Nuclear potential, data centre boom may be addressed in new Asean energy masterplan
But Asean Power Grid projects need rules to be in place to deliver on potential, say industry players
The upcoming masterplan for the Asean Power Grid (APG) may incorporate the potential for nuclear energy, alongside other emerging forms of clean power, according to Razib Dawood, executive director of the Asean Centre for Energy (ACE). The Asean Interconnection Masterplan Study (AIMS) is currently in its fourth edition and aims to explore the viability of cross-border electricity trade in the region.
Data center growth has significantly increased energy demand in Asean, accounting for 20.7% of the region's electricity demand growth between 2025 and 2030. The ongoing review of AIMS may also consider new technologies such as pumped hydro storage, battery energy storage, and small modular nuclear reactors for the long term. Nuclear energy could potentially be traded within the region, similar to France's export to European neighbors like Germany.
Wind energy exports are also on the rise, following a successful project in Laos that exports wind power. Singapore recently granted conditional approval for a project to import 1.3 gigawatts of renewable electricity from Vietnam and Malaysia, including wind-generated power. Despite the APG project having been discussed for over three decades, the global energy crunch due to conflict in the Middle East has reignited the drive for energy cooperation in Southeast Asia.
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