Singapore

Will Asia’s renewables boom continue?

This commentary submission was co-written with Natalie Lau (Reed Smith), Lucia Yiou and Mindy Huang (LCS & Partners). 

Wind speed ranges from 5-7 mps in some areas.

China’s reported trillion-dollar One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative is something we have all heard a great deal of, over several years now. With certain projects already having been completed, and as others get underway or proceed towards completion, we consider the likely impact of the OBOR initiative on regional cooperation within Asia and the ASEAN region, and the potential diversification of trade routes for traditional energy sources. OBOR presents a tremendous opportunity for fostering regulatory, economic and legal cooperation amongst ASEAN states and beyond.

Stiff US regulations are a key threat.

The privatisation trend holds promise in the near to mid-term horizon.

It can generate an average of 2.4 GWh of electricity annually.

Upper tariff ceiling for the tender is at 4.3 cents per kWh.

Construction will begin Q3 of 2018.

Improvement can be "painstakingly slow"--how should countries improve?

The solar boom may be fizzling out in some countries, but definitely not in Southeast Asia.

Tender and auction schemes may be winning.

Only one month left before WNE 2018.

This is after its acquisition by Global Infrastructure Partners.

Widely known to have vast solar potential, Southeast Asian countries have used a variety of methods to drive solar deployment in the last several years. However, the timing and efficacy of each country’s initiatives have varied considerably, leading to vastly different levels of historical solar growth. Thailand, for example, implemented pioneering programs years ago, generating a considerable number of solar projects, but currently provides very little support for new solar. Vietnam and Malaysia, on the other hand, have just recently ramped up their solar efforts, but are doing so with what appears to be considerable success.

It will stop investing in nuclear projects in conflict with international standards.