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The Department of Energy (DOE) is set to finalize agreements with its regional partners on collaborations for grid, petroleum, renewable energy (RE), and nuclear power ahead of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.
In a statement on Wednesday, Oct. 15, Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella announced that he will discuss key regional agreements before the upcoming ASEAN Energy Meetings.
These agreements include a new ASEAN Power Grid memorandum of understanding, an updated ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement, a long-term RE roadmap, the regional RE Certificate framework, nuclear energy cooperation and strategies to increase energy investments.
Separately, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said she will seek more cooperation at the ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM), which runs from Oct. 14 to 17 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The goal is to secure reliable, cleaner and affordable energy for the region.
“We’re fully committed to working closely with our ASEAN neighbors to tackle energy challenges and unlock new opportunities,” Garin said. “This meeting is a key moment for all of us to move toward a secure energy future.”
While the energy department is working with its neighbors, a recent Asian Development Bank (ADB) report stressed the need for more partnerships with advanced economies, international organizations and the private sector. This is crucial to address challenges in capacity, finance and innovation, which would boost progress, lessen inequality and improve energy security, the report said.
The need for power is set to increase as Southeast Asia expands its data centers over the coming years.
According to the ADB, the Philippines’ data center capacity is expected to jump from 45 megawatts to 153 MW, a significant shift that could cause a rise in overall energy consumption.
“The high energy consumption for cooling and information technology (IT) equipment will increase operational costs and environmental impact,” the report stated.
It added that monopolized electricity markets in most Southeast Asian countries make it difficult to deploy reliable data centers, and the low share of renewable energy in the energy mix is a challenge for sustainable growth.
Beyond the growing demand for cloud-based infrastructure, the retirement of coal plants must also be carefully managed. Shutting down coal-fired power plants can lead to potential financial losses and contract conflicts.
The ADB emphasized the need for innovative financing and policy support to help countries such as the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia reduce their dependence on coal and accelerate the renewable transition.
Additionally, land-use and development delays often plague the Philippines’ energy projects. Many potential sites are near farmland or communities, which can hamper daily life. At the same time, land conversion takes significant time due to a series of endorsements, public hearings and permits.
