Picture 1. Participants and speakers during the Dissemination Webinar on Derisking Investment Instruments for ASEAN Energy Transition.
Online, 6 March 2026 — The ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) successfully held a webinar titled Derisking Investment Instruments for a Secure, Resilient, Just, and Inclusive Energy Transition in ASEAN: What can be explored? The event gathered representatives from ASEAN Member States and development partners to discuss potential financial instruments to reduce investment risks and accelerate clean energy deployment in ASEAN. It aligns with the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) milestones, particularly the Regional Energy Policy and Planning (REPP) milestone 2, which focuses on bridging financial and investment gaps to accelerate ASEAN’s low-carbon energy transition.
Picture 2. Dato' Ir. Ts. Razib Dawood and Zhang Huiyong delivering Welcoming Remarks.
Alifya Athia Qorina, Research Assistant of Energy Modelling & Policy Planning (MPP) at ACE, served as the Master of Ceremony (MC). The event was opened with warm remarks from Dato' Ir. Ts. Razib Dawood, Executive Director of ACE, highlighted the importance of risk-reducing financial instruments in bridging the investment gap and enabling a just and inclusive energy transition across ASEAN. Zhang Huiyong, Executive Director of International Cooperation at the Energy Foundation, emphasised that stronger international collaboration and innovative de-risking instruments are essential to mobilise green capital across the region.
Picture 3. Rhea Oktaqiara presenting the Key Findings of ASEAN Energy Investment Reports.
Addressing the main agenda, Rhea Oktaqiara, Junior Associate Researcher of MPP at ACE, presented key findings from two reports launched last year’s AMEM (ASEAN Energy Investment 2025 and the ASEAN Capacity Building Roadmap on Energy Investment 2025). This presentation underscored that the main obstacle to scaling energy investment in ASEAN is not only the availability of funds, but also the high risk perceived among private investors. She also presented the newly launched Policy Brief: Leveraging the Role of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) for De-risking Investment on ASEAN Energy Transition. It highlights the role of MDBs in mobilising finance to address the estimated USD 170 billion investment gap in ASEAN’s energy investment.
Picture 4. Ms. Latifahaida Abdul Latif (ASEC) explaining regional carbon market initiatives.
During the keynote and panel discussion session moderated by Dr Ambiyah Abdullah, Senior Researcher at ACE. Latifahaida Abdul Latif, the Assistant Director of Analysis and Monitoring in the Finance and Socioeconomic Issues Division at the ASEAN Secretariat, discussed regional initiatives to develop integrated carbon markets, noting their potential to attract investment to support carbon markets through credible carbon credit schemes.
Picture 5. Dr Hyunjung Lee (ADB) highlighting the bankability of clean energy projects.
From MDB’s perspective, Dr Hyunjung Lee, Team Leader of ASEAN Power Grid (APG) at ADB. Highlighted de-risking instruments that can improve the bankability of renewable energy projects and support the development of regional grid infrastructure, such as under the Monsoon wind project. She also highlighted the importance of the current ASEAN Power Grid Financing Initiative (APGFI), a regional initiative led by ASEAN and the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) and coordinated with ADB and the World Bank.
Picture 6. Dr Laura Britt Fermo (AMRO) sharing the drivers of sustainable finance.
From the macro-financial perspective, Dr Laura Britt Fermo, Head & Senior Economist of the Macro-Financial Research Group at the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO), emphasised the role of sustainable finance frameworks, including the ASEAN Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance, in strengthening private investors’ confidence and facilitating capital flows toward energy transition investments.
Picture 7. Subathirai Sivakumaran (UNESCAP) is discussing innovative financing mechanisms.
Ms Subathirai Sivakumaran, Chief of Financing for Development Section, Macroeconomic Policy and Financing for Development Division at UN ESCAP, presented innovative financing mechanisms that the government can use to leverage public finance and attract larger private-sector investments. She also highlighted the importance of certainty regarding policy instruments to create the conditions needed to attract private investors to clean energy projects.
Picture 8. Gineng Sakti (GGGI) outlines the prerequisites for carbon finance.
Gineng Sakti, Investment Officer at GGGI Indonesia, highlighted the importance of carbon finance readiness in developing countries, including ASEAN. He outlined the key requirements to effectively utilise carbon markets to support the renewable energy transition investment.
Picture 9. Du Xuan (EF) presents China’s experience in grid expansion financing.
Drawing lessons from global success stories, Dr DU Xuan, Program Director of the Low Carbon Economic Growth Program at the Energy Foundation, shared valuable insights from China's rapid clean energy deployment, including policy frameworks and financial instruments implemented to support grid expansion and integrate storage technologies. She also highlighted the importance of policy signals and the potential of distributed energy networks and flexible grids for energy security and resilience in rural areas.
In the closing session, Dr Zulfikar Yurnaidi, Head of MPP at ACE, emphasised the need for stronger alignment between policy frameworks and innovative financial instruments to achieve the RE deployment targets under APAEC 2026-2030. The webinar underlined the critical role of public-private collaboration and regional cooperation in mobilising capital and accelerating ASEAN’s energy transition toward a secure, resilient, and low-carbon energy future.
The ASEAN Energy Investment 2025, ASEAN Capacity Building Roadmap on Energy Investment 2025, and Policy Brief on Leveraging the Role of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) for De-risking Investment on ASEAN Energy Transition are available to be accessed at aseanenergy.org/publications.
