ASEAN Energy Business Forum

Energy high, spirits higher - that’s how ends!

Over the past three days, we’ve sparked bold ideas, forged new partnerships and recharged ASEAN’s collective commitment to a sustainable and connected energy future.

This evening's closing ceremony, graced by YAB Datuk Amar Haji Fadillah bin Haji Yusof, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA), marked not just the end of a powerful chapter, but the start of a new one.

As Malaysia passes the torch to the Philippines, host of , we look ahead with renewed determination to keep driving progress, innovation and regional collaboration.

Here’s to powering ASEAN’s future - together, brighter than ever.

Building Bridges for a Sustainable Energy Future

Before the closing ceremony, the ASEAN Energy Business Forum 2025 witnessed a series of MOU signings and document exchanges that signal stronger collaboration and shared commitment towards ASEAN’s energy transition.

Partnerships were formalised between the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) and:
🔹ASEAN-UK Green Transition Fund (GTF)
🔹Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM)
🔹EU-ASEAN Business Council (EU-ABC)
🔹NTPC Limited India
🔹FutureCoal

Additionally, UEM Lestra Berhad inked agreements with NR Engineering Co. Ltd and key project delivery partners under the Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme (CRESS), reinforcing Malaysia’s renewable energy leadership.

Together, these partnerships underscore the spirit of regional cooperation, innovation and resilience - paving the way for a cleaner, more sustainable energy future for ASEAN.

The final plenary of the ASEAN Energy Business Forum 2025 saw regional leaders reaffirm ASEAN’s collective ambition for a just, inclusive, and interconnected energy transition.

Moderated by Beni Suryadi, Senior Manager of APAEC and Strategic Partnerships at the ASEAN Centre for Energy, the session brought together Puan Mareena Mahpudz (Deputy Secretary-General, METWT Malaysia), Mario C. Marasigan (Undersecretary, Department of Energy, Philippines) and Ivana Dimitrova (SE Asia Regional Lead, Energy and Industrial Decarbonisation, British High Commission Singapore).

The dialogue explored how ASEAN can accelerate clean energy cooperation through stronger cross-border interconnectivity, policy harmonisation and equitable access to technologies - building on Malaysia’s achievements under its 2025 chairmanship and paving the way for the Philippines to lead in 2026.

Accelerating ASEAN–Japan Collaboration for a Cleaner Energy Future

At AEBF-25 in Kuala Lumpur, the Cleaner Energy Future Initiative for ASEAN (CEFIA) - co-hosted by the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) and Japan’s METI - reaffirmed its role as a practical platform linking governments, industry, finance and academia to deploy real decarbonisation solutions across ASEAN (since 2019).

What stood out:
🔹Flagship projects: Zero-Energy Buildings (including an ACE–CEFIA ZEB report released on 17 July 2025), industrial decarbonisation in steel (SteelEcosol), plus biomass, hydrogen, ammonia and microgrid pilots.
🔹Tech showcases: CO₂ capture & utilisation, perovskite solar cells, next-gen biofuels and carbon recycling moving from concept to application.
🔹Enablers: Transition finance and the ASEAN Taxonomy to crowd-in capital; policy coordination and high-integrity carbon markets to scale impact.
🔹Country updates: ASEAN Member States shared progress on energy efficiency and renewables, underscoring momentum across the region.

Aligned with ministers’ direction this week to advance the next phase of regional energy cooperation (APAEC 2026–2030), CEFIA is charting an inclusive, technology-driven path to carbon neutrality - balancing growth, sustainability and energy security.

ASEAN Centre for Energy

Strengthening ASEAN–Korea Cooperation for a Sustainable Nuclear Future

Graced by the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, the ASEAN–Korea Sustainable Nuclear Energy Cooperation Forum, led by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), brought together high-level representatives from ASEAN member states and Korean industry leaders to advance collaboration on safe, sustainable and next-generation nuclear energy.

The forum opened with addresses from the ASEAN Centre for Energy, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of Korea (MOTIE) and KHNP, underscoring Korea’s readiness to partner with ASEAN in the region’s low-carbon transition.

In the technical sessions, Team Korea - comprising KHNP, KEPCO E&C, KEPCO NF, KEPCO KPS, Doosan Enerbility and KAERI - presented comprehensive insights on:
🔹 The evolution of Korea’s nuclear power development and its emphasis on public engagement
🔹 Advanced nuclear technologies including APR1000/1400 reactors and i-SMR (Innovative Small Modular Reactors)
🔹 Nuclear fuel and component manufacturing capabilities
🔹 Operation, maintenance and safety innovations supporting sustainable energy systems

Through this forum, KHNP reaffirmed its commitment to becoming “the ultimate nuclear power project partner” for ASEAN - driving cleaner, safer and more resilient energy solutions for the region’s future.

The two days of intensive Parallel Sessions have successfully wrapped up this afternoon, establishing the core ex*****on frameworks for ASEAN’s energy future.

These sessions delivered crucial insights on accelerating the energy transition across the value chain:
🔹Infrastructure & Reliability: Strategies finalised for deploying Grid-Scale Energy Storage (Battery Energy Storage Systems, BESS) and securing the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) through technologies like Subsea HV Interconnectors.
🔹Finance & Policy: Pathways defined for accelerating the Bankability of Clean Energy Projects (Co-Hosted by Asian Banking School) and implementing crucial regional mechanisms like ASEAN Carbon Pricing and cross-border REC Systems.
🔹Sustainability & Cooperation: Solutions explored for decarbonising Industrial Parks (Co-Hosted by UEM Lestra Berhad) and developing Low-Carbon Buildings, solidified by crucial partnerships with the EU-ABC and UK-GTF/SEforALL for technology transfer.

This essential work marks a major step forward for ASEAN's energy transition from policy to reality!

Charting the Future of Energy Storage in ASEAN

Huawei Malaysia Digital Power hosted the Grid Forming ESS Forum: Malaysia Chapter during AEBF 2025, gathering over 100 key stakeholders - from government agencies, power companies and regulators to academic and industry experts.

The forum delved into the application, safety and standardisation of Grid Forming Energy Storage Systems (ESS) - a breakthrough technology that enhances grid stability and accelerates the region’s renewable energy transition.

In his opening remarks, Ricky Chen, President of Huawei Asia Pacific Digital Power, Smart PV & ESS Business, underscored the pivotal role of Grid Forming ESS in global decarbonisation and reaffirmed Huawei’s commitment to advancing high-performance, safe and intelligent energy storage technologies.

Key discussions covered:
🔹ASEAN & Malaysia’s Renewable Energy Outlook and Standardisation Journey
🔹Unlocking BESS Potential Across APAC Markets
🔹Risk Management and Fire Safety in BESS Design and Operations
🔹Huawei’s Grid-Forming ESS Safety Philosophies and Design Methodologies

The session underscored Malaysia’s leadership in driving grid flexibility, safety and regulatory innovation - setting the foundation for a resilient and sustainable ASEAN energy future.

Driving Asia’s Pathway to Net Zero - The AZEC Forum at AEBF-25

The Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Forum at AEBF-25 brought together ASEAN and Japanese leaders to advance pragmatic, inclusive and regionally aligned decarbonisation pathways across Asia.

Co-hosted by METI Japan, KEIDANREN, and the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), the forum spotlighted the latest insights from the AZEC Progress Report 2025, outlining progress under its three key initiatives:
🔹 Zero Emission Power - accelerating renewable energy integration, grid interconnection and low-carbon technologies such as hydrogen, ammonia and CCUS.
🔹 Sustainable Fuels - advancing biofuel, hydrogen and ammonia markets to decarbonise transport and heavy industry.
🔹 Next-Generation Industry - promoting green manufacturing, circular industrial parks and low-carbon mobility systems.

Sessions delved into real-world action - from the ASEAN Power Grid and sustainable biofuel value chains to transition finance frameworks co-developed by METI, ADB, ERIA and the IEA - highlighting the financial, policy and technological enablers needed for an equitable energy transition.

Through AZEC, ASEAN and Japan reaffirmed their shared vision of achieving “one goal, various pathways” - building an energy-secure, carbon-neutral Asia through cooperation, innovation and investment.

ASEAN Centre for Energy

The Gold Standard: Announcing the 2025 ASEAN Energy Awards (AEA) Winners!

The AEBF-25 Gala Dinner was the setting for conferring the highest honours in Southeast Asia's energy sector. We proudly recognised companies and individuals who demonstrated exceptional leadership and innovation across Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency & Conservation and Clean Coal.

These winners are setting the new benchmark for energy development, truly turning our regional vision into tangible reality. Congratulations to all the recipients for accelerating our shared sustainable future.

ASEAN Centre for Energy