Electric Asia

The report posits that Asia is leading a 'Great Convergence' with the West by leveraging its position as the world's manufacturing hub to drive an electric energy transition. It highlights that Asia has driven three quarters of global electricity growth since 2000 and now produces the majority of the world's solar panels, batteries, and electric vehicles. The document argues that while a lack of oil and gas was previously a weakness, it has become a strategic advantage in an era where energy is defined by technology rather than commodities. This transition is further accelerated by 'fossil shocks,' including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the 2022 energy crisis, which push the region toward energy security through electrotechnology.

• Asia has been the primary driver of global electricity growth since the beginning of the century, with GDP and electricity demand increasing in tandem, achieving higher electrification levels at lower per capita incomes than previous historical growth periods.
• The global energy transition represents a fundamental shift from the extraction of commodities (coal, oil, gas) to the manufacturing of technologies (solar panels, batteries, wind turbines), a shift that aligns with Asia's role as the world's factory.
• Beyond China, other Asian nations are outpacing Western counterparts in electrification rates, solar power shares, and electric vehicle uptake.
• The transition to electrotechnology is driven by both economic opportunity—as solar and EVs are now cheaper to purchase outright—and the necessity of energy security following shocks such as the 2022 Russian gas cutoff and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

APA

Ember (2026). Electric Asia. https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/electric-asia

Chicago

Ember. Electric Asia. 2026. https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/electric-asia.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Ember |title=Electric Asia |date=11 June 2026 |url=https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/electric-asia |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{ember2026electric, author = {{Ember}}, title = {{Electric Asia}}, institution = {Ember}, year = {2026}, month = jun, url = {https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/electric-asia}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }