Southeast Asia is poised to account for a quarter of the world’s new energy demand over the next decade.This rapid growth – still largely dependent on fossil fuels – risks escalating emissions and leaving the region vulnerable to climate change and energy insecurity.

While countries across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have set ambitious net-zero targets and made early progress in deploying solar and hydropower, the pace of transition is too slow. Grid infrastructure cannot meet demand, and experts warn that clean energy investments must increase dramatically if the region is to meet its climate goals.

Launched through a shared vision of philanthropies and governments at the 2019 Climate Action Summit, ETP was established as a provider of expertise for energy transition projects in Viet Nam, Indonesia and the Philippines.

For the past five years, ETP has implemented priority projects delivering results, responding to national priorities.

Since its inception, ETP’s pooled fund has mobilized over $61 million and supported 91 projects to date, focused on policy reform, coal phase-out and clean energy acceleration.

As global temperatures rise, Viet Nam faces increasing demand for cooling systems. But traditional refrigerants contain potent greenhouse gases that make the climate crisis worse

ETP has supported the government in developing Viet Nam’s National Sustainable Cooling Plan – a roadmap to reduce emissions from the cooling sector by up to 93 per cent while achieving over 62 Terawatt hours (TWh) in annual energy savings.

These changes will deliver benefits for citizens: lower energy bills, improved public health and adoption of highly energy-efficient and low-carbon technologies within the cooling sector.

In Indonesia, ETP is enabling critical energy transition efforts through modernization of the Jawa-Madura-Bali (JAMALI) grid – the backbone of the country’s power system.

The project is enabling a smart grid transformation capable of integrating fluctuating renewable energy sources like solar and wind. Through detailed engineering designs and capacity-building support, ETP is helping upgrade the JAMALI control center that will balance renewable energy supply and demand for 160 million people.

This modernization is key to Indonesia’s plan to expand renewable energy capacity and reduce its dependence on coal.

In the Philippines, ETP is supporting the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to develop its first Sustainable Energy Master Plan.

Home to nearly 5 million people, BARMM is emerging from a historic peace process and pursuing a 12-point agenda to strengthen governance, security and economic growth. ETP’s technical and analytical support will help the Bangsamoro government strategically manage renewable resources, creating a low-carbon development framework and energy investment plan to drive long-term growth.

Complementing bilateral projects, ETP’s regional programme is shaping the broader landscape for Southeast Asia’s energy future.

ETP is providing implementation support to enhance stakeholder readiness for the ASEAN Power Grid. This includes contributions to the ASEAN Interconnection Masterplan Study, a technical and analytical blueprint for formal cross-border electricity trading. This initiative will lead to affordable, reliable, and secure power exchange across member states while strengthening grid resilience.

To ensure convergence and long-term sustainability, ETP and ESCAP launched the innovative ASEAN School of Regulation, to harmonize regional energy policies and build the technical capacity of regulators.

As the energy transition landscape evolves, ETP continues to adapt and expand its strategic priorities. Its growing portfolio and collaborative approach advance just, inclusive and sustainable energy transitions across the region.

Over the past five years, ETP has evolved from a startup initiative into a trusted regional partner, driving tangible progress in energy transition efforts across Indonesia, the Philippines, Viet Nam and the wider Southeast Asia region. 

As it marks this milestone, ETP is launching a new five-year strategy designed to address emerging challenges in the region’s energy systems – from accelerating decarbonization and strengthening energy security to ensuring that the transition remains just, inclusive and equitable. Building on a foundation of collaboration and innovation, ETP is poised to continue powering a sustainable, low-carbon future for Southeast Asia.