Fossil energy is the principal source of the current and future energy supply for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). More than three quarters of ASEAN’s total energy consumption is expected to be met by fossil fuels till 2040.

The ASEAN region is rich in coal resources and according to the Baseline Scenario profiled in the 6th ASEAN Energy Outlook, coal fired power plants(CFPPs) are expected to generate 3,123 terra-watt hours of electricity, accounting for 25.7% of total electricity production in 2040.

In recognition of the need to reduce the environmental impacts of the CFPPs, the ASEAN Member States (AMS) are making efforts to move towards more efficient CFPP technologies through the Clean Coal Technology (CCT) Programme Area under the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC). Given the necessity to find ways to reduce the carbon footprint of the CFPPs in ASEAN, this study was carried out by the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) with support from the ASEAN Climate Change and Energy Project (ACCEPT) with the goal to evaluate the opportunities and challenges in setting baseline emission standards for the CFPPs in the ASEAN region.