Photo 1. Head of Delegates Photo Session of the RECAP Dissemination Workshop in Berjaya Times Square Hotel, Kuala Lumpur

The ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) held the RECAP Dissemination Workshop on 9 October 2024 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, as part of the Development of the Conceptual Framework of Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) in Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines (BIMP)-East ASEAN Growth Area (EAGA) Countries Project (RECAP).

Supported by the BIMP-ROK Cooperation Fund (BKCF), the RECAP project has intensively engaged with the BIMP (Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Philippines) countries through bilateral meetings and preceding regional workshops. This dissemination workshop provided a crucial platform for accommodating stakeholder feedback and harmonising viewpoints on the proposed regional conceptual REC framework for BIMP countries.

Photo 2. Opening remarks by YBhg. Dato Mohammad Razif bin Haji Abdul Mubin, Deputy Secretary General (Energy), Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation Malaysia (PETRA)

The event commenced with opening remarks from YBhg. Dato Mohammad Razif bin Haji Abdul Mubin, Deputy Secretary General (Energy), Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation Malaysia (PETRA). Dato Razif underscored the importance of REC in supporting cross-border power trade in the region and explored regional REC discussion as a priority of Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship in 2025. He expressed the hope that significant strides through regional REC discussion can be taken collectively for a just and sustainable energy future.

Photo 3. Opening remarks by Dr Susan Pudin, Head of BIMP-EAGA Facilitation Center

It was then followed by remarks from Dr Susan Pudin, Head of BIMP-EAGA Facilitation Center, who highlighted that feedback from stakeholders on the proposed REC framework will be key in ensuring alignment with the diverse aspirations of the region. She emphasised the crucial role of the BIMP Power and Energy Infrastructure Cluster (BIMP countries National Secretariats in thoroughly reviewing the proposed framework. The framework will not only define key elements for BIMP countries but also strengthen regional energy cooperation.

Photo 4. Beni Suryadi, Acting Executive Director of ACE, delivering his opening remarks

Beni Suryadi, Acting Executive Director of ACE, also delivered opening remarks and reflected on the collective journey that has been undertaken under RECAP project. He underscored REC’s critical role in tracking clean energy consumption and serving as a means to finance new renewable energy generation for countries in achieving their regional targets. Hence, he marked this workshop as an opportunity to polish and fine-tune the regional conceptual framework.

Photo 5. Ms Monika Merdekawati, Senior Research Analyst of SRE Department at ACE, and Ms Veronica Ayu Pangestika, Associate Research Analyst of SRE Department at ACE, during the first session of the workshop

The workshop was divided into three sessions. The first session on ‘Conceptual Regional REC Framework for BIMP’ was moderated by Monika Merdekawati, Senior Research Analyst of Sustainable and Renewable Energy (SRE) Department at ACE. Veronica Ayu Pangestika, Associate Research Analyst of SRE Department at ACE, kicked off the session by delivering a scene-setting presentation on the REC Market Assessment in BIMP countries, as well as the Discussion Outcomes of the 2^nd Regional Workshop previously held in Brunei Darussalam, 4 September 2024. This initial session illuminated the significant strides made by each BIMP country in advancing their national REC markets. In turn, Veronica’s presentation thoroughly charted the specific needs and challenges these countries face in developing their REC markets.

Photo 6. Mr Roble P. Velasco-Rosenheim, Director of Global Partnerships and APAC of i-Track Foundation, during his presentation session.

Roble P. Velasco-Rosenheim, Director of Global Partnerships and APAC of i-Track Foundation delivered a presentation entitled ‘Toward an ASEAN Association of Issuing Bodies (AIB): Collective Bargaining Power in a Changing REC Ecosystem’. This session highlighted the proposal of a body that can be designed to empower countries and use RECs to achieve larger economic and trade goals. The envisioned entity would act as the host of regionally significant REC discussions, and drive collaboration on REC while representing a regional REC market aspiration.

Following on Roble’s presentation, an engaging Q&A and discussion session was held. Participants were given the floor to share their insights and inquiries regarding progress of the REC Markets in BIMP Countries. The questions asked touched upon the challenges and market structure, as well as reflections of the discussion outcomes from the 2^nd Regional Workshop.

Expanding upon Ms Veronica’s presentation during the opening session, the subsequent segment, titled ‘Conceptual Regional REC Framework for BIMP’, was adeptly moderated by Muhammad Ilham Rizaldi, Research Analyst at ACE’s SRE Department. Barry Jones, REC Markets & Corporate Sustainability Analyst from SusCa Group and Roble took the floor to outline the foundational concepts and implementation specifics of the regional REC framework. Their presentation delved into the framework’s significance, scope, and the critical variables to keep in mind.

Photo 7. (Left-Right) Kevin John Y. Dela Cuesta, Market Development Manager of Philippine Electricity Market Cooperation and Ms. Aeni Haryati Binti Hashim, Senior Manager of Industry Development, Single Buyer during the Q&A session

Veronica provided essential key takeaways from the workshop, emphasising that the conceptual framework will serve not merely as a policy dialogue but as a comprehensive document that bolsters all guidelines across BIMP countries, thereby facilitating the scaling up of renewable energy. Furthermore, it will foster alignment on best practices that AMS can reference when developing their REC markets.

In the meantime, Roble shared his reflections and observations from the workshop, acknowledging the varying stages of development within each BIMP country’s REC market. He also underscored the regional (sub-region) association of issuing bodies as a key element that will foster regional alignment of REC markets in . Simultaneously, it is vital to convey the region’s ambitions for REC market development to key international stakeholders, such as RE100, CDP, SBTi, and the GHG Protocol.

Photo 8. Participants of the RECAP Dissemination Workshop