A new Ember report shows that ASEAN's entire 45 TWh increase in electricity demand in 2023 was met by coal and gas generation. Fossil fuels now account for 74% of the region's electricity mix, while renewables dropped from 28% to 26% of generation. Power-sector emissions rose 6.6% to 718 million tonnes of CO2, with Indonesia and Vietnam responsible for 78% of the increase. The report highlights that non-hydro renewable generation grew by only 8.5 TWh, not enough to keep up with demand. Hydropower output fell 9.5% despite new capacity, showing vulnerability to drought. Solar capacity grew from 11 GW in 2019 to 26 GW in 2023, mostly in Vietnam, but the pace needs to accelerate dramatically. Ember says ASEAN must expand renewable capacity three to five times by 2035 to meet decarbonization goals. Solar is already cheaper than coal in Vietnam and Thailand. The report calls for stronger grid interconnections, better carbon market rules, and improved data transparency. Only 8 of 18 planned cross-border transmission projects are complete.
