Photo 1. 18th ASEAN+3 NRE and EE&C Forum Group Photo  

The ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) organised the 18th ASEAN+3 New and Renewable Energy (NRE) and Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EE&C) Forum, hosted by Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE), Thailand and in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan. The Forum was held at The Sukosol Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand, on 24 July 2024. Held under the cooperation of SOME+3 Energy Policy Governing Group, the Forum was attended by a total of 50 participants. 

This forum gathered the ASEAN+3 government officials, consist of ten ASEAN Member States, the People’s Republic of China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, to showcase best practices in accelerating energy transition and enhancing energy efficiency in hopes to achieve regional target of the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) Phase II: 2021 – 2025 under Programme Area no.4: Energy Efficiency and Conservation and Programme Area no.5: Renewable Energy. 

Photo 2. Chair and Co-Chair of the Meeting, Minyoung Seo from Korea Energy Economics Institute (KEEI) (left), Rungrawee Yingyuad from DEDE of Thailand (centre), Yoshino Yoshiomi from METI of Japan (right) 

The forum opened with opening remarks from Rungrawee Yingyuad, Renewable Energy Expert from DEDE of Thailand as the chair of the meeting, followed by Yoshino Yoshiomi, Director of Overseas Energy Infrastructure Office from METI of Japan as co-chair, and Minyoung Seo, Associate Research Fellow from Korea Energy Economics Institute (KEEI), also as co-chair. 

Photo 3. Christopher G. Zamora (left) and Dr. Zulfikar Yurnaidi (right) from ACE as Presenters 

The morning session began with a presentation from Mr. Christopher G. Zamora, Senior Head of APAEC department from ACE, discussing the outcomes and directives from the 17th NRE and EE&C Forum, 22nd SOME+3 Energy Policy Governing Group (EPGG) Meeting, and 20th AMEM+3. Dr. Zulfikar Yurnaidi, Head of Energy Modelling and Policy Planning (MPP) and Energy Efficiency and Conservation (CEE) department from ACE, followed the session by sharing initial findings from the 8th ASEAN Energy Outlook (AEO8).  

Photo 4. Representatives from Japan and Republic of Korea (left) and Muhammad Ilham Rizaldi, Research Analyst of ACE (right) as Presenters 

As a follow up to APAEC Post-2025, Dynta Trishana Munardy, Senior Officer of APAEC Department at ACE, shared insights on the updates on APAEC Post-2025 development and preliminary strategies under EE&C and RE (Renewable Energy). This session also delved into the current updates of ASEAN-Japan Energy Efficiency Partnership (AJEEP), which was presented by representative from The Energy Conservation Centre, Japan (ECCJ). Other than AJEEP, representative from Korea Energy Agency (KEA) shared the current updates on ASEAN+3 Mitigation Cooperation Programme. 

 In the Renewable Energy (RE) session, the focused area to be discussed and delivered was pointed on innovative policies and technologies. To open this session, Muhammad Ilham Rizaldi, Research Analyst of Sustainable Renewable Energy (SRE) Department at ACE, shared insights on regional RE-related topic and development. The sessions continued to representatives from Indonesia, Korea, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Japan presenting their current initiatives and insights on technologies and policy. 

Photo 5. Mardika Firlina (left) and Dynta Trishana Munardy (right) from ACE as Presenters 

In the Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EE&C) session, the focused area to be discussed and delivered was to target key sectors consisting of building, industry, and transport for enhancement. Mardika Firlina, Associate Officer of CEE department from ACE, began the session by providing insights on regional EE&C-related topics and development. The sessions continued with representatives from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand showcasing their current initiatives on developing technology and policy related to EE&C. 

As the closing of the forum, Yoshino Yoshiomi, Director of Overseas Energy Infrastructure Office from METI of Japan, delivered his closing remarks, followed by Minyoung Seo, Associate Research Fellow from Korea Energy Economics Institute (KEEI), and Rungrawee Yingyuad, Renewable Energy Expert from DEDE, Thailand. 

 Photo 6. 18th ASEAN+3 NRE and EE&C Forum at The Sukosol Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand 

Many astonishing presentations from representatives of ASEAN+3 was delivered in this forum, in the hopes that the shared knowledge and expertise would be beneficial for all involved parties to accelerate energy transition and better energy efficiency. This forum became an opportunity for key stakeholders to actively spread positive awareness globally.