A Guide to Renewable Energy in Southeast Asia

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (“ASEAN“) recognises the crucial role of energy in driving the region’s growth. This has led to two key priorities: (i) energy security – to ensure reliable and affordable energy access for its growing population and economies; and (ii) clean energy development – to create favourable conditions for ASEAN’s goals in clean energy development, including promoting energy transition by embracing renewable energy (“RE“) sources to combat climate change and foster sustainable development. ASEAN aims for a 23% RE share by 2025 in the ASEAN Energy Mix (or TPES: Total Primary Energy Supply), with discussions underway for an even more ambitious target soon.

Southeast Asia has abundant RE resources, but several hurdles remain, for instance, infrastructure (grids need modernisation to handle the variability of RE), the need for policy harmonisation (cross-border investment requires streamlined regulations and incentives), and community engagement (to ensure that local communities benefit from and participate in the transition).

Each ASEAN country faces its own particular set of challenges and constraints in achieving its net zero emissions goal due to a myriad of factors including its stage of economic development, resources (financial and non-financial) and geographical constraints. As such, the policies and focus of each country in the deployment and development of RE may differ.

In this Guide, we provide an overview of the RE landscape in the region and certain salient legal and regulatory issues affecting the development and deployment of RE in the following countries: 

  • Cambodia
  • Indonesia
  • Lao PDR
  • Malaysia
  • Myanmar
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Thailand
  • Vietnam

The topics covered in each jurisdiction include:

  • Main types of RE being developed
  • Key regulators and stakeholders
  • Regulatory framework and sectoral policies
  • RE programmes
  • Government incentives
  • Key issues in RE sector
  • Updates and developments

This publication is up to date as of January 2024.

For more information, click here to read the full Regional Guide.

CONTACTS

Managing Partner
+855 23 963 112 / 113
Cambodia,
Managing Partner
+62 21 2555 7825
Indonesia,
Partner
+62 21 2555 7807
Indonesia,
Managing Partner, Rajah & Tann (Laos) Co., Ltd.
Consultant, Christopher & Lee Ong
+603 2273 1919 / +603 2267 2611
Lao PDR, Malaysia,
Partner
+65 6232 0387
Singapore,
Partner
+60 3 2273 1919
Malaysia,
Partner
+60 3 2273 1919 / +60 3 2267 2729
Malaysia,
Partner, Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP
Director, Rajah & Tann Myanmar Company Limited
+65 6232 0220 / +959 7304 0763
Brunei, Myanmar, Singapore,
Managing Partner
+959 5173609
Myanmar,
Partner
+65 6232 0481
Myanmar, Singapore,
Managing Partner
+632 894 0377
Philippines,
Partner
+632 8894-0377 to 79
Philippines,
Deputy Head, Corporate and Transactional Group
Head, Mergers & Acquisitions
+65 6232 0716
Brunei, Singapore,
Head, Sustainability
+65 6232 0707
Brunei, Singapore,
Partner
+65 6232 0228
Singapore,
Deputy Head, Financial Institutions Group
+65 6232 0482
Singapore,
Partner
+65 6232 0285
Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore,
Partner, Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP
Chief Representative, Shenzhen Representative Office
+65 6232 0550
China, Singapore,
Partner
+66 2656 1991
Thailand,
Managing Partner
+84 28 3821 2382
Vietnam,
Chairwoman
Partner
+84 28 3821 2382
Vietnam,
Deputy Managing Partner
+84 28 3821 2382
Vietnam,
Partner
+84 24 3267 6127
Vietnam,

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