INGENIEUR
contributed by pumped hydro storage , battery technologies are beginning to make an impact . But for this to happen , there has to be an energy storage target as most countries in ASEAN do not have rules regarding the storage or fundamental commercial structures to support such emerging technologies .
ASEAN could learn from Beijing ’ s policy initiatives , which as of 2019 , the central China Government has already issued over 10 policy documents . Moreover , of 34 provincial administrative regions , 17 , in addition to 22 municipalities , have issued policies to develop hydrogen energy storage for industries and infrastructure .
In addition , the country ’ s policies are in the midst of reforming its energy markets , allowing non-state power providers to enter the local market , ensuring more opportunities for independent power producers ( IPPs ) to supply ancillary and capacity services with energy storage systems .
Although several ASEAN countries have already begun to implement the development of energy storage at the technical level , specific policies to encourage further adoption of these storage systems lag behind . According to the ASEAN Centre for Energy ( ACE ) Policy Brief , Enabling Policies for Promoting Battery Energy Storage in ASEAN , only a few AMS have related policies .
For instance , Thailand ’ s Ministry of Energy presented its ‘ Energy 4.0 ’ strategy by integrating disruptive energy technologies such as energy storage systems . This effort is to ensure the country ’ s successful transformation towards a low carbon society .
To accommodate this strategy , in September 2019 , the Department of Energy issued a circular addressing the need for support from the Energy Regulatory Commission to give cost recovery mechanisms and outline the responsibilities of each stakeholder in the power industry and permit requirements .
Policies provide incentive for developers of utilities , and investment funds could capitalise on the opportunities furnished by storage development . From there , everything will advance .
Furthermore , having understood the massive potential of renewable projects within the region ,
Governments of ASEAN countries should start realising energy storage policies ahead for further development . There are numerous renewable power plants already , yet few of them are coupled with energy storage . Policies should be enacted to embrace this development in order for sustainability in the region to thrive .
World must triple clean energy investment by 2030 to curb climate change – IEA
International Energy Agency ( IEA ) mentioned that investment in renewable energy needs to triple by the end of the decade if the world hopes to effectively fight climate change and keep volatile energy markets under control . The world is not investing enough to meet its future needs . Transition-related spending is gradually picking up , but remains far short of what is required to meet rising demands for energy in a sustainable way .
Clear signals and direction from policy makers are essential . If the road ahead is paved only with good intention , then it will be a bumpy ride indeed .
The IEA warned that renewables like solar , wind and hydro-power , along with bioenergy , need to form a far bigger share in the rebound in energy investment after the pandemic .
Renewables will account for more than twothirds of investment in new power capacity , yet a sizable gain in coal and oil use has caused the second largest annual increase in climate change-causing CO 2 emissions . The IEA said a faster transition will better shield consumers in the future , because a commodity price shock would drive up costs for households 30 % less in its ambitious Net Zero Emissions ( NZE ) by 2050 scenario versus its more conservative Stated Polices Scenario ( STEPS ).
Fossil fuels , coal , natural gas and oil made up nearly 80 % of world ’ s energy supply in 2020 and renewables just 12 %. The IEA foresees a peak to oil demand in all its scenarios in the STEPS forecast with a very gradual decline , but the NZE forecast plateauing within a decade and dropping further by nearly three-quarter by 2050 .
50 VOL 91 JULY-SEPTEMBER 2022