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This report examines the governance challenges facing the development of cross-border subsea power cables in ASEAN. While technical feasibility is established, the report identifies gaps in regional planning, cost allocation, and maritime coordination. Drawing on Europe's experience with the Ten-Year Network Development Plan and Cross-Border Cost Allocation, it recommends a phased approach: first operationalising the ASEAN Power Grid Generation and Transmission Planning (AGTP) function, then piloting benefit-based cost allocation, and finally strengthening cross-sectoral maritime spatial planning.

This report by Ember examines the dual challenge facing Asia-Pacific power grids: managing the variability introduced by rapid renewable energy expansion and adapting to increasing climate volatility. It argues for a shift from reactive asset-level hardening to systemic adaptation, proposing that artificial intelligence (AI) can serve as a strategic coordination layer to integrate fragmented data, link siloed analytical models, and support complex decision-making to ensure grid reliability in a warming climate.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative evaluates five alternative project financing models to help Indonesia's state-owned electricity firm, PLN, meet the USD 24 billion investment requirement for its 2025–2034 transmission expansion goals.

This briefing analyzes the PJM Board's January 2026 decision regarding the Critical Issue Fast Path for Large Load Additions (CIFP-LLA). It outlines how states within the PJM region can implement retail-level policies—such as specialized tariffs and improved forecasting—to manage the surge in data center electricity demand without increasing costs for residential ratepayers or compromising grid reliability.

The report analyzes five alternative project finance models—leasing, joint ventures, PPPs, InvITs, and CIS-DINFRA—to help Indonesia's state-owned utility PLN fund a USD 24 billion transmission expansion target for 2025–2034. It argues that shifting from corporate to project finance can reduce balance sheet pressure and attract private capital, provided that key policy enablers are implemented, including dedicated transmission fees, off-balance sheet accounting treatment, and government fiscal support.

This report by Global Energy Monitor and the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) analyzes the state of coal power expansion in China as of February 2026. It highlights a critical divergence where coal capacity reached a decade-high in 2025 despite falling generation and the rapid growth of clean energy and storage. The authors argue that current investment incentives and a large project pipeline risk locking in overcapacity and hindering China's 2030 climate targets, urging a fundamental shift in coal's role from baseload power to a flexible, residual support resource during the 15th Five-Year Plan.

This report by Ember assesses the current state and future requirements of Europe's electricity interconnection. It finds that the EU is not on track to meet its 2030 interconnection targets, with 80% of the power system expected to miss the goal. To reach an optimal grid by 2040, Europe needs to nearly double its interconnection capacity, adding 151 GW, which requires an estimated €150 billion in investment. The report identifies a €30 billion public funding gap in the proposed Connecting Europe Facility for Energy (CEF-E) budget for 2028-2034, suggesting that this gap must be filled by EU loans and private funding to ensure energy security and cost-effectiveness.

This report provides a comparative analysis of global electricity tariff-setting methodologies, focusing on the process of determining revenue requirements and conducting Cost of Supply (CoS) studies. It examines various regulatory models—including rate-of-return, incentive-based, performance-based, and market-based pricing—and evaluates their effectiveness in balancing financial sustainability for utilities with affordability for consumers. The document concludes with specific recommendations for South Africa to modernize its tariff structures and revenue determination processes as it transitions toward a wholesale electricity market.

Smart grid investments in ASEAN could create up to 650,000 jobs and attract global industrial investment by providing reliable, low-carbon energy. To scale from current pilot projects to a regional system, the report suggests a dual-track approach: regional harmonisation of technical standards and national focus on financial cost recovery. The total investment need for the region is estimated at $4-10.7 billion.

The report outlines the investment requirements for smart grid deployment across the ASEAN region to support clean energy integration. It estimates that ASEAN needs between $4 billion and $10.7 billion in investments, depending on the chosen pathway, to improve reliability, reduce curtailment, and enable regional power trade.

This report by Ember argues that smart grids are essential for ASEAN to integrate increasing shares of renewable energy, maintain industrial competitiveness, and reduce economic losses from power outages. It estimates that investments between $4 billion and $10.7 billion are required to modernize the region's power systems, which could in turn create up to 649,000 jobs and unlock $2.3 billion in annual economic value by 2040.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics examines the causes of power blackouts, arguing that failures in network infrastructure, human error, and extreme weather are the primary drivers rather than renewable energy generation. It highlights a significant global investment gap in grid infrastructure, which the IEA warns could become the "weak link" in the energy transition.

This report by RMI argues that battery energy storage systems (BESS) can enhance grid reliability and affordability by providing resource adequacy, stability, and resilience. Using California and Texas as successful models, the document highlights how well-defined ancillary service markets and clear interconnection rules allow batteries to compete with fossil fuel generators, reducing costs and improving grid stability. It specifically contrasts these successes with the PJM region, where high uplift costs and interconnection hurdles hinder battery deployment.

This report by Global Energy Monitor and the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) examines the structural inertia preventing a transition away from coal in China's power system. Despite a record decline in coal's share of power generation and the rapid expansion of renewables, coal capacity continues to grow due to high commissioning rates, strong project approvals, and institutional protections such as capacity payments and inflexible dispatch rules. The report highlights a significant gap between official retirement targets and actual progress, urging the development of a national roadmap for coal phase-down in the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan.

This report outlines strategies to align electric vehicle (EV) charging in India with renewable energy generation to prevent grid burden and support energy flexibility. It evaluates the effectiveness of time-of-day (ToD) tariffs, green tariffs, rooftop solar, and open access procurement, noting that while these mechanisms exist, barriers such as high upfront costs, price sensitivity, and limited public charging infrastructure hinder their full potential.

This report by Ember examines the development and performance of hybrid solar power plants in Türkiye, noting that while installed capacity remains low relative to overall solar growth, these systems significantly improve transmission line efficiency and energy production continuity, particularly when paired with wind and hydroelectric resources.

This report chapter by Ember examines the grid planning strategies of the ASEAN region, highlighting a significant gap between current national transmission expansion plans and the targets required to meet climate goals and rising electricity demand.

This guide by RMI explains the function, types, and potential of thermal batteries as a decarbonization tool for industrial heating and grid stability. It details how these systems convert renewable electricity into stored heat using abundant materials, offering a cheaper and less complex alternative to hydrogen for high-temperature industrial processes.

This technical appendix details the benefit-cost analysis (BCA) methodology used by RMI to evaluate seven transmission projects. It outlines the calculation of three core benefits—congestion relief, resource adequacy, and public policy savings—and describes the financial models used to determine costs based on ownership structure (investor-owned, public power, or independent merchant).

Ember's response to the public consultation on the Flexibility Needs Assessment (FNA) methodology, arguing that the current draft focuses too narrowly on renewable energy surplus and fails to sufficiently address the broader goal of decarbonising the electricity system.