In June, senior officials at ASEAN Energy meeting ended a Memor for Understanding (MO) signed during the upcoming Asean Energy ministers meeting in Kuala Lumpur in October. The initiatives were also launched to fill in the financing of transport and integration projects across the border.

Burwal indicated that among the 18 planned APG, Nine work alreadyWhich means that electricity is being exchanged. The rest is in the planning or construction stage and you should do more to connect the full ability of the network.

“APG has started as a vision, but it is now a major initiative. There is also increased clarity (between member states) that must be given priority,” Bourwal said.

On the same painting, Nadella Shani, head of power generation and interconnection at the ASE Energy Center (ACE), confirmed that energy demand is rapidly increasing throughout the region, and fossil fuels still control the power mix, while continuing gas in meeting energy needs. She said: “We have an abundance of renewable resources, but the great incompatibility between the place where it is available and where it is needed.”

To urgently bridge that gap, Shani participated that the center, which works as a energy research tank to the Asian regional bloc, is defending the creation of the temporary regional market market that uses the existing mechanisms to exchange energy in addition to the current bilateral agreements.

Such an initiative may realize that the different member states in ASEAN are at different stages of liberalizing their electricity markets and “you will not frighten everyone to catch up” while leaders and political officials are working to coordinate regulations. It will also ensure that the strongest political will behind APG translates into “clear market signals” for the main stakeholders, such as investors, into behavior.

Ace first Proposal In March of last year, it was suggested that this allow for more flexible energy circulation, smooth the mismosition of supply and demand and benefit better than the already existing material interconnection.

Through Asia, countries such as Singapore, the Philippines and Vietnam are on their way towards or actually achieved the entire liberated electricity markets, allowing competition and participation in the private sector through the value chain. On the other hand, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia operate under one purchase model, as a central benefit purchases electricity from generators and sells them to consumers. The model allows the level of some competition but is more controlled.

There are also many other Asian countries that are still working largely in light of the vertically integrated market structure, as the state -owned one -owned tool is generated by generating, transporting and distributing, and is often with limited participation in the private sector.

Instead of the approach that suits everyone, each market must develop the appropriate energy market structures to suit their needs.

Gagan Porwal, Head of Operations and International Programs, Consulting Services, Ji Fernova

Overcoming obstacles in coordinating rules

Burwal has argued that policy coordination must become the central focus if the Asian power network succeeds. “Instead of one approach that suits everyone, each market must develop the appropriate energy market structures to suit their needs,” he said.

Expressing the support of the idea of ​​short -term regional energy, Burwall said that the practical obstacle is a mixture of organizational agencies throughout the ASEAN, with only many consulting delegations. He said: “Their focus-for the correct reasons so far-has been in a consulting ability to propose, evaluating and empowering politics decisions,” which indicates that the agencies must develop to become a “operational operator” and help ensure the application of network symbols and tariffs uniformly throughout the region.

Countries also need to be unanimous in how to share the transmission costs across the border.

Burwal said the biggest challenge to the energy transmission in ASEAN is not technology. He pointed out that technology is not the bottleneck. What we need is a strong and sustainable momentum on the network’s infrastructure and the right partners to help build it. “

He stressed that the region has reached a critical stage in which the integrated system planning is necessary. But for this to be effective, decisions must be made early and clearly, signals have been sent to the supply chain, especially for investors.

The integrated regional energy industry, with the support of coordinated rules on network access, operations and tariffs, will give investors the certainty they need. He added: “It is not easy to agree on the standards, but it is the only way to stimulate the financing we need.”

It is expected that the energy demand in Southeast Asia will require three times by 2050, from 2020 levels. GE Vernova believes that ASEAN is on the right path to the great growth in its renewable energy capacity over the next fifteen years. According to AceIt is expected that the ability of renewable energy sources in ASEAN will reach about 37 percent of sources such as solar energy and wind, along with 14 percent of electrical energy. Bourwal said that the gas is still expected to make up about 34 percent of the energy mix, which reflects the region’s need for “transitional fuels” because it increases clean energy.

He added that if he can continue to move decisively in regional integration and market reforms, it may become a model for others. “We will be able to showcase the world how a good energy balance that enables us to walk towards our climatic goals, while ensuring that the energy is affordable at the same time.”