Grid and connectivity

This report by Ember discusses the ASEAN Power Grid (APG), a regional initiative to integrate electricity systems across Southeast Asia to maximize renewable energy potential and enhance energy security. It outlines the technical goals of the ASEAN Interconnection Master Plan Study (AIMS), the potential for unlocking additional solar and wind capacity through cross-border trade, and the institutional barriers that must be overcome to transition from bilateral trade to a cohesive regional market.

• The ASEAN Power Grid (APG) aims for full establishment by 2045, with a projected interconnection capacity of 17,550 MW and 2,824 km of electricity grid development by 2040. This integration is being pursued through the ASEAN Interconnection Master Plan Study (AIMS), which prioritizes eighteen transmission projects, including connections between Singapore-Riau Islands, Peninsular Malaysia–Sarawak, Kalimantan–Java, and Sumatra–Java.
• Regional grid interconnection could unlock an additional 24 GW of solar and 5.6 GW of wind capacity in resource-rich ASEAN countries. This would allow clean power to be delivered from areas like Cambodia and Sumatra to Singapore, or from the BIMP grid connection to Indonesia's Kalimantan and the new Nusantara Capital City.
• Specific renewable energy targets by 2035 include 14 GW of solar in Sumatra and the Riau Islands, 4.8 GW of solar and 4.9 GW of wind in Lao PDR, and 2.9 GW of solar and 0.2 GW of wind in Cambodia. Collectively, Indonesia-Sumatra, Malaysia-Sarawak, Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Brunei plan to construct 27 GW of solar and wind capacity by 2035.
• The transition to a regional power market faces economic and institutional bottlenecks, including financial constraints during post-pandemic recovery and risks related to supply chain stability and US tariffs. To succeed, the APG requires a financing framework and the completion of AIMS Phase 3 Studies covering grid codes, technical standards, and wheeling charge methodologies.
• The deployment of 30 GW of new solar and wind projects in the region could create approximately 182,000 jobs, with further potential for employment growth if a local supply chain for manufacturing, installation, and maintenance is established.

APA

Ember (2025). Grid and connectivity. https://ember-energy.org/chapter/grid-and-connectivity/

Chicago

Ember. Grid and connectivity. 2025. https://ember-energy.org/chapter/grid-and-connectivity/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Ember |title=Grid and connectivity |date=15 May 2025 |url=https://ember-energy.org/chapter/grid-and-connectivity/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{ember2025grid, author = {{Ember}}, title = {{Grid and connectivity}}, institution = {Ember}, year = {2025}, month = may, url = {https://ember-energy.org/chapter/grid-and-connectivity/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }