Southeast Asia is poised for a long-overdue and much-needed boom in solar.
According to the Institute for Energy Economics and the International Energy Association, ASEAN nations are projected to see their energy needs grow by 80 per cent by 2040.
However, the region is taking steps to prepare for this energy spike by embracing renewables.
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has signed an agreement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to forge a partnership to scale-up renewables deployment.
The ASEAN wants to generate 23 per cent of its primary energy from renewables by 2025 – and IRENA calculates that hitting this target will require an estimated annual investment of $27bn.
Adnan Z. Amin, Director-General of IRENA, believes Southeast Asia has “vast potential to harness renewable energy and deliver widespread benefits to communities”, while Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dato Lim Jock Hoi, has said that “transitioning our energy systems to renewable energy and supporting sustainable development are top priorities for ASEAN member states”.
All of which means there are huge opportunities in Asia for players in the solar sector, and these opportunities – plus some considerable challenges that come with them – will be put in the spotlight at SolarVision, which takes place in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.
SolarVision will be co-located with POWERGEN Asia, Asian Utility Week and DISTRIBUTECH Asia, and is Asia’s premier exhibition for the solar industry.
With a focus on every aspect of the solar power market value chain – from the latest components and cell/module technologies to project financing – the event is the place where all industry stakeholders come to meet, network, build key relationships – and ultimately, realise opportunities that will benefit their business.
For details of SolarVision, click here.
