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ASEAN requires between $4 billion and $10.7 billion in smart grid investments to support its energy transition, depending on the chosen ambition level. The report outlines three investment pathways based on international benchmarks: a low-level distribution-focused approach ($4 billion), a medium-level renewable growth approach ($6.7 billion), and a high-level regional integration approach ($10.7 billion). While Singapore serves as a governance and technical model with its Grid 2.0 strategy and Digital Twin, most ASEAN nations will require a mix of blended finance, green bonds, and regulatory reforms to fund these upgrades, with the largest investment needs concentrated in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

The report highlights the critical role of grid reliability and 'smart grids' in sustaining ASEAN's economic growth and clean energy transition. While the region has seen improvements in outage duration and frequency, challenges remain regarding transmission capacity and the integration of solar and wind power. The document warns that failure to invest in digital intelligence and infrastructure could lead to nearly $2.3 billion in annual economic losses by 2040.

The report argues that smart grids are essential for ASEAN to integrate rapidly growing solar and wind capacity while supporting industrial growth. It estimates that an investment of $4 billion to $10.7 billion is needed to modernize power systems, which could potentially unlock $2.3 billion in annual economic value by 2040 and create between 243,000 and 649,000 jobs. The document highlights the need for regional cooperation to harmonize grid codes and mobilize green finance to overcome current fragmented standards and financing gaps.

RMI analysis indicates that clean energy portfolios—combining solar, storage, and energy efficiency—are lower cost and lower risk than JEA's proposed gas plant. While JEA's 2023 estimates suggested gas was the cheapest option, updated capital costs (which have risen by 139%) and fuel price projections suggest a gas plant could cost $4.8 billion in NPV. In contrast, CEPs are estimated to cost between $2.1 and $3.4 billion depending on energy efficiency levels. Additionally, the gas plant is projected to cause over $1 billion in negative health effects across Florida, whereas CEPs could generate up to $757 million in local economic benefits and thousands of jobs.

This case study describes how Lumos, a solar energy provider in West Africa, partnered with Upya Technologies starting in 2023 to digitise field operations and automate workflows using a no-code platform to overcome the rigidity and cost of previous IT systems.

The global economy is undergoing an 'electrotech revolution' driven by drastic cost reductions in solar, wind, and battery technologies, with clean energy investments projected to top US$2 trillion in 2025. Canada is well-positioned due to its low-cost electricity and critical mineral reserves, but faces rising electricity demand in provinces like B.C., Quebec, Ontario, and Alberta that exceeds supply. To compete, the author recommends that Canadian governments strengthen clean electricity regulations and tax credits, support the electrification of heavy industries (such as steel and cement) through blended finance and carbon pricing, and create incentives to develop critical minerals value chains while sharing financial risks with investors.

The document outlines a framework for financing a just energy transition in Indonesia, emphasizing the need to address socioeconomic risks for workers and communities affected by the retirement of coal power plants. It highlights the potential for renewable energy to create between 2.1 million and 3.7 million direct jobs by 2030 and notes a total investment requirement of approximately USD 97 billion to meet 2030 climate targets. The proposed framework focuses on 'restorative justice' through preventative actions, such as reskilling and debt refinancing, and transformative actions, such as green job creation and the development of renewable energy cooperatives.

In the first half of 2025, China, India, the EU, and the US accounted for 63% of global electricity demand and 64% of CO2 emissions. China and India saw declines in fossil fuel generation as clean energy growth outpaced demand, with China contributing 55% of global solar and 82% of global wind growth. Conversely, the US experienced a rise in emissions as solar and wind growth failed to keep pace with demand, leading to a 17% increase in coal generation. In the EU, strong solar growth was offset by declines in wind and hydro due to poor weather conditions, resulting in a 14% increase in gas generation and a 4.8% rise in power sector emissions.

Solar generation grew by 31% year-on-year in the first half of 2025, increasing its global electricity share to 8.8%. Combined solar and wind growth has exceeded new electricity demand, suggesting fossil fuel demand in the power sector is nearing a peak, though emerging economies still face capital cost barriers.

In the first half of 2025, global solar and wind generation grew sufficiently to meet and exceed total electricity demand growth, leading to renewables overtaking coal in the global electricity mix for the first time. Solar generation saw record absolute growth, while total fossil fuel generation declined slightly. Consequently, global CO2 emissions from the power sector fell marginally by 0.2%, although results varied by region, with emissions decreasing in China and India but increasing in the US and EU.

In the first half of 2025, global solar and wind generation grew sufficiently to exceed total electricity demand growth, leading to renewables overtaking coal's share of the global electricity mix for the first time on record. While China and India saw declines in fossil fuel generation and emissions, the US and EU experienced increases due to demand growth outpacing clean energy in the US and unfavorable weather affecting wind and hydro in the EU.

Spain has significantly lowered its wholesale electricity prices by decoupling them from volatile fossil fuel costs through the expansion of wind and solar capacity. In the first half of 2025, Spain's wholesale prices were 32% lower than the EU average, with the share of hours where prices were tied to gas costs dropping from 75% in 2019 to 19% in 2025. However, a blackout on April 28, 2025, led to a 'reinforced mode' of grid operation that increased reliance on gas for stability services. This resulted in the cost of grid balancing doubling in May 2025 and renewable curtailment tripling from 1.8% to 7.2% between May and July 2025. The report highlights a lag in investment in battery storage and grid-enhancing technologies, noting that Spain's 120 MW battery fleet is only the 13th largest in Europe despite being the 4th largest power market. To address this, Spain is implementing reforms, including adding eight synchronous compensators to the mainland grid and expanding its battery storage pipeline.

The document assesses the current state and future trajectory of solar and wind energy in Colombia, noting a rise in installed capacity to 9% of the electricity matrix by 2024 and a target of 20,000 energy communities by 2026. It highlights a significant drop in renewable investment between 2022 and 2023 and identifies a funding gap of up to USD 92.4 billion to meet National Energy Plan goals, while emphasizing the need for justice and equity strategies for local communities.

The document examines Namibia's transition toward becoming an oil exporter, highlighting the gap between government growth targets and industry realities. While significant offshore discoveries have been made, the report warns that relying on fossil fuels may divert resources from sustainable development and renewable energy, especially as global demand declines and technical challenges persist.

The report examines agriphotovoltaics (AgriPV) as a solution to land-use conflicts between solar energy and agriculture in India. It identifies significant technical potential, ranging from 3,156 GW to 13,803 GW, but notes that adoption is hindered by high capital costs, rigid land-use laws, and a lack of a formal regulatory definition. The study models feed-in tariffs between INR 3.67/kWh and INR 5.49/kWh, concluding that AgriPV is economically viable and offers lower levelized tariffs than non-DRE grid-connected projects. Key recommendations include mandating AgriPV under Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO), defining it as a distinct renewable energy source, and adopting cost-plus tariff frameworks that account for elevated structures and farmer lease payments.

The Community Equity Opportunity Fund (CEOF), led by Meliquina Partners, is a blended finance facility designed to overcome capital and governance barriers that exclude rural and Indigenous communities from the economic benefits of the energy transition in Latin America. By providing milestone-based development loans and catalytic equity, the fund enables community co-ownership of renewable energy projects from early development through operations. The model includes a mechanism for communities to execute a leveraged buyout (LBO) of the fund's equity position approximately two years after the commercial operation date, supported by external credit guarantees. Targeting a fund size of USD 35-40 million, CEOF aims to invest in six to eight projects (15-100 MW each) in Argentina and Colombia, with a projected mobilization ratio of 10:1 for commercial capital. The fund's impact goals include avoiding 417,000 tCO2e annually and creating over 3,200 job-years over 25 years, with a specific gender strategy targeting 40% female representation in the workforce.

The report finds that Chhattisgarh remains deeply dependent on fossil fuels, with government subsidies for coal and oil and gas being four times higher than those for clean energy in FY 2024. While the state has a vision to reach 66% renewable energy by 2047, current public investment is dominated by thermal power expansion and electricity price supports. Energy revenues, which make up 22% of the state's total receipts, are primarily driven by oil and gas VAT and coal royalties, leaving the state vulnerable to the national energy transition.

The report analyzes Africa's projected development through 2043, contrasting a baseline 'Current Path' of steady but insufficient growth with a 'Combined scenario' of integrated reforms. While the Current Path shows modest poverty reduction and economic growth, the Combined scenario demonstrates transformative potential, including a GDP (MER) of US$8.9 trillion and the removal of 199 million additional people from extreme poverty. The analysis identifies the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), governance reform, and human capital investment as the three most decisive drivers for accelerating this transformation.

The document evaluates the role of bioenergy in the energy transition, specifically critiquing the International Energy Agency's (IEA) Net Zero Emissions (NZE) scenario for its heavy reliance on biomass. It argues that solid biomass creates a 'carbon debt' and threatens biodiversity, while biogas and biofuels often have greenhouse gas intensities comparable to fossil fuels due to land-use change and methane leaks. Reclaim Finance concludes that bioenergy should not be included in sustainable financing frameworks, as it competes with wind and solar power and risks prolonging the use of fossil gas infrastructure.

Colombia saw a significant increase in solar and wind capacity to approximately 9% of its electricity matrix in 2024, driven primarily by solar expansion. While the government aims to establish 20,000 energy communities by 2026 and has approved substantial future capacity (13.5 GW solar and 2.8 GW wind for 2023-2033), the sector faced a nearly 70% drop in investment between 2022 and 2023. The transition is further complicated by the suspension of several major wind projects and the need for approximately USD 92.4 billion to meet long-term National Energy Plan targets.