Following the publication of the Sector-Wide Evaluation of the Energy Policy and Program 2009-2019, the review of the Energy Policy has commenced. A dedicated-website is now accessible since 11 September to be the single source of information, updates and status of the energy policy review and associated public consultation process.

In his blog, Energy SG’s own committee Chair Ashok Bhargava discusses the opportunities that await clean energy and deeper cooperation among developing countries in the Central and West Asia region within the framework of energy trade, connectivity, and cooperation.The countries may have varying levels of development, endowment of energy resources, and needs.

The pandemic reinforces the need for reliable energy services to support healthcare. Clean, renewable power is a good place to start.COVID-19 has hit the reset button on the global economy. But at some point we will shift from emergency response into recovery mode, providing a rare opportunity for global economic retooling—an opportunity largely missed after the 2008 financial crisis.  How can we “build back better” so we’re more prepared for the next pandemic?Healthcare is the obvious place to start.

In the fragile energy scenario of small Pacific islands, contingency plans are crucial to keep the lights on during a crisis.With the coronavirus pandemic and its human tragedy affecting hundreds of thousands of people around the world, it is important to have contingency plans in place to mitigate adverse impacts on the safety and health of nations. This becomes particularly important for one specific industry: the power and energy that sustain our basic living conditions.

PRCM’s Xinjian Liu opines in this blog that PRC’s energy clean energy transition requires harnessing the fullest potential of energy efficiency, shifting to new sources of energy outside of coal, and behavioral change in the way people consume energy.The move to clean energy and carbon neutrality in the People’s Republic of China will require conservation, conversion to new energy sources beyond coal, and changing people’s energy consumption habits. 

The authors investigate the factors affecting the surge in energy prices in recent days which have also increased electricity prices in major parts of the world. Gas, coal, and electricity prices increased to levels never seen in a long time. Analysis points to the sudden ramp-up of economic activity following a massive lockdown for most of 2020 and supplies not being able to promptly meet demand.

A group of remarkable women from Chaung U, Myanmar, redefined adversity as just an inconvenience, with opportunities lurking around the corner. In the process of developing their successful cookstoves businesses, they became role models for other women and demonstrated that perseverance is key for a happy ending.

IEA presents a snapshot of the state and status of carbon capture over the past decade in this commentary. While the sector showed signs of slowing down, thereis some measure of optimism to be expected in the coming years based on the project pipelines due to come online in the offing. This “resurgence” is apparently driven by the critical role of CCUS in meeting net-zero goals, increasing interest in low-carbon hydrogen, and improved investment environment for CCUS.

A technical assistance was approved in July to support developing member countries in Southeast Asia to phase out coal-fired generation plants and accelerate clean energy deployment in the region. One of the outputs of the TA is a feasibility study on the establishment, structure, mechanics, and governance of an Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM) that will facilitate the early decommissioning of coal-fired plants in the region. The ETM entails a concerted effort among various players including ADB, commercial banks, the private sector, and governments.

ADB approved a loan that will modernize the power distribution system in Timor-Leste and strengthen the utility, Electricidade de Timor-Leste in the amount of $35 million. The loan will help provide sustainable, reliable electricity to 12 municipalities in the country.The Power Distribution Modernization Project is ADB’s first power sector project in Timor-Leste. It will install 140,000 smart meters and utilize prepaid cards to manage household electricity consumption.