New report reveals why cities are rushing to replace thousands of streetlights: 'Accelerating the adoption'
A new report shows that 70% of cities in Southeast Asia have installed solar streetlights.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations Energy Report 2024 notes that this saves money and supports clean energy, as TechBullion reported. It can also prevent crime, make roads safer, and boost nighttime economic activity.
Rising and volatile dirty energy prices affect electricity costs, and these 10 countries are working toward energy security and meeting carbon pollution reduction commitments.
The streetlights can have an especially profound impact in large cities such as Jakarta, Manila, and Bangkok. Ho Chi Minh City and Kuala Lumpur have also benefited.
"By using solar energy, cities no longer need grid power, reducing streetlight costs by 60-70%," TechBullion stated, pointing out that ASEAN said streetlights and other public lamps make up 20% to 30% of urban electricity demand.
Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines have banked millions of dollars per year because of "large-scale solar streetlight projects," allowing more money to be spent on health care, education, and transportation infrastructure, per the outlet.
One bonus is that the solar lights feature sensors that track movement to facilitate brightness adjustments and optimize efficiency. Another is that reducing light pollution — which has been increasing and affects 83% of the world's population — helps people sleep better and keeps ecosystems intact by protecting trees, preventing insect deaths, and making bird migration safer.
TechBullion said that the solar capacity of ASEAN has doubled over five years, per the International Renewable Energy Agency, and the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation has set a goal for the countries to use 23% renewable energy this year. Thailand, Indonesia, and Cambodia are "actively promot[ing]" these solar streetlights as part of the movement.
Many ASEAN countries experience extreme weather events that knock out power. Aging infrastructure and growing populations that contribute to energy shortages aren't helping.
But subsidies, tax incentives, and public-private partnerships are. "These fiscal policies have accelerated the adoption of solar streetlights, making them an economically viable solution for cities," TechBullion reported.
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Forbes
3 days ago
- Forbes
ASEAN Power Grid Integration Seeks Energy Security, Sustainable Growth
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MAY 26: Petronas Twin Towers are illuminated in the colors of Malaysian ... More Flag during the 46th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit on May 26, 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The 46th ASEAN Summit kicked off on May 26 in the capital of Malaysia, with greater regional integration and resilience against trade and economic disruptions high on the agenda. (Photo by He Guowei/VCG via Getty Images) At the 46th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on May 26, 2025, national leaders adopted a bold plan to interconnect and harmonize regional power grids. The plan for ASEAN power grid integration is designed to create an advanced network of electric transmission lines, generators and utilities across Southeast Asia. Under the plan, the area of nearly 700 million people is poised to meet surging energy demand, boost energy security, and achieve affordable, sustainable growth through deeper regional connections and more coordinated energy markets. A long-awaited plan for the ASEAN Power Grid has mostly languished on the shelf since ASEAN member states adopted it in 1997. Currently, the ASEAN member states are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, with Timor-Leste expected to join soon. Now, with Malaysia holding the rotating Chairmanship of ASEAN, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has forged a consensus among the ASEAN member states to move forward with an updated plan to regionally integrate Southeast Asia's power grid. Ibrahim stated at the summit, '[T] Energy security is the main impetus to integrate the power systems of the various Southeast Asian countries through new cross-border interconnections, harmonized grid operational rules, and a regionally integrated energy market and transmission system. Regional grid integration across Southeast Asia presents a timely opportunity to boost economic growth that is more reliable, affordable and equitable for a lower-carbon future. Leaders of ASEAN member states openly endorsed the plan at the summit. The ASEAN Secretariat has mandated the ASEAN Centre for Energy to lead the effort. Most likely, the member states will sign an enhanced memorandum of understanding on grid integration at their next summit in October. At the May 26 summit, the nations endorsed a vision statement: 'ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future.' The statement covers myriad areas of cooperation. With respect to energy, among other objectives, the member states agreed on Objective 5.2: "Build resilient energy supply and infrastructure and establish coordinated action in safeguarding energy security." To implement this goal, the countries intend to '[e]nhance renewable energy infrastructure and its interconnection to facilitate seamless integration for ASEAN's infrastructure.' They also pledged to '[a]dvance future ASEAN's energy interconnectivity, including in land transmission and sub-sea cables' and to '[p]ool investment to build energy security supporting the development of relevant infrastructure, enhance the power grid, improve cross-border connectivity, and address critical energy demand.' Additional provisions call for improving regional cooperation in other energy areas, particularly natural gas and LNG supply and transportation. First off, the new plan for ASEAN power grid integration will highlight eighteen priority interconnection projects identified in The ASEAN Interconnection Masterplan Study - AIMS III released in 2020 and advanced by ACE last year following the directive of the 41st ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting in Bali, Indonesia in August 2023. These priority interconnection projects, once completed, will achieve greater power grid interconnectivity within the region as a basis to expand multilateral power trading efforts. Eight of the interconnection projects have been implemented so far. The eighteen priority projects under APG are meant to move beyond the one-off, private bilateral cross-border arrangements previously built to create a truly integrated, multilateral power system. Major new transmission corridors considered priorities under the AIMS study include expanded cross-border connections to Singapore from Malaysia and Indonesia, to Thailand from Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia, to Malaysia from Indonesia and the Philippines, to Penninsular Malaysia from Sarawak, and within Indonesia to Java from Sumatra and Kalimantan. ASEAN countries are heterogenous in many ways and at divergent levels of economic development. Regional integration can be an efficient way to create regional balance, scaled integration and optimization of the power grid for greater energy security, efficiency and shared prosperity. The Southeast Asian power grid is highly fragmented, with little existing interconnectivity between nations. Even within national borders, grids are not fully integrated. Peninsular Malaysia is separate from Sarawak and Sabah, the Malaysian provinces on Borneo. The Java-Madura-Bali grid in Indonesia would benefit from connections to the grids on Sumatra, Kalimantan (Borneo) and other Indonesian islands. The Philippines Luzon-Visayas system is only minimally connected to islands in southern parts of the nation. Binational connections exist, particularly for exports (especially of hydropower) from Lao PDR to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, but they mainly facilitate direct sales to utilities from private power plants and not multilateral power trading or coordinated utility-to-utility power pools. Malaysia and Thailand lie at the epicenter of a potentially large regional power network, fueled by domestic supply, robust demand, economic growth and geographic proximity to other ASEAN countries. The so-called LTMS link—Laos, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore—would form the basis for a proposed power pool that could subsequently be expanded to Indonesia, Vietnam and Cambodia. New regional connections to Singapore would also drive the development of power generation and transmission facilities in neighboring Java (Indonesia) and Malaysia and in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, plus proposed subsea connections to Singapore through Peninsular Malaysia or Java from the Malaysian and Indonesian portions of Borneo, and ultimately to the Philippines. A potential subsea cable to import solar power from Australia to Singapore remains on the drawing boards but is outside the scope of the ASEAN Power Grid plan. LUANG PRABANG, LAOS - APRIL 11: Chinese tourists take part in an alms giving ceremony to Buddhist ... More monks on April 11, 2024 in Luang Prabang, Laos. (Photo by) Singapore and Laos illustrate the disparate benefits that regional power grid integration could provide. Singapore relies on imported natural gas to generate electricity (and for its growing LNG trading hub), resulting in power prices significantly higher than in other ASEAN countries. Access to imported power could reduce Singapore's exposure to supply chain risks and volatile gas prices for electricity. Singapore is a wealthy, densely populated city state and net importer of energy with a nominal GDP per capita twenty times higher than the GDP of Laos. Laos has abundant energy resources (for wind and hydropower, in addition to coal) but a relatively sparse population that could benefit from development of a stronger domestic power grid and more exports of energy to neighboring countries. Existing bilateral connections serve to export power from privately-owned power plants in Laos, largely bypassing the local utility. Two Lao power projects show how much has changed over the past decade. They are emblematic of the trend away from coal toward renewables for power generation. In 2016, the Thai-owned and financed Hongsa power plant commenced commercial operations in Laos after more than five years of development and construction. The 1,878 MW coal-fired power plant (co-located with a new lignite mine and dam) was the first utility-scale coal-fired power plant in the country. It exports almost all its power to Thailand, keeping only a small portion for domestic consumption. Total cost of the Hongsa power project (including the dedicated lignite mine and associated infrastructure) was about $4 billion. Like other coal-fired power plants, the Hongsa project has faced criticism for its adverse environmental and health impacts on the local community. This year, almost ten years after Hongsa came online, the first wind farm in Laos and largest wind farm in Southeast Asia—the 600 MW Monsoon Wind Power Project—is about to enter commercial operation to sell power from Laos to EVN, Vietnam's state-owned utility. The project's cross-border double-circuit 500kV transmission line was completed and energized in February 2025, spanning 27 km in Laos and 44 km in Vietnam. Indicative of the trend toward blended finance, the $950 million Monsoon Wind project was financed by loans from the Asian Development Bank alongside the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Export-Import Bank of Thailand, other multilateral development banks and export credit agencies, and a syndicate of commercial banks, partly in reliance on government undertakings from Vietnam and Lao PDR. These two independent power projects a decade apart highlight major transitions in technology and project economics. The cost per kilowatt of installed generating capacity has fallen dramatically with the shift from coal to wind energy in line with global averages. Cross-border power sales under long-term power purchase agreements can attract financing, given sufficient credit support. Sources of financing are becoming more diverse. Yet, the benefits of the Lao power projects like Hongsa and Monsoon with dedicated bilateral transmission lines still largely accrue only to the private owners of the power plants and the Thai or Vietnamese recipients of the power. With true multilateral grid integration in the future, Laos and other host countries could develop projects that are integral to an improved domestic grid, with utility-to-utility export power sales into a regional power pool that aggregates demand over many countries, optimizes power deliveries for grid stability and reliability, and provides economies of scale to lower costs and increase efficiency while spurring domestic growth and equitable development across Southeast Asia. This trend away from new coal-fired power generation is region-wide. Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand are pursuing domestic policies that would increase renewable energy and transition away from coal-fired power plants over the next thirty years. Indonesia has revised its near-term goals for renewable energy multiple times since 2019 and remains committed to net-zero power generation by 2060, though it continues to rely on fossil fuels for most of its energy. Vietnam and the Philippines are modernizing their energy systems while completing rural electrification plans and increasing per capita energy use. Vietnam derived more than half of its electricity from hydropower, solar, wind and other renewables as early as 2022. The Philippines has advanced hydropower, geothermal, solar and other renewables ever since pioneering successes with geothermal energy in the 1990s. But the country remains heavily reliant on coal and natural gas for power production. It remains to be seen the degree to which the Philippines, an island chain to the east of most ASEAN countries, could be interconnected with Indonesia, Malaysia or the rest of Southeast Asia. Floating solar panels on water lake in sun light under hazy sky, contributing to the energy ... More transition. If successful, this transition is a big deal for ASEAN nations and a big deal for the world. According to the IEA's Southeast Asia Energy Outlook 2024, the ASEAN region's approximately 4% share of global energy consumption 'is expected to grow significantly, with ASEAN projected to contribute over 25% of global energy demand growth between now and 2035.' The ASEAN member states comprise just under 10% of world population, more than Europe, and today account for 6% of the world's GDP. The International Energy Agency predicts the population of the region will increase from today's 685 million to 745 million by 2035 and then to almost 790 million by 2050. Economic expansion, population growth, and the region's role as a global manufacturing hub will continue to drive electricity demand growth. That explosive economic growth will be energy-intensive and outpace population growth, resulting in higher per capita energy consumption as wealth increases. Typically, energy use per capita rises alongside the rise in GDP. Air conditioning, manufacturing, digital infrastructure (including investments in artificial intelligence, data centers and semi-conductor fabrication), urbanization and EVs drive demand growth in Southeast Asia that outpaces growth in other areas of the world. Regional integration of renewable energy sources and battery energy storage systems would lower the marginal cost of electricity and enhance grid flexibility. It would also help protect manufacturers and electric utilities from commodity price spikes and fuel supply interruptions due to shifting geopolitics, resource depletion or natural disasters. Affordable, secure power can keep the lights on and the skies blue. If the countries of Southeast Asia achieve their plan for ASEAN power grid integration alongside cleaner energy production and increased energy efficiency, the future remains bright.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
VINEXPO ASIA 2025 OFFERS CLARITY FOR ASEAN TRADE IN SHIFTING LANDSCAPE
SINGAPORE, June 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a shifting global landscape, clarity matters. From 27 to 29 May, Vinexpo Asia 2025 gathered 8,998 trade participants at Marina Bay Sands, reinforcing its position as both a business catalyst and a strategic forum for market orientation and collective foresight. The opening ceremony, attended by Singapore's Minister of State (MOS) for Foreign Affairs and Trade & Industry, Gan Siow Huang, and 15 ambassadors, set the tone for an event anchored in economic diplomacy. In her keynote address, MOS Gan underlined Singapore's commitment to "working with like-minded partners around the world" to "uphold free and open trade" — a message that echoes across the exhibition hall. "The wine and spirits industry is at a global turning point," says Rodolphe Lameyse, CEO of Vinexposium. "With so many uncertainties reshaping global trade, Southeast Asia emerges as a new consumption continent. This is no time for solo moves — it's about playing as a team. And Vinexpo Asia offers precisely the field for that. Our responsibility is clear: bring structure, perspective, and clarity." SOUTHEAST ASIA: FROM EMERGING TO ESSENTIAL Vinexpo Asia 2025 underscored Southeast Asia's strengthening position as a dynamic and collective force in the global wine and spirits trade. From Thailand to Vietnam, Malaysia to Indonesia and the Philippines, the ASEAN bloc demonstrated a shared momentum driven by demographic growth and economic ambition. The presence of ambassadors and institutional representatives throughout the show further reinforced the regional cohesion and international relevance of the event. As MOS Gan noted in her address, the region is "home to over 600 million people and a young, rising middle class, and is expected to become the world's fourth-largest economy by 2030." She also highlighted that "alcohol beverage revenue in Southeast Asia is projected to grow by about 10% from 2023 to 2027". This confirms the region's shift from emerging to essential. As a regional trade hub, Singapore provides an ideal environment to gather Southeast Asian buying power in one place. THE BUSINESS PULSE OF THE REGION With 4,253 meetings scheduled, Vinexpo Asia confirmed its role as an engine for qualified business encounters. The 2025 edition stood out for the intensity and quality of exchanges facilitated by Vinexposium's business matching platform — a tool widely praised by exhibitors for its efficiency. Buyers came from over 60 countries, with a particularly strong showing from Southeast Asia. Local professionals from Singapore were joined by decision-makers from Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines — underscoring the region's centrality to the show. "It's always very exciting to be at Vinexpo Asia, it's an annual activity for us. We meet our partners and explore new brands to introduce in Malaysia. Being here speeds up the process," says Wilson Khor, Marketing Brand Manager at Luen Heng F&B. Among the exhibitors, national and regional pavilions from France, Italy, China, the USA and Australia drew sustained attention. For many, the show delivered concrete commercial outcomes. "Vinexpo Asia 2025 has proven to be an exceptional platform for Italian wines. The quality of the crowd—comprised of highly knowledgeable buyers, distributors, and industry leaders, was truly impressive,", affirms Giorgio Calveri, Director of the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) in Singapore. "We met the Asian importers we work with and confirmed some orders. We also met potential distributors from Malaysia and Cambodia, which are countries we are not represented in," explains Vivien Gay, Director of International Sales at Silver Oak Winery (United States). Beyond the show floor, Singapore's vibrant gastronomic scene provided an ideal backdrop for after-hours networking, a natural extension of Vinexpo Asia's blend of business, intelligence and hospitality. GUIDING THE TRADE THROUGH COMPLEXITY That same spirit of openness and dialogue continued at Vinexpo Academy — the event's strategic compass, where over 30 conferences and masterclasses addressed the forces transforming the industry, from shifting consumption patterns to emerging distribution models and new regional players. "Vinexpo Academy is the number one reason I attend Vinexposium events," shares Nimmi Malhotra, Wine Communicator. "Vinexpo Asia is a world-class ideas forum — a space for thought leadership and intellectual growth." The second issue of Voice of the Industry, Vinexposium's editorial publication, was launched onsite with a sharp focus on Asia. Distributed throughout the show, it provided expert analysis, data-driven foresight, and field-based observations. Meanwhile, four episodes of the Voice by Vinexposium podcast were recorded live in Singapore, covering key themes such as the reinvention of Southeast Asia's distribution models, the rise of premium spirits, and how identity and collectability are redefining brand strategies. Episodes will be released post-event. "In a world of shifting alliances and uncertain flows, Vinexposium stands as a trusted third party for the global drinks trade — a beacon where producers, buyers, and policymakers can connect, exchange, and build long-term strategies," concludes Rodolphe Lameyse, CEO of Vinexposium. "And following our DNA, we do business with taste, heart and soul," he adds. This strategic momentum continues in 2026, as Vinexpo Asia returns to Hong Kong from 26 to 28 May, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center (HKCEC). Alternating between Singapore and Hong Kong, the event ensures a consistent presence across two distinct ecosystems, ASEAN and Greater China — each with its own dynamics and opportunities. For more information, visit Vinexpo Asia website Click here to access photos of Vinexpo Asia 2025 UPCOMING EVENTS Vinexpo India – 3-4 October 2025, Mumbai Vinexpo Explorer – 6-9 October 2025, Mendoza WBWE – 24-25 November 2025, Amsterdam Wine Paris – 9-11 February 2026, Paris Vinexpo Americas – 29-30 April 2026, Miami Vinexpo Asia – 26-28 May 2026, Hong Kong About Vinexpo Asia Vinexpo Asia is a premier event for wine and spirits professionals, offering exclusive access to key stakeholders in the Asia-Pacific region. Taking place alternately in Singapore and Hong Kong, two major business hubs, it serves as a strategic platform for networking, discovering industry innovations, and fostering business opportunities in one of the most dynamic markets worldwide. About Vinexposium Vinexposium is the year-round ally to the global wine and spirits trade. Through international business events and editorial content, it brings together every segment of the industry to foster growth and visibility. By combining market insight and connection opportunities, including Voice of the Industry, Vinexposium helps professionals, around the world, navigate change, unlock opportunities, and stay aligned with emerging trends in sustainability, innovation, and consumer expectations. FOR ASIAN MEDIA CONTACTS Jenny TAN FoodCult Pte Ltd words@ +65 9836 7653 Rachel RAEBURN FoodCult Pte Ltd vinexpoasia@ +65 9742 5770 ALL OTHER MEDIA REGIONS CONTACTS Camille CORDASCO Vinexposium Cloé SEBAN Vinexposium View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Vinexposium Sign in to access your portfolio
Bloomberg
6 days ago
- Bloomberg
Hong Kong's 2025 Growth Outlook Cut by AMRO on Trade Uncertainty
Hong Kong's growth outlook was cut by a regional organization, which urged the city to diversify its economy and trading partners to counter growing protectionism. The Asian financial hub is set to expand 1.9% in 2025 from the prior year, according to the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO), a step down from the group's 2.4% forecast just last month.
