In this episode of Energy Insights, host Stephen speaks with Zhou Yu, Program Manager at New Energy Nexus, to explore China’s fast-growing clean-tech ecosystem and what it means for Asia’s energy transition. Zhou explains how China’s leadership in solar, batteries, EVs and energy storage is reshaping regional supply chains and driving down global technology costs. He discusses the policies, innovation networks and startup support systems powering this growth, and why other Asian countries are...
In this episode of Energy Insights, host Stephen speaks with Sam Reynolds, Research Lead for LNG and Gas at IEEFA, to unpack how a global turbine shortage is slowing Southeast Asia’s LNG expansion. Sam explains how long delivery backlogs, higher costs and supply constraints are delaying major LNG projects in the Philippines and Vietnam. This slowdown is raising doubts about gas as a reliable bridge fuel and opening more space for renewables to grow across the region. The discussion highligh...
In this episode of Energy Insights, host Stephen sits down with Wai-Shin Chan, Director of Research at Asia Research and Engagement (ARE), to unpack what COP30 really means for climate finance, investment signals and economic decision-making across Asia. COP30 was expected to be an implementation COP, yet countries left Belém with weak NDCs, unclear finance arrangements and no fossil fuel transition roadmap. Wai-Shin explains how this uncertainty raises costs, delays investment and leaves Asi...
In this episode of Energy Insights, host Stephen sits down with Joel Chester (Cheng) Pagulayan, Climate Justice Portfolio Manager at Oxfam Pilipinas, to explore what COP30 means for climate justice in Southeast Asia and the growing gap between community needs and global delivery. Despite years of warnings from frontline communities, the region continues to face stronger storms, rising seas and widening inequality. Cheng explains why climate justice must sit at the centre of COP30, how vulnera...
In this episode of Energy Insights, host Stephen sits down with Katherine Hasan, Analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), to unpack Indonesia’s latest power plan — and the widening gap between climate ambition and reality. Despite strong public messaging on renewables, Indonesia’s RUPTL 2025–2034 places fossil fuels at the centre of the next decade, delaying meaningful renewable expansion until the 2030s. Katherine explains why this “fossils first, renewables later” ...
Across the world, wind and solar power are often accused of harming public health and disrupting communities — but the science tells a different story. In this episode of Energy Insights, host Stephen takes a closer look at one of the most persistent myths in the energy debate: that renewable projects threaten wellbeing. Drawing on studies from health authorities and real-world data, the discussion reveals how wind and solar actually improve public health by reducing air pollution, cutting re...
Southeast Asia stands at a defining moment in its energy transition. While renewables have become cheaper and more reliable than ever, governments across the region continue to expand gas infrastructure — risking costly lock-ins and delayed climate progress. In this episode of Energy Insights, host Stephen unpacks the findings from BloombergNEF’s latest analysis, which reveals how renewables like solar, wind, and battery storage are now outcompeting gas in markets such as Vietnam, Thailand, a...
In this episode of Energy Insights, we speak with Mia Watanabe, Climate Campaigner at Oil Change International, about the real costs of Australia’s gas strategy and its wider implications for Southeast Asia’s energy future. Australia has become one of the world’s largest LNG exporters, but this dependence on fossil fuels raises serious concerns over environmental, social, and economic impacts. Mia explains how the continued push for LNG undermines climate goals across Asia, with public financ...
In this episode of Energy Insights, we sit down with Amy Kong and Yu Sun Chin, from Zero Carbon Analytics. Together, they provide valuable insights into the complexities of Southeast Asia’s energy future, where the shift towards clean energy is both an opportunity and a challenge. Amy and Yu discuss the region’s clean energy investment trends, the ongoing role of fossil fuels like LNG, and the policy gaps that are slowing the transition to a low-carbon economy. They dive into the role of fore...
The global energy shift towards renewables is gaining momentum, but what role does investment play in this transition? In this episode of Energy Insights, we explore the key findings from the World Energy Investment 2025 report. From the rapid growth of renewables to the continued dominance of fossil fuels, we discuss the challenges and opportunities in scaling up clean energy investments. As the world moves away from fossil fuels, we delve into the financial trends, barriers to progress, and...
In this episode of Energy Insights, we speak with Joel Chester (Cheng) Pagulayan, Climate Justice Portfolio Manager at Oxfam Pilipinas, about the Philippines’ energy shift. Despite the government’s clean energy goals, continued reliance on liquefied natural gas (LNG) poses serious risks to both the climate and economy. Cheng discusses the need for a just transition, policy gaps, and the importance of community-led renewable energy projects in overcoming these challenges. Read the article her...
China has emerged as a global leader in renewable energy, rapidly scaling its solar, wind, and hydropower capacities. But what does this mean for Southeast Asia, which is still heavily reliant on fossil fuels? China's energy transition is shaping the region's energy future—pushing for clean energy investments, cross-border cooperation, and regulatory reforms to move away from coal dependency. In this episode of Energy Insights, we explore China’s renewable energy expansion and its growing in...
In this episode of Energy Insights, we speak with Dr. Utkarshaa Varshney, a leading energy transition consultant specialising in solar, wind, and hydrogen projects. With over five years of international experience, she shares her journey and insights into the challenges and opportunities for women in energy leadership. Dr. Varshney discusses the critical role of gender inclusivity in energy transition strategies, the barriers women face in technical and leadership roles, and how gender-focus...
Japan has secured a historic LNG deal with the United States, a move positioned as a step towards greater energy security. However, this decision raises pressing questions about its alignment with climate commitments and its broader influence on regional energy policies. As the world accelerates towards decarbonisation, is this agreement a necessary short-term measure or a prolonged dependence on fossil fuels? Read the article here: https://energytracker.asia/japan-to-buy-record-amounts-of-l...
In this episode of Energy Insights, we explore the critical issue of captive coal power in Indonesia, a significant obstacle to the country’s 2040 coal phase-out target. Captive coal plants, which operate off-grid to supply energy to industries like nickel production, are expanding rapidly, locking industries into long-term fossil fuel dependency. This episode examines the environmental and public health impacts of this trend, highlighting projections of increased air pollution and premature ...
This episode of Energy Insights critically examines the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC), an initiative aimed at advancing decarbonisation across 11 countries in Asia and the Pacific. While AZEC aspires to promote regional collaboration and sustainable energy development, its dependence on fossil fuel-based technologies, including LNG, CCS, and ammonia co-firing, raises important questions about its alignment with decarbonisation goals. Drawing on insights from the Asia Zero Emission Commu...
This episode of Energy Insights explores the contrasts shaping Asia’s renewable energy landscape. With surging energy demands and immense potential for renewable transformation, Asia is both a challenge and an opportunity in the global energy transition. The discussion focuses on the successes of countries like China, India, and Vietnam, where ambitious policies and investments are driving renewable energy progress. It also examines the obstacles faced by nations such as Indonesia and Pakist...
COP29 has concluded in Baku, Azerbaijan, leaving the global community to grapple with its outcomes. In this episode of Energy Insights, we take a deep dive into the critical takeaways from this year’s UN Climate Change Conference. Was it the pivotal moment we hoped for, or yet another missed opportunity in the fight against climate change? The discussion covers the ongoing challenges with climate finance, including the failure to meet the $100 billion annual commitment, and examines the pers...
Energy Insights speaks with Teresa Anderson, the global climate justice lead at ActionAid International, about all things climate finance in the run-up to COP29 in Azerbaijan. We talked about a broad range of climate finance-related topics that include the $100 billion a year promise, loss and damage finance, the contentious relationships between countries at climate negotiations, expanding the public finance donor based to other high-income countries, fossil fuel levies, issues related to in...
Energy Insights speaks with Abdul Waheed Bhutto. Abdul Waheed Bhutto is an academic researcher and the Pro Vice Chancellor at Dawood University of Engineering and Technology in Pakistan. He has authored numerous publications and secured significant research grants, in the field of sustainable energy, renewable resources, and biomass utilisation. He established the Biomass Conversion and Green Chemicals Recovery Technology laboratory, received Research Productivity Awards. We spoke about...