The Emerging Areas Energy Sector team of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) hosted four workshops at the Joy Nostalg Hotel in Manila, Philippines. The event brought together policymakers, regulators, utilities, and development partners from ADB’s developing member countries—particularly Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS)—to share knowledge, foster regional cooperation on clean energy transitions, support decarbonization, explore AI applications in power utilities, and provide practical tools and cross-sector insights for effective development interventions.

The event featured four key workshops:

• The Office of the Pacific Energy Regulators Alliance (OPERA) Technical Workshop enhanced the technical and regulatory capabilities of Pacific energy regulators. It facilitated in-person discussions on key topics, including renewable energy integration, tariff balancing, and the management of end-of-life solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage systems.
• The De-risking Energy Supply Workshop engaged participants in a series of technical and policy-driven sessions that reviewed energy sector policies, regulatory frameworks, and investment programs. Discussions centered on the roles of utilities, regulators, and government agencies in advancing national energy transition reforms, exploring structured policy solutions to reduce energy supply risks and support decarbonization efforts. The workshop also served as a platform for presenting key insights from the Energy Transition Assessment (ETA) report for Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The ETA report examined the macroeconomic implications of fossil fuel dependence, current energy supply risks, and practical mitigation strategies, including fuel price hedging and the integration of renewable energy sources.
• The Pacific Regional Infrastructure and System Metrics (PRISM) Workshop provided hands-on training to members of the Pacific Power Association on the PRISM WebApp and Benchmarking Dashboard—a suite of AI-enabled tools designed to support energy state-owned enterprises in shifting to data-driven decision-making and improving their operational and financial performance.
• The Cross-Sector Holistic Development Workshop promoted systems thinking and encouraged dialogue across policy, planning, and implementing agencies. Recognizing the interconnected nature of today’s development challenges—including climate change, urbanization, health, education, governance, energy, food, water, and the environment—the workshop featured interactive sessions, case studies, and collaborative exercises. Participants explored strategies to align priorities, leverage synergies, and strengthen institutional capacity to deliver holistic, cross-sector development outcomes. The workshop equipped stakeholders from DMCs with practical tools and insights to design and implement interventions that are more resilient, equitable, and impactful.

The workshops were held during the Asia Clean Energy Forum (ACEF), which took place from June 2 to 6, 2025, at the ADB headquarters. Workshop participants also had the opportunity to take part in ACEF activities and engage with ADB’s broader stakeholder network.

Check out the updates and some photos here.