On 20 October, the Board approved the 2021 Energy Policy to help ADB developing member countries accelerate the development of sustainable and resilient energy systems that provide reliable and affordable access for all, foster inclusive economic growth and social development, and support the low-carbon transition in the region.

The 16th Asia Clean Energy Forum closed on Friday, 18 June with the message: the time to act is now and there is strength in working together. During the ACEF Opening Plenary, President Masa urged everyone in attendance to take “bold action now and commit wholeheartedly to fighting climate change and meeting the emission-reduction goals under the Paris Agreement, while ensuring universal energy access in a region where more than 200 million people still lack access to electricity.” What this will require is a paradigm shift from what the world has been used to doing.

The release of the World Energy Outlook 2020 has been scheduled by the International Energy Agency tomorrow, 13 October 2020. This year’s WEO will put the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) at the core of its analysis in its outlook, implications, and prospects for energy around the world.The long-term horizon in its modeling are maintained but the focus will be given by the WEO 2020 on the next 10 years, looking at the specific impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the energy sector and the near-term actions that could hasten the transition towards clean energy.

Energy SG Chief Yongping Zhai in an interview with Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) published on 25 February shares his views and insights on how ADB had continued to support its developing member countries amidst the coronavirus pandemic, its contributions to climate finance, and the review and update of ADB’s Energy Policy.The year 2020 turned out to be a record year for the energy sector not only in ADB but also globally, the COVID-19 notwithstanding. Energy sector lending in ADB increased by around 70% to $4.2 billion from 2019.

For the third consecutive year, ADB was awarded the Development Financing Institution of the Year by IJGlobal, a leading project finance and infrastructure journal. Four ADB projects, three of which are from the energy sector were also cited for different award categories.The SOL: Tina River Hydro Power Project was awarded the Hydro Deal of the Year. The project will be the largest public-private partnership project ever developed in the Solomon Islands.

Despite improvements in electricity access in recent years, there are still 155 million people that remain without electricity connections in developing Asia.[1]  This is compounded by the very low rates of access to clean cooking.

The ADB Board approved on 24 November the $600 million results-based loan to help the country’s state-owned power company, State Electricity Corporation (PLN) expand electricity access and promote renewable energy in eastern Indonesia. The RBL also includes two grants, at $3 million each, from the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction and the Asia Clean Energy Fund.

Joonho Hwang goes back to where it all started, this time to lead the division and continue the legacies built in years’ past. Upon assumption of office, Joonho will leave the Cambodia Resident Mission where he has been its Principal Portfolio Management specialist since 2018. Joonho holds a Doctorate in Civil Engineering and a Masters’ degree in Engineering Geology from Purdue University, United States.

On 27 November, the South Tarawa Renewable Energy Project in Kiribati was approved with funding $14.7 million from ADB’s Asian Development Fund, Strategic Climate Fund, and New Zealand. The project which is ADB’s first foray into the country’s energy sector aims to reduce the dominance of fossil fuel in its energy mix and increase the share of renewables. It will install climate-resilient solar photovoltaic, battery energy storage, and modern control systems.

On 27 August, the MOU that seals the continued collaboration between ADB and SE4All was signed. The Agreement sets forth the framework of this collaboration in the areas of energy access, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and climate change. In particular, ADB and SE4All will work together in: