Regional cooperation can advance smart grid adoption

Smart grid investments in ASEAN could create between 243,000 and 649,000 jobs and attract industrial investment by providing reliable, low-carbon electricity. While member states have piloted battery storage and smart meters, scaling is hindered by investment gaps and fragmented standards. The document proposes a dual-track approach: ASEAN-level harmonisation of grid codes and standards to enable power trade, and national-level focus on financial viability and cost recovery. Such deployment would reduce reliance on polluting diesel backup generators in countries like the Philippines and Myanmar, improving urban air quality and public health.

• Smart grid investments in ASEAN are estimated to require between $4 billion and $10.7 billion and could generate between 243,000 and 649,000 jobs across design, engineering, IT integration, and operations.
• Scaling smart grids in ASEAN is currently limited by investment gaps, fragmented standards, and varying levels of national commitment, despite existing pilots in smart meters, battery storage, and grid code updates.
• A dual-track policy approach is recommended: the regional level should prioritise harmonising grid codes and technical standards for interoperability and power trade, while national governments should first ensure financial viability through cost recovery.
• The adoption of smart grids in countries such as the Philippines and Myanmar would reduce the use of expensive and polluting diesel backup generators, leading to lower energy costs and reduced respiratory illnesses.

APA

Ember (2025). Regional cooperation can advance smart grid adoption. https://ember-energy.org/chapter/regional-cooperation-can-advance-smart-grid-adoption/

Chicago

Ember. Regional cooperation can advance smart grid adoption. 2025. https://ember-energy.org/chapter/regional-cooperation-can-advance-smart-grid-adoption/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Ember |title=Regional cooperation can advance smart grid adoption |date=14 October 2025 |url=https://ember-energy.org/chapter/regional-cooperation-can-advance-smart-grid-adoption/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{ember2025regional, author = {{Ember}}, title = {{Regional cooperation can advance smart grid adoption}}, institution = {Ember}, year = {2025}, month = oct, url = {https://ember-energy.org/chapter/regional-cooperation-can-advance-smart-grid-adoption/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }