Jakarta, 11 June 2025: ERIA, in collaboration with the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), hosted the first online consultative workshop for the study titled ‘ASEAN Power Grid to Embrace Integration of New Technologies: Smarter, More Flexible, and More Resilient for Low-Carbon Energy Transition.’ The workshop served as a platform for the study’s consultants to collect data, validate preliminary findings, and receive feedback from the Heads of ASEAN Power Utilities/Authorities (HAPUA).

The study aims to advance regional knowledge and collaboration on a harmonised ASEAN Power Grid (APG), with a focus on integrating transformative technologies – including supply-side innovations, artificial intelligence (AI), energy storage, and power trading systems – into the region’s grid infrastructure.

In his opening remarks, Dr Nuki Agya Utama, ERIA’s Director for Energy Policy and Head of the Asia Zero Emission Center (AZEC), underscored the importance of these technologies in supporting APG integration. He highlighted their roles in facilitating multilateral power exchanges, improving grid reliability, optimising renewable energy integration, and strengthening smart grid infrastructure. Dr Nuki also emphasised the alignment of this study with AZEC’s broader mission to promote practical and inclusive decarbonisation across the region.

The first presentation, delivered by Nanyang Technological University (NTU), examined the use of blockchain in electricity markets, particularly in renewable energy certificate (REC) tracking and peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading. Blockchain offers transparency, decentralisation, and security, making it a promising tool for future regional energy exchanges. While several ASEAN countries – Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Viet Nam – have piloted blockchain applications, challenges remain in establishing fair pricing mechanisms for RECs and electricity, with proposed solutions including auctions and game-theory-based models.

TEPCO Power Grid presented on battery energy storage systems (BESS) and their critical role in integrating renewable energy and enhancing grid stability. Drawing on trends from Japan and the European Union, the session reviewed ASEAN’s current status, noting that while countries like Singapore have advanced with grid-scale storage, many are still in early development. TEPCO invited HAPUA members to share updates on their grid-scale BESS pilot projects and technical specifications across the region.

The third session, led by Deloitte Tohmatsu Risk Advisory, explored AI applications in the power sector. Their research detailed how AI can enhance demand forecasting, grid optimisation, and predictive maintenance – key functions for managing an increasingly complex and dynamic grid. Several AI tools were assessed based on cost-effectiveness, forecast accuracy, cybersecurity, and decarbonisation potential. Global case studies were presented to demonstrate the real-world impact of AI on grid reliability.

In the final session, Ricardo presented its findings on supply-side technologies for ASEAN’s power grid modernisation. The study reviewed both current and emerging solutions, such as high-voltage direct current (HVDC) systems, distributed energy resource management systems (DERMS), and forecasting tools. While basic infrastructure like SCADA is widely deployed across the region, more advanced technologies – such as digital twins and virtual power plants (VPPs) – are still in early stages. The presentation included a technology ranking using a weighted scoring method to help prioritise integration planning. The study also highlighted the need for improved cross-border coordination and the closing of technology gaps to achieve a truly integrated regional grid.

Dr Li Yanfei, ERIA Research Fellow, concluded the workshop by reaffirming the importance of these technologies in shaping a more resilient, interconnected, and decarbonised power system in ASEAN. He noted that insights gathered from the workshop will inform the refinement of the study and the development of actionable recommendations suited to ASEAN’s evolving energy landscape. Continued collaboration amongst stakeholders will be critical to the successful integration of new technologies into the APG.