SPARC Digest.

South China Morning PostD

Data centersSouth China Morning Post7 June 2026

Malaysia’s gas-guzzling data centre boom clashes with its clean energy goals

South China Morning Post reports that Malaysia’s drive to become Southeast Asia’s data-centre hub is clashing with its 2050 clean-energy ambitions as power demand increasingly draws on gas-fired generation. Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir told parliament that Malaysia had 54 operational data centres at the end of 2024 and expects 81 by 2035. From 2021 to mid-2025, the Malaysian Investment Development Authority approved 144.4 billion ringgit, or US$36.3 billion, in data-centre and cloud-computing investments, including pledges from Microsoft, Google and Amazon Web Services. Grid System Operator data showed gas-fired generation rose 50.5% year on year in April to a record 5.54 TWh, while Peninsular Malaysia electricity demand increased 11.5%. The Energy Commission attributed last year’s demand peak to data centres, electrification, climate stress and EV uptake.

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MintC

Coal and powerMint6 June 2026

Solar power curtailment raises red flags for renewable investors

Mint reports that India’s solar buildout is facing rising curtailment as grid constraints, low demand and stability requirements force operators to cut renewable output. Grid Controller of India data showed up to 27.34GW of solar capacity, equal to 121.46GWh of generation, was curtailed on 1 May, about one-sixth of installed solar capacity. Spot prices on the Indian Energy Exchange fell to zero that day. On 31 May, up to 19.47GW was curtailed, with 59.61GWh not generated. Ember said 470GWh of renewable energy from interstate projects was curtailed in January-March 2026, mostly due to transmission constraints. Officials said the power ministry, CEA, GRID-INDIA, transmission companies and states are discussing faster transmission commissioning and regulatory easing. Developers warned curtailment raises project risk, debt stress and capital costs.

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Power PhilippinesC

Coal and powerPower Philippines5 June 2026

New ASEAN grid modelling tool could reshape ASEAN cross-border power planning

TransitionZero expanded its Scenario Builder platform to support ASEAN-wide power system modelling, integrating 10 Southeast Asian economies, including the Philippines, into one open-access framework covering 25 regional nodes. The non-profit says the no-code multi-country upgrade lets planners, researchers and institutions simulate generation, transmission, dispatch and trade flows across interconnected national systems. TransitionZero described the rollout as the first time Scenario Builder can model an ASEAN regional grid at scale, amid rising policy and investment interest in cross-border power trade and interconnection. CEO Matt Gray said regional grid planning has shifted toward market design, financing and cross-jurisdiction decision-making. The platform is intended to reduce reliance on fragmented proprietary tools and support scenario testing for renewables, bottlenecks, costs and trading structures.

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en.prnasia.comD

Data centersen.prnasia.com4 June 2026

DayOne Secures Over 1GW Renewable Energy in Malaysia in Landmark TNB Partnership - PR Newswire APAC

DayOne Data Centers said it signed renewable energy supply agreements with TNB Renewables and TNB Power Generation in Malaysia, witnessed by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and senior energy officials. Formalised under Malaysia's Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme, the agreements cover about 1.5GWp of solar capacity and 2.2GWh of battery energy storage across ground-mounted solar and hybrid hydro floating solar. They comprise Bilateral Energy Supply Contracts and include associated renewable energy certificate transfers. DayOne says the partnership, together with a June 2025 CRESS agreement for 500MW over 21 years, gives it more than 1GW of renewable energy in Malaysia. The company links the procurement to its 2030 renewable-energy target, emissions-reduction goals, data-centre growth in Nusajaya and Kempas, and Malaysia's National Energy Transition Roadmap.

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Eco-BusinessC

Coal and powerEco-Business4 June 2026

Stranded solar risk grows as capital costs rise, Malakoff CEO says

At TNB's Energy Transition Conference 2026, Malaysian renewable energy developers and financiers said solar projects are facing harder financing despite lower technology costs and high fossil fuel prices. Malakoff CEO Syahrunizam Samsudin said short renewable project tenures, low solar efficiency of roughly 10 to 20 percent of installed capacity, volatile gas and insurance costs, and higher risk premiums could create stranded solar assets. CIMB said capital markets can provide 20 to 25 year financing where cashflows and contractual terms are clear. TNB cited photovoltaic module price jumps of up to 30 percent and longer equipment lead times, while pointing to strong appetite for green and sustainability sukuk. Speakers also debated CRESS, data-centre demand for flexible PPAs, system access charges, and proposals for an aggregation platform.

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bloomberg.comC

Coal and powerbloomberg.com3 June 2026

China’s Emissions Rise as More Clean Electricity Goes to Waste

Bloomberg is reporting that CREA said China’s carbon dioxide emissions rose 2% in January to March 2026 from a year earlier, with higher power-sector pollution linked to growing curtailment of wind and solar output. China’s National New Energy Consumption Monitoring and Early Warning Center reported that wind and solar utilization rates fell in the first quarter compared with 2025, while thermal generation increased for a fourth consecutive month in April. CREA analyst Lauri Myllyvirta attributed curtailment mainly to inflexible coal-plant and grid management, long-term contracts, and weak incentives to reduce coal output, rather than insufficient grid infrastructure. He said curtailment could worsen inflation and energy security by increasing reliance on imported gas. Coal-fired generation is still largely run through medium- and long-term contracts for fixed volumes at fixed prices, leaving little incentive to lower coal output and make room for wind and solar.

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pv magazine GlobalC

Coal and powerpv magazine Global3 June 2026

Vietnam’s first direct power purchase agreement enters operation

Vietnam's first grid-connected direct power purchase agreement is operating between Samsung Electronics Vietnam Thai Nguyen and TTC Duc Hue-Long An Power, developer of the 49 MW Duc Hue 2 solar plant in southern Vietnam's Tay Ninh province. The agreement will supply Samsung's smartphone factory in Yen Binh Industrial Park with about 70 GWh of solar electricity annually, equivalent to roughly 17,000 Vietnamese households. Samsung Vietnam General Director Na Ki Hong said the contract aims to support Vietnam's renewable energy market and climate efforts. Ember analyst Lam Pham said the operational DPPA shows the regulatory framework is viable after Vietnam introduced DPPA rules in July 2024 and updated them in March 2025. He expects DPPAs to catalyze C&I solar investment, though tariff changes may push future deals toward storage or evening-generation resources.

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agora-energiewende.orgP

Policyagora-energiewende.org2 June 2026

Reforming power purchase agreements for flexible coal power

Agora Energiewende published a 101-page study on 2 June 2026 examining how coal power purchase agreements, fuel supply agreements and investor-state contracts constrain flexible operation in South and Southeast Asian power systems. The report argues that existing coal plants can support solar and wind integration at lower system cost if long-term contracts are reformed. It proposes a broader coal transition framework: repurpose young, efficient units for grid flexibility and balancing, place mid-life plants in strategic reserve, and retire the oldest and least efficient units. For single-buyer systems such as Indonesia, the study recommends PPA-based three-part tariffs for flexible capacity, energy and ancillary services. For wholesale markets such as the Philippines and India, it highlights short-term price signals and reserve markets.

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Power PhilippinesC

Coal and powerPower Philippines1 June 2026

AboitizPower eyes more Vietnam coal, gas, renewable projects

AboitizPower plans to pursue additional investments in Vietnam across coal, natural gas, and renewable energy projects, according to comments made during a meeting between Aboitiz Group executives and Vietnamese President To Lam during his state visit to the Philippines. The company is awaiting government approval for its $220 million acquisition of a 25% stake in Van Phong Power Company Limited, owner of an operational 1,320 MW high-efficiency, low-emission coal-fired power plant in Khanh Hoa Province. The transaction, announced in October 2025, is described as AboitizPower's first major international investment. CFO Sandro Aboitiz said Vietnam's growing electricity demand supports further investment. The meeting also covered broader Philippine-Vietnam business cooperation in food security, infrastructure, trade, tourism, and air links.

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Power PhilippinesC

Coal and powerPower Philippines1 June 2026

DOE targets 150 MW of additional reserves to address Visayas power shortage

Power Philippines reported that the Department of Energy directed NGCP to secure at least 150 MW of additional ancillary services and emergency measures for the Visayas, where peak demand has exceeded 2,700 MW while available supply fell to 2,244 MW. DOE attributed the deficit to outages at Therma Visayas Units 1 and 2, PEDC Unit 3, and KEPCO SPC Unit 2. KEPCO SPC Unit 2 was expected back June 2, PEDC Unit 3 on July 3, and Therma Visayas in August. Short-term measures include power barges, modular diesel units, and BESS, including a 30-MW Mactan facility under final testing and 20 MW of modular diesel under negotiation. Interconnections are supplying 450 MW from Mindanao and up to 250 MW from Luzon.

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bangkokbiznewsP

Policybangkokbiznews1 June 2026

Thai ERC Pushes Direct PPA Grid Rules as Data Center Demand Tops Quota Fivefold

Thailand’s Energy Regulatory Commission said the Direct PPA process has completed earlier policy steps and now awaits submission by the Energy Policy and Planning Office to the National Energy Policy Council. The first phase would be capped at 2,000 MW and limited to data centers, whose expressed demand reportedly exceeds 10,000 MW. UGT 2, with an average tariff of 4.09 baht per unit across voltage levels, will be used as a benchmark for Direct PPA pricing, though exact rates are not yet being proposed. The ERC said the NEPC submission will focus on selection criteria and risk safeguards, including a 4.5 million baht per MW grid-use guarantee. The ERC also described the Thailand Power Map and updates on community and household solar programs.

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TNGlobalD

Data centersTNGlobal1 June 2026

Why grid readiness is becoming Southeast Asia’s next tech constraint

TNGlobal argues that Southeast Asia’s technology expansion is increasingly constrained by grid readiness rather than only platforms, data centers, cloud, or venture funding. Citing Reuters on Bain & Company and Standard Chartered’s 2026 Southeast Asia Green Economy Report, it says demand from green industrial parks, data centers, and EVs could rise by more than 100 TWh within three to four years, requiring over $200 billion in investment while the region faces an $18 billion annual grid investment shortfall by 2035. It notes IEA estimates that global data center electricity use was about 415 TWh in 2024 and could reach 945 TWh by 2030. The article highlights ASEAN data center pipelines, Malaysia’s record demand, renewable project cancellations, ASEAN Power Grid financing needs, and the importance of PPAs, permitting, connection rules, and cross-border trading.

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The ConversationC

Coal and powerThe Conversation1 June 2026

Why the world’s most ambitious coal phase-out deal has failed – and what it means for climate finance

The Conversation article says Indonesia abandoned plans in December 2025 to close Cirebon-1, a coal plant intended as the centrepiece of Indonesia’s US$21.4 billion Just Energy Transition Partnership with the US, UK, Japan and EU. It says the JETP approach was designed to use public money and concessional finance to draw private investment into renewables and coal retirement, but private capital has not arrived at the expected scale. By early 2025, about US$1.1 billion in public money had been disbursed, while Indonesia’s electricity decarbonisation plan estimated US$97 billion was needed by 2030. The authors argue coal retirement is harder than building new renewables because it requires contract buyouts, compensation, legal renegotiation and replacement generation, with costs falling mainly on the state.

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linkedin.comD

Data centerslinkedin.comJune 2026

Data Centers Could Anchor Private-Wire Renewables in Southeast Asia

The article argues that Southeast Asian data center developers are primarily driven by reliable, firm and cost-competitive electricity, with clean energy as a strong preference rather than the sole requirement. It says private-wire renewable transactions can meet both reliability and clean-energy needs because data center developers have the balance sheet, load commitment and operational reason to finance physical grid infrastructure that state utilities cannot provide. A 200 MW, 15-year commitment is described as enough to support corporate or direct PPAs, remove fiscally stressed utilities from the credit stack and push stalled regulatory frameworks forward. The article contrasts this with fossil fuel defaults, warning that long-duration gas agreements expose buyers to take-or-pay LNG risk, stranded assets and fossil incumbency.

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linkedin.comC

Carbon marketslinkedin.com29 May 2026

Carbon Markets Enter Their Infrastructure Era

South Pole’s CEO reflects on Ecosperity and GenZero’s Climate Summit in Singapore, arguing that carbon markets are shifting toward a standardised, investible marketplace. The article says Singapore and other governments are building carbon markets as future economic infrastructure, while global emissions covered by emissions trading systems have tripled since 2016. It compares carbon-market development with aviation’s evolution after the 1944 Chicago Convention, stressing clear rules, interoperability and trust. South Pole’s stated position is that future growth lies in compliance infrastructure, including Article 6, CORSIA, jurisdictional REDD+ and sovereign cooperation. The article cites the Indus Delta Blue Carbon-1 project, which aims to restore 350,000 hectares and remove more than 142 million tonnes of CO2e over 60 years.

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Power PhilippinesC

Coal and powerPower Philippines29 May 2026

Industry leaders say grid flexibility now key challenge in energy transition

Power Philippines reports that industry leaders at the 3rd Solar and Energy Storage Future Philippines 2026 conference in Manila on May 18 said the Philippines must pair renewable investment with a more flexible grid. Panelists said tight reserves and recurring grid alerts, especially in the Visayas, show that integration, reliability and flexibility have become central constraints. Gary Espino of Skye Renewables cited growing demand, imported-fuel dependence and thin reserves as energy security risks, and said solar needs storage to approach baseload performance. Suntech's Joey Zheng said solar is shifting toward solar-plus-storage systems globally and in the Philippines. Mabuhay Energy's Jacqueline Castillo said grid modernization, permitting, land conversion and system impact studies are slowing deployment. Panelists also called for stable long-term energy policy across administrations.

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thediplomat.comT

Transition financethediplomat.com29 May 2026

Why Southeast Asia’s Just Energy Transition Partnerships Have Stalled

The Diplomat says Just Energy Transition Partnerships in South Africa, Indonesia and Vietnam have progressed more slowly than promised despite $44 billion in pledged funding. The article traces the model from South Africa’s $8.5 billion COP26 package to Indonesia’s $20 billion JETP and Vietnam’s $15.5 billion agreement. It argues the partnerships emphasized climate justice and private investment but underestimated the political economy of state-owned utilities, consumer prices, debt exposure and risk allocation. South Africa’s Eskom restructuring is advancing but has required debt relief and price increases. Indonesia’s JETP has approved $2.9 billion, much of it outside the original energy remit. Vietnam’s renewable boom came largely before and outside JETP, driven by feed-in tariffs that strained EVN.

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linkedin.comD

Data centerslinkedin.com28 May 2026

Data Centers Move to Build Carbon Removal Supply

On May 28, 2026, Pure Data Centres Group said it is building a platform to sell carbon removal credits to hyperscalers. R&D chief Alastair Collier said removal credits are not available at the scale needed to meet demand. The article links that shortage to the growth of AI infrastructure, noting that data centers are among the few sectors the IEA expects to keep increasing emissions through 2030, even as leading technology companies maintain ambitious net-zero targets. It argues that Pure Data Centres' move is notable because a data center company is treating carbon removal supply as something it must help build, rather than waiting for the market to mature. The piece says demand-side companies have both balance sheets and incentives to finance, develop, and underwrite removal capacity.

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spiegel.deD

Data centersspiegel.de24 May 2026

How citizen protests are slowing billion-euro AI projects in Germany

DER SPIEGEL reports on resistance to a planned large data center in Maintal near Frankfurt, which would include an associated gas-fired power plant. The article, published on May 24, 2026 in issue 22/2026, frames the case as an example of how local citizen protests can slow multibillion-euro AI infrastructure projects in Germany. It identifies the Rhein-Main region as Germany's leading data center location and presents the Maintal dispute through residents opposing what related article text describes as a fossil data center. The accessible article text names Torsten Kleinz and Kathrin Werner as authors and links the controversy to broader themes including artificial intelligence, electricity grids, power demand, climate change, Germany, Hesse, democracy, and internet infrastructure.

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New Energy NexusD

Data centersNew Energy Nexus22 May 2026

How to turn AI’s energy demand into a grid flexibility opportunity

New Energy Nexus China published an explainer by Wenxuan (Shane) Sun on computing-power coordination, or suan-dian xietong, as AI and data centers become major electricity users. Citing IEA figures, it says data centers used about 415 TWh in 2024, roughly 1.5% of global demand, and could roughly double by 2030. The article argues that some non-urgent computing workloads, including AI training, batch processing, rendering and simulations, may be shifted across time or location if dispatch authority, service-level agreements, measurement and settlement rules are in place. It frames China as a test case because of rapid AI infrastructure growth, renewable deployment, 8.1 million data center racks by end-2023, green data center targets, and distribution-grid stress from rooftop solar.

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Ecobiz AsiaP

PolicyEcobiz Asia22 May 2026

Southeast Asians Back Rapid Coal Phase-Out to Tackle Climate Change: Survey

Ecobiz Asia reports that a Market Forces-commissioned YouGov survey conducted in March 2026 found high climate concern and support for rapid coal phase-out in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. The survey covered 4,000 respondents. Climate concern was reported at 81% in Singapore, 84% in Malaysia and 96% in Indonesia. Support for rapidly phasing out coal-fired power as an effective climate response was 61% in Singapore, 65% in Indonesia and 58% in Malaysia. More than three in five respondents said banks financing coal mining and coal-fired power worsen climate change. Majorities also opposed bank financing for high-emission businesses, and 43% of Indonesians, 36% of Malaysians and 28% of Singaporeans said they might switch banks over new coal financing. The poll also scrutinized captive coal for nickel and aluminium processing.

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Asian PowerT

Transition financeAsian Power20 May 2026

Coal plant exit hurdle looms in Southeast Asia as $135b capital remains unrecovered, IEA says

Asian Power reports that an IEA report identifies $135b in unrecovered capital across Southeast Asia’s coal-fired power sector in 2025, making it the region’s largest financial barrier to early retirement. Globally, nearly 80% of operating coal capacity, or 1,700 GW, still carries $1.3t in unrecovered investment. The report links Southeast Asia’s exposure to young coal fleets, especially in Indonesia and Vietnam, after large post-2000 additions across developing Asia. It says financing costs, contractual obligations and long-term PPAs can make early closure unattractive and could pressure state-owned utility balance sheets if retirements are forced. The report cites transition credits, blended finance, multilateral development banks and public finance as potential support tools, and references ACEN’s South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation transaction in the Philippines.

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Carbon HeraldC

Carbon marketsCarbon Herald19 May 2026

IEA: Transition Credits Could Accelerate Coal Exit In Southeast Asia, Yet Structural Risks Remain

The IEA published a May 2026 report, supported by the Rockefeller Foundation and GenZero, assessing transition credits for reducing Southeast Asia’s dependence on coal-fired power. The report describes transition credits as carbon credits from verified power-sector emissions reductions, generated either by early coal plant retirement paired with clean energy replacement or by system-level reductions in grid emissions intensity. It says around 80% of coal plants across developing Asia are under 20 years old and could emit more than 280 gigatonnes of CO2 through 2100 if run for full technical lifetimes. Regional electricity demand is projected to rise about 60% between 2026 and 2035. The IEA estimates $20 billion per year in coal-related power investment through 2050 and flags carbon leakage, additionality and demand as key challenges.

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S&P GlobalC

Carbon marketsS&P Global18 May 2026

ECOSPERITY WEEK: IEA urges balanced transition credits for early Southeast Asia coal exits

S&P Global reported from GenZero's Ecosperity Week 2026 that the International Energy Agency called for a balanced approach to transition credits for early coal exits in Southeast Asia. The article links the issue to young coal fleets, reliability needs, and high-integrity carbon crediting. It says demand remains limited, with compliance markets viewed as the strongest anchor. Philippine transition-credit projects were discussed at roughly USD 35-50 per tCO2e, broadly aligned with Singapore-eligible international carbon credits. Singapore permits carbon-tax-covered entities to use eligible international carbon credits for up to 5% of emissions, and Singapore and the Philippines signed an Article 6 implementation agreement on April 30, 2026. Verra VM0052 is being piloted at the South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation plant.

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ft.comD

Data centersft.com14 May 2026

Tech groups score win on clean energy rules for gas-powered data centres

Financial Times reports that the Science Based Targets initiative has decided to make hourly clean-energy matching optional in a forthcoming standard after lobbying from large corporate energy users including Amazon, Meta, Apple, GM, Salesforce and Schneider Electric. Earlier proposed rules would have made it harder for data-centre operators running on coal or gas to claim 100% renewable coverage through certificates bought annually from projects elsewhere or at different times. The “May not Shall” coalition, representing companies with $4.7tn in annual revenue, argued mandatory hourly and location matching could deter clean-energy investment. Google backs stricter hourly matching. Papers cited by the FT from The Electricity Journal and Princeton’s Low-Carbon Technology Consortium argue hourly, local and new clean-energy certificates would reduce emissions faster.

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linkedin.comC

Coal and powerlinkedin.com10 May 2026

Firm Wind And Storage Undercut Germany’s Coal And Gas Costs

Assaad Razzouk, chief executive officer of Gurīn Energy, said in a May 10, 2026 post that firm wind-plus-storage in Germany now costs $91 per MWh and is projected to fall to $73 per MWh by 2030. He said the current cost is already below the marginal operating costs, defined as fuel plus maintenance, of Germany’s existing coal and gas plants. Razzouk linked the cost shift to expected savings of €250 billion on Germany’s gas import bill by 2035. The post presents the comparison as evidence that the economics of fossil-fired generation have been overtaken by firm renewable alternatives, ending with the conclusion that “the Fire Age is over.” It does not provide methodology, asset-level examples, or details on transactions or policy mechanisms.

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Yahoo FinanceD

Data centersYahoo Finance6 May 2026

Digital Edge and B.Grimm Power Secures Thailand's Largest Data Center Loan of US$880 Million to Advance AI and Cloud Infrastructure

Digital Edge and B.Grimm Power announced a US$880 million green loan to finance their 100MW BKK Campus data center project in Chonburi, Thailand, calling it the largest financing ever secured for a data center project in the country. The transaction is part of Digital Edge's US$1 billion joint-venture investment plan with B.Grimm Power and follows record-setting green loans by Digital Edge in South Korea and Indonesia. Located in the Eastern Economic Corridor, the campus is intended to support AI and cloud workloads and Thailand's national digitalization strategy. The loan is structured under Digital Edge's Green Financing Framework and was backed by Thai and international mandated lead arrangers. The first building, BKK1, is scheduled for Q4 2026, with BKK2 planned for Q2 2027.

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ap.power.mhi.comC

Coal and powerap.power.mhi.comMay 2026

Powering Thailand’s Energy Future

Mitsubishi Power says its long-running partnership with Gulf Development supports Thailand’s power-sector roadmap, which targets emissions of 41.5 million tons by 2050 while demand rises with industrialization and urbanization. The case study presents natural gas, already over 60% of Thai generation, as a dispatchable baseload resource that can stabilize the system and complement variable renewables. GULF first hired Mitsubishi Power for EPC work on GTCC plants in Nong Saeng and Uthai in 2011. More recently, Sriracha and Pluak Daeng formed a 5,300 MW combined-cycle project in Chonburi and Rayong, completed in 2022 and 2024 with eight M701JAC gas turbines. Hin Kong, a 1,400 MW GULF-RATCH project in Ratchaburi, began commercial operations in March 2024 and January 2025; Mitsubishi Power now maintains it under a 25-year service agreement.

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Ministry of Trade and IndustryC

Carbon marketsMinistry of Trade and Industry30 April 2026

Singapore signs the Philippines’ first Implementation Agreement on carbon credits collaboration under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement

Singapore and the Philippines signed an Implementation Agreement on carbon credits collaboration under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on 30 April 2026, during ASEAN Climate Week in Manila. Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry described it as the Philippines’ first such Implementation Agreement. The agreement was signed by Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations, Grace Fu, and the Philippines’ Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary, Juan Miguel T. Cuna. The short release does not provide transaction terms, eligible project types, crediting methods, authorization procedures, or expected volumes. It frames the development as a bilateral government agreement enabling carbon credits collaboration under the Paris Agreement rather than as a specific project or asset-level intervention.

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Fair ObserverT

Transition financeFair Observer27 April 2026

A 500-Megawatt Test of Credibility in Indonesia’s Energy Transition

Published on April 27, 2026, the article argues that Indonesia’s coal transition is stalled less by a lack of policy frameworks than by a lack of executable financing. It proposes that Indonesia negotiate a concessional financing facility with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation to retire a first 500 MW tranche of coal capacity. The piece says a small initial retirement could create a replicable template, use cheaper and longer-tenor capital to address long-term PPA economics, and signal that coal retirement is bankable. It links the proposal to ADB’s Energy Transition Mechanism, climate-fund pilots, JETP critiques of policy distortions and excess reliance on commercial debt, and JBIC cooperation with PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur and PLN. It also notes political risks around jobs, revenues and energy security.

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WhalesbookT

Transition financeWhalesbook23 April 2026

BII Commits £1.1B to Asia's Energy Pivot, Tackling Coal Reliance

British International Investment launched British Climate Partners, a £1.1 billion initiative intended to mobilize private capital for climate and energy transition projects across India and Southeast Asia. The fund will use equity and mezzanine finance to reduce early-stage risks and attract commercial investors. It forms part of BII’s 2026-2031 strategy, under which BII plans to invest £8 billion of its own capital, mobilize £7.5 billion from commercial sources, and raise climate finance to 40% of new investments. The article says BCP will target coal-reliant markets including India, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam, where transition investment needs are large. It also notes execution risks from high capital costs, weak offtakers, transmission gaps, policy uncertainty, coal asset lock-in, and just-transition requirements.

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Clean Energy WireC

Coal and powerClean Energy Wire21 April 2026

Germany's coal exit quietly progressing, likely completed by 2032 – researcher

Clean Energy Wire interviewed Hauke Hermann, senior researcher at Oeko-Institut, about Germany's coal phase-out after Chancellor Friedrich Merz questioned the schedule amid energy market turbulence from the Iran war and delayed gas backup plants. Hermann said the 2020 coal exit law has responsive mechanisms that allowed temporary pauses and plant returns during the 2022 energy crisis. He argued that old coal plants are a poor tool for lowering prices because they distort scarcity signals and face mining, compensation, and state aid complications. His models show market forces, driven by ETS allowance prices and gas price trends, are likely to push coal out faster than the legal 2038 deadline, with a national exit around 2031 or 2032 realistic. He remains optimistic about North Rhine-Westphalia's 2030 target.

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Tạp chí Kinh tế - Tài chính OnlineP

PolicyTạp chí Kinh tế - Tài chính Online18 April 2026

10 nhóm nhiệm vụ trọng tâm triển khai tuyên bố JETP

Vietnam’s Prime Minister approved Decision No. 458/QD-TTg on March 20, 2026, updating implementation of the Just Energy Transition Partnership political declaration. The scheme seeks international finance, technology and technical assistance to accelerate the shift from coal to renewable energy, reduce emissions and reach net zero by 2050. It links JETP implementation to Resolution 70-NQ/TW and the national power development plan, stating that Vietnam will build no new coal power, stop coal plants older than 40 years if they cannot convert fuel, limit 2050 energy emissions to no more than 101 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, and raise renewables to about 80-85% of primary energy. Ten task groups cover institutions, coal project handling, renewables, grids, storage, transport, labor support, communication and international resource mobilization.

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linkedin.comC

Coal and powerlinkedin.comApril 2026

Grid Constraints Push Romania Toward Behind-The-Meter Battery Storage

Daniel Pintilie argues that investment attention in battery storage is rotating from front-of-meter to behind-the-meter systems, citing a February 2026 Lincoln International analysis via ESS News. He says Romania’s congested ATR grid-connection queue, especially in southern and western nodes, makes BTM storage more attractive because commercial and industrial customers can reduce contracted capacity, accelerate approvals, and cut peak demand charges. He links the trend to European data-center growth, where power access is constraining AI infrastructure and behind-the-meter solar plus BESS can derisk delivery timelines. The post says the C&I revenue model is shifting from system sales to BESS-as-a-service, creating recurring contracted revenues and opening SME demand. It adds that European storage capacity is expected to grow fourfold by 2029, with a significant distributed share.

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Ministry of Trade and IndustryC

Carbon marketsMinistry of Trade and Industry31 March 2026

Singapore and Thailand launch applications for carbon credit projects under bilateral Implementation Agreement

Singapore and Thailand have launched an application call for carbon credit projects under their bilateral Implementation Agreement on carbon credits cooperation. Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry announced the call on 31 March 2026. The ministry said this is Singapore’s fifth call for project applications under similar carbon credits cooperation arrangements, following earlier calls with Ghana, Peru, Bhutan and Rwanda. The notice is a short government announcement and points readers to a full press release PDF, listed at 302 KB, for further details. The webpage identifies the announcement as an official Singapore Government Agency release and was last updated on 29 May 2026. No specific project, asset, developer, methodology, volume, price, or crediting standard is named in the page text provided.

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bangkokpost.comC

Coal and powerbangkokpost.com21 March 2026

Coal units restarted to curb electricity costs

Thailand’s Energy Regulatory Commission ordered state utility Egat to restart Mae Moh coal-fired power plant units 9 and 10, which had been decommissioned, to help contain electricity bills. ERC secretary-general Poonpat Leesombatpiboon said the two units can add 600MW to Mae Moh’s current 700MW operating capacity. The article says coal remains cheaper than LNG, which supplies about 60% of Thailand’s power generation, while Asian spot LNG prices reached US$24-25 per million Btu, nearly double last year’s average, amid Middle East-linked supply disruption. The restart is intended to help maintain tariffs at 3.88 baht per unit for May-August. Officials also secured three spot LNG cargoes for March and April, sought more supplier negotiations, and warned Egat faces strain after 36 billion baht in losses.

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LinkedInT

Transition financeLinkedIn4 March 2026

UNESCAP Launches Asia Energy Transition Platform Focused on Economic Growth

Peter du Pont reported attending the launch of Energy Transition for Green Growth and Prosperity (ETGGP), a UN ESCAP platform for energy transition across Asia and the Pacific. He says the program will run through 2028 with an initial USD 4.5 million budget and support from CIFF, Sequoia Climate Foundation, and Tara Climate Foundation. ETGGP is organized around analytical work, regional power connectivity and green corridors, and green finance for the energy transition. The post frames the launch discussion around economic strategy rather than climate obligation. Thailand NESDC official Tanapoom Kooprasertying described the transition as part of Thailand's forward economy strategy, while UN ESCAP Energy Division head Hongpeng Liu argued it should be framed as productivity, growth, and coalition-building.

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eastasiaforum.orgP

Policyeastasiaforum.org24 January 2026

Stalled ambitions in Indonesia’s energy transition

East Asia Forum analysis argues Indonesia’s energy transition is being held back by coal price controls, PLN’s single-offtaker model and tariff rules that make renewable IPP projects financially unattractive. President Prabowo Subianto announced at the 2024 G20 Summit an intention to phase out fossil fuel power within 15 years, but officials later rejected a full coal phaseout as economic suicide, and a September 2025 National Energy Policy moved the 23 per cent renewables target from 2025 to 2030. The 2025-2034 electricity plan includes 16.6 GW of new non-renewable capacity and 42.6 GW of renewables. The article warns that EU battery and carbon border rules threaten nickel, cement, iron and steel exports, and urges gradual removal of coal price distortions plus support for clean technology.

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The Jakarta PostT

Transition financeThe Jakarta Post11 December 2025

Canceled Cirebon-1 shutdown raises questions for JETP

The Jakarta Post reports that the collapsed deal to retire Indonesia’s Cirebon-1 coal-fired power plant early has left the country’s Just Energy Transition Partnership searching for direction. Fabby Tumiwa of the Institute for Essential Services Reform said JETP disbursement remains slow, with approved financing largely going to existing PLN projects and some private rooftop solar initiatives. He said more transformative funding for early coal retirement, solar, geothermal and de-dieselization projects remains in progress, partly because PLN’s 2025-2034 electricity business plan was issued late. A JETP Secretariat progress report published on Oct. 24 said $2.85 billion had been approved as of September across five programs and four projects, while another 22 loans and equity investments worth $5.5 billion to $6.2 billion were still being processed.

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AP NewsC

Carbon marketsAP News11 December 2025

The Philippines tests ‘transition credits’ to cut coal use in novel experiment

The Associated Press reports that the Philippines is testing transition credits, a proposed carbon-credit variant intended to finance earlier coal phaseout by valuing avoided future emissions and using proceeds to replace fossil fuel equipment with renewable energy gear. The pilot centers on ACEN Corp.’s 270-megawatt South Luzon Thermal Energy Corp. coal plant in Calaca, Batangas, which ACEN has committed to retire by 2040, potentially sooner if credits work. The Rockefeller Foundation designed the concept and says the method is under independent carbon market governance review. Joseph Curtin said about 60 Asia-Pacific coal plants could have transition-credit potential and attract $110 billion by 2030. Critics cite carbon market integrity problems, inaccurate calculations, community harms, and the risk of diverting attention from direct renewable energy buildout.

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Gold StandardC

Carbon marketsGold Standard4 December 2025

The Carbon Market’s Next Mission: Paying to Shut Fossil Fuels Down

Gold Standard says carbon markets should evolve from rewarding avoided or removed emissions to financing managed fossil-fuel phaseout. In an opinion article updated December 4, 2025, Vikash Talyan and Sarah Leugers announce public consultations on two methodologies: Joined-up Sustainable Transition (JUST): Coal Decommissioning and JUST: Fossil Fuel Generators. The first addresses large coal plants that provide grid power and support regional economies; the second targets dispersed diesel and other fossil generators, estimated at 350-500 GW in developing countries. Gold Standard argues transition credits should fund permanent shutdowns and renewable replacements, but only with credible decommissioning plans, reliability safeguards and tailored just transition plans. It cites Transition Credits Coalition analysis that retiring and replacing one-third of coal capacity in 15 Asian markets could cut about 1 gigatonne of emissions annually.

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ScandasiaC

Coal and powerScandasia28 November 2025

Carlsberg Vietnam pushes net-zero goals with renewable energy and community projects

ScandAsia reports that Carlsberg Vietnam outlined further net-zero steps at the Green Economy Forum 2025, where it joined a panel on direct power purchase agreements. Managing director Andrew Khan said the company has used I-REC certified renewable electricity since 2022, plans to join Vietnam's DPPA scheme, and is preparing on-site solar projects to reach net-zero production emissions by 2028, aligned with Vietnam's 2050 targets. The Phu Bai Brewery in Central Vietnam now runs on renewable electricity and biomass-powered steam. New equipment and automation have cut water use by 20 percent and energy consumption by 15 percent, while the company targets zero waste to landfill by 2025 and fully recyclable or reusable packaging by 2026. Carlsberg also cited community programs and flood relief donations in Hue and Danang.

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Allen & GledhillC

Carbon marketsAllen & Gledhill27 November 2025

MAS publishes TRACTION’s final report and launches support statement for energy transition credits

Allen & Gledhill reports that MAS published TRACTION’s final report on 12 November 2025, after releasing key insights and a Statement of Support for Energy Transition Credits on 10 November. TRACTION, convened by MAS at COP28, examined how energy transition credits could finance accelerated coal retirement and clean-energy replacement in Asia. The report says one-third of coal-fired power plants across 15 Asian markets could be eligible, representing about 1 GtCO2e in annual emissions reductions, but bankability depends on national policy clarity, region-specific integrity guardrails, predictable carbon revenues, risk mitigation, and credible buyer demand. It highlights phased boiler-unit shutdowns, Just Transition uses of credit proceeds, advanced market commitments, and buyer coalitions. Twenty-one public and private entities joined the support statement for potential offtake, financing, and underwriting.

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reuters.comC

Coal and powerreuters.com22 July 2025

Philippines set for first coal power decline in 17 years amid rising LNG use

Reuters reports that Philippine coal-fired electricity output is on track for its first annual decline in nearly two decades, based on market and government data. Gas-fired generation rose 5.2% year-on-year to 10.36 TWh in the first half of 2025, lifting gas’s power share to 17.5% from a 2023 record low of 13.9%. Coal output fell 5.5% to 33.8 TWh, with coal’s share dropping to 57.2% from 61.9% in 2024. LNG imports rose 51% in the first half, while coal imports fell for the first time since the pandemic. Analysts cited new gas capacity, lower Asian spot LNG prices, coal plant outages, stronger hydropower, liberalised electricity markets, and the Philippines’ 2020 moratorium on new coal project proposals.

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S&P GlobalP

PolicyS&P Global11 June 2025

Vietnam to start pilot emission trading in 2025, allow offsetting 30% emissions

S&P Global reported that Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will pilot an emissions trading scheme from 2025 through 2028, covering power, iron and steel, and cement. Decree 119/2025/ND-CP, signed June 9 by Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, amends Decree 06/2022/ND-CP. Vietnam will assign allowances for 2025 and 2026 emissions by the end of 2025, and 2027-2028 allowances are expected by October 31, 2027. During the pilot phase, allowances will be allocated free using intensity-based benchmarks rather than an absolute cap. Companies may use Article 6.2, Article 6.4 and other approved international carbon credits to offset up to 30% of liable emissions. From 2029, Vietnam plans allowance auctions, domestic carbon trading rules and global market participation rules.

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GenZeroC

Carbon marketsGenZero6 May 2025

Mitsubishi and DGA Join ACEN, GenZero, and Keppel to Drive Energy Transition with Transition Credits

GenZero announced on 7 May 2025 that Mitsubishi Corporation and subsidiary Diamond Generating Asia joined ACEN, GenZero and Keppel in exploring Transition Credits for the 246 MW South Luzon Thermal Energy Corp. coal plant in the Philippines. The companies signed a Deed of Accession to a 2024 memorandum of understanding. ACEN reached financial close in November 2022 on a market-based Energy Transition Mechanism involving SLTEC’s divestment and a commitment to retire the plant by 2040, about half its typical technical life. ACEN now seeks to accelerate retirement to 2030 while replacing output with clean, reliable energy. The parties are exploring Article 6 implementation, corresponding adjustments and an appropriate methodology, after Verra approved the Coal to Clean Credit Initiative methodology under its VCS Program.

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verra.orgC

Carbon marketsverra.org6 May 2025

New Verra Methodology Supports Coal Phase-Out and Just Energy Transition

Verra announced on May 6, 2025 that it has launched VCS methodology VM0052 Accelerated Retirement of Coal-Fired Power Plants Using a Just Transition. The methodology enables projects to quantify climate benefits from early coal plant retirement by comparing actual emissions with expected lifetime emissions, and requires retired capacity to be paired with new renewable energy added because of the closure. Developed by the Coal to Clean Credit Initiative with Rockefeller Foundation support, it is intended to help coal plant owners access carbon finance while creating transition credits. Verra says the rules include just transition protections for workers and communities, covering job creation, energy access, and social safeguards. The initial version targets regulated electricity markets and certain plants in deregulated markets.

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Eco-BusinessC

Carbon marketsEco-Business6 May 2025

Verra launches world’s first transition credits methodology

Verra has finalized a methodology for transition credits, a new class of carbon credits generated by retiring coal plants early and replacing them with renewable energy. Developed with the Coal to Clean Credit Initiative, led by The Rockefeller Foundation, the rules estimate emissions reductions against what a plant would have emitted over its expected lifetime. The methodology applies to coal plants with power purchase agreements of at least 20 years and has been expanded to cover deregulated as well as regulated electricity markets, with tightened criteria for additionality and baselines. Verra also requires at least 2 per cent of expected revenues to fund just transition plans. ACEN’s 246 MW SLTEC plant in the Philippines is expected to trial the approach, aiming for closure by 2030 rather than 2040.

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ugt-thai.comC

Coal and powerugt-thai.com24 April 2025

Thailand's Utility Green Tariff

Thailand has introduced the Utility Green Tariff, a national utility green procurement program powered by EGAT and embedded in the electricity supply system with EGAT, MEA and PEA. The program lets eligible customers buy renewable electricity and associated renewable energy certificates through their electricity bills. UGT1 offers user-unspecified green energy from existing hydropower plants, with annual subscriptions and a premium over normal tariffs. UGT2 is aimed at large consumers, allows user-specified sources, uses a new tariff structure, and is expected to involve 10-year contracts from wind, solar and solar-plus-BESS sources. The platform matches actual renewable generation with subscriber consumption and allocates bundled RECs. As of January 2026, UGT reports 41 subscribers, 130,000 bundled RECs delivered and 260,000 tCO2 avoided.

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Centre for Research on Energy and Clean AirC

Coal and powerCentre for Research on Energy and Clean Air6 March 2025

Cirebon-1, Indonesia’s first coal-to-renewables milestone

CREA says Indonesia’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bahlil Lahadalia, announced on 3 February 2025 that the 660 MW Cirebon-1 coal plant in West Java will retire in 2035, seven years before its original 2042 date. The ministry said its supply will be fully replaced by renewable systems, including 700 MW of solar, 346 MW of low-power solar, 1,000 MW of wind and 12 MW of waste-to-energy. CREA’s briefing supplements its June 2024 analysis and says Cirebon-1’s early retirement could avoid more than 6,000 deaths and USD 4.4 billion in economic burden from 2036 to 2042. It also cites Pelabuhan Ratu, a second JETP pilot retiring in 2037, with similar avoided health and economic losses.

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nationthailandP

Policynationthailand25 November 2024

EGAT highlights the Triple S strategy at COP29 to drive Thailand’s energy transition for achieving carbon neutrality

EGAT joined Thailand’s COP29 delegation in Baku and used a Thailand Pavilion side event to present its Triple S strategy for supporting carbon neutrality. The strategy covers Sources Transformation, including more renewables and upgraded power plants and grids; Sink Co-creation, focused on carbon absorption and storage; and Support Measures Mechanism, encouraging efficient energy use and community projects around EGAT dams and power plants. EGAT cited Mae Moh Smart City in Lampang as a pilot low-carbon city project covering smart energy, environment, and economy, with possible expansion to Rajjaprabha Dam and Krabi Power Plant. It also presented biomass products made from agricultural waste, plus the ENZY energy-management platform, EV charging services, and floating solar paired with hydropower.

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GenZeroC

Carbon marketsGenZero16 August 2024

ACEN, GenZero and Keppel join hands to catalyse retirement of coal-fired plants in Southeast Asia

ACEN, GenZero and Keppel signed an MOU in Manila on 16 August 2024 to explore using Transition Credits to accelerate retirement of the 246 MW South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation coal-fired power plant in Batangas, Philippines. The parties plan a development study on credit origination and sale, targeting decommissioning by 2030, ten years earlier than planned, while supporting just transition measures. The project would replace the plant’s baseload output with a mid-merit Integrated Renewables and Energy Storage System using solar and batteries. The partners said the work will consider worker and community training, asset repurposing and lower-impact decommissioning. The initiative is linked to Rockefeller Foundation’s Coal to Clean Credit Initiative, MAS’s TRACTION coalition and possible Philippines-Singapore Article 6 cooperation.

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Keppel - Global asset manager and operator creating solutions for a sustainable futureC

Carbon marketsKeppel - Global asset manager and operator creating solutions for a sustainable future16 August 2024

ACEN, GenZero and Keppel join hands to catalyse retirement of coal-fired plants in Southeast Asia

ACEN, GenZero and Keppel signed an MOU to explore originating and using Transition Credits to accelerate retirement of the 246 MW South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation coal-fired plant in Calaca, Batangas by 2030, ten years early. The project would replace the plant’s baseload output with a mid-merit Integrated Renewables and Energy Storage System consisting of solar and battery storage, while considering worker training, community support, asset repurposing and low-impact decommissioning. The parties will conduct a development study covering technological solutions and the economics of the coal-to-clean transition. The initiative will work with the Rockefeller Foundation’s Coal to Clean Credit Initiative and MAS’s Transition Credits Coalition, and may come under Philippines-Singapore Article 6 cooperation. Singapore has said it may offtake high-integrity transition credits.

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Eco-BusinessC

Carbon marketsEco-Business28 February 2024

Renewable energy certificates, defying criticism, take off in Southeast Asia

Eco-Business reports that Southeast Asia has become one of the fastest-growing sources of solar and wind renewable energy certificates, even as renewable deployment remains slow. I-REC and TIGR data show issuances rose almost thirteenfold from under 1 million in 2019 to nearly 12.5 million in 2023, with Vietnam generating almost 7 million certificates. Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam lead issuance, while the Philippines largely left global platforms after starting a national compliance market in 2021. Prices vary widely, from about US$0.70 per certificate in Vietnam to around US$65 in Singapore. Developers and traders say REC income is usually supplemental but can help project finance. Critics argue RECs let buyers overstate Scope 2 emissions reductions, prompting tighter guidance from RE100 and GHG Protocol.

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reuters.comT

Transition financereuters.com3 December 2023

Indonesia, ADB, owners agree to shutter first coal-fired power station early

Reuters reports that Indonesia and the Asian Development Bank agreed a provisional deal with the owners of the 660 MW Cirebon-1 coal-fired power plant to close it almost seven years early. Announced at COP28 in Dubai, the non-binding framework is the first transaction under ADB’s Energy Transition Mechanism. It was signed by ADB, PT PLN, PT Cirebon Electric Power and the Indonesia Investment Authority. The plant’s power purchase agreement would end in December 2035 instead of July 2042, avoiding more than 15 years of emissions compared with a 40-year operating life, ADB said. The deal supports Indonesia’s $20 billion Just Energy Transition Partnership and remains subject to due diligence on environmental, worker, social and power-system impacts, with expected close in the first half of 2024.

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Gulf News: Latest UAE news, Dubai news, Business, travel news, Dubai Gold rate, prayer time, cinemaC

Coal and powerGulf News: Latest UAE news, Dubai news, Business, travel news, Dubai Gold rate, prayer time, cinema1 December 2023

Philippines: Billionaire Ayala siblings seek to retire coal power plant 25 years earlier, to hit 100% green power

ACEN and Ayala Corp are presenting at COP28 their Energy Transition Mechanism transaction to cut the operating life of SLTEC’s 246 MW coal plant in Calaca, Batangas, from 50 years to 25 years. The plant came online in 2015 and would otherwise run until 2065; the plan is to retire it by 2040, avoiding an estimated 50 million metric tons of carbon emissions. The article says the transaction, backed by institutional investors including the Government Service Insurance System and the Asian Development Bank, enabled ACEN to divest its coal equity stake and move toward a 100% renewable generation portfolio by 2025. ACEN targets 20 GW of renewables capacity by 2030 and net zero by 2050.

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