Southeast Asia’s Coming Solar Boom

2018 is the year that “Solar Energy” hits its stride. And this is clearly understood from the 35th ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Ministers on Energy Meeting: “ASEAN calls for energy investment.”

At the opening of the ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM) at the end of last year, Philippine Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi called on energy investors and policy officials to search new ways to meet the region’s increasing energy needs.

“It is now imperative on us to draw in more investments and expertise to ensure that we are prepared for this new future."

How great is the need?

According to the Institute for Energy Economics and the International Energy Association, ASEAN nations are projected to see a growth of 80 percent to 2040 in energy needs — the third biggest jump in the world, after China and India. This is because the region’s economy more than triples in size, and its population rises by almost a quarter to 760 million.

ASEAN nations include:

·        Indonesia — the 4th most populous country in the world

·        Philippines

·        Vietnam

·        Thailand.

Electricity demand in particular is set to triple by 2040. Together, total demand growth will be equal to 14 percent of all global energy demand to 2040.

But not just any energy source will suffice, stressing the importance of clean energy in new outlays.

"ASEAN is committed to a future of renewables. From reduced carbon footprints to lower emissions to cleaner air, it is important to invest in the future of renewable energy sources.

In Pakistan, companies, like Reon Energy, have been committed to developing projects in South Asia.  They understand how to leverage technology innovations, incorporate balance-of-system (BOS) cost reductions, and improve system design in order simultaneously to achieve competitive clean electricity.

South and Southeast Asia need solar solutions, as they seek to expand access to electricity. There is particularly increasing demand for solar-plus-storage. As battery technology improves, these systems are proven to be more reliable than traditional generators, as the fuel supply is the first thing that gets disrupted in an emergency.

With solar and utility-scale batteries, no such disruption need be planned for. This helps to reduce costs, incorporate renewable energy, and enhance energy security.

There are several Southeast and South Asian nations that are planning to increase solar investment — with each taking a unique path.

There is no financial investment to fund coal in the Indian market because they’re simply not competitive against solar energy prices right now. It’s clear the future is bright for solar in Southeast Asia.

Curbing Smog Can Increase Solar Power Generation

The smog in Pakistan is often very bad. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), smog causes around 1.6 million premature deaths in the country each year and 7 million premature deaths worldwide.

Major air pollution can cause lung disease and stroke, and these numbers are also testament that curbing smog and employing a cleaner energy solution is imperative.

In this context, researchers from the Climate Policy group at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich have published a new study in the journal PLOS One. The researchers stated that completely eradicating emissions from the sectors like industry, power, transport and household will allow solar PV systems in Pakistan to produce nearly 160 terawatts per year of extra energy by 2040.

Mercè Labordena, Renewable energy researcher and lead author on the study stated that China was the world leader in installing solar photovoltaics and at the same time the country was also suffering from air pollution. It is reported that the country’s air pollution stems from the burning of fossil fuels especially coal. China has taken some strides in dealing with the air pollution problem. However, there is still room for improvement.

Researchers reportedly used a climate model and simulated to show how much more sun the country’s solar panels would see in the case the government implemented policies to curb air pollution. They found out that the provinces in the region would benefit most from cleaning up the air.

Meanwhile, the study has reportedly the first to put a dollar figure on the financial benefits of improved solar productivity. And, Pakistan would have to spend billions of dollars to curb its air pollution. On the one hand, limiting the amount of certain elements streaming out of power plants is a partial solution, and the other such technologies are expensive and also require power to run.

The problem of air pollution is not just limited to Pakistan. Major cities like Delhi and Singapore also experience the effects of smog according to a study led by MIT research scientist Ian Marius Peters, who specialized in photovoltaics. 

The scientist reiterates that if the world increasingly adopted solar, the panels themselves would trigger a positive feedback loop. And, he also explained that the usage of solar energy would lead to cleaner air and more generation of energy via solar panels leading to decreasing reliance on coal.

Read More:

https://www.reonenergy.com/commercial-industrial-c-i-segment/

http://thegreenenergyblog.com/uncategorized/benefits-of-solar-panels

https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/solar-energy/blog.html