The first newsletter under TA-10479 REG introduces the regional knowledge-sharing program on accelerating battery energy storage system (BESS) development in Asia and the Pacific, focusing on Cambodia, Mongolia, and Viet Nam. It highlights how BESS is becoming increasingly important for integrating renewable energy, improving grid flexibility and reliability, managing peak demand, and supporting cleaner power systems. The newsletter also outlines key policy, regulatory, market, safety, lifecycle, and institutional barriers that countries need to address to scale up BESS.

The issue features country updates showing different stages of BESS development: Cambodia is moving from early deployment toward larger-scale investment, Viet Nam has incorporated storage into its revised PDP8, and Mongolia is expanding from initial projects toward a growing pipeline. It also emphasizes that BESS development should be inclusive, particularly by integrating gender considerations into consultation, skills development, safety, and employment. The newsletter closes with highlights from the first workshop and webinar, which brought together stakeholders from across the region, and previews upcoming webinars, workshops, and further knowledge-sharing activities throughout 2026.