KUALA LUMPUR: Asia’s energy transition is moving with perpetual momentum, with the shift towards renewables increasingly anchored on economic growth needs rather than purely environmental considerations, says global clean energy company Gentari.
Chief strategy and portfolio officer M Huzaini Ghazali said yesterday the transition had been gaining pace even before current global developments and continues to move steadily forward.
He added that Asia’s diverse economic starting points and growth trajectories mean countries require a range of energy sources, with the transition shaped by development needs.
“There are different nations in Asia coming from different situations and different growth profiles, and they require various forms of energy.
“At least from a generation perspective, renewable energies end up being extremely competitive, even the cheaper option,” he said during a panel session called “Grid and Infrastructure: The Backbone of Energy Transition” on the last day of the Offshore Technology Conference Asia.
Huzaini, nonetheless, noted that this cost advantage is only one part of the equation, as scaling renewables depends heavily on grid infrastructure.
While renewable generation is cheap, it lacks the consistency of traditional sources like gas or coal, he said.
“The grid plays a critical element to ensure we are able to bring in this new source of energy in a stable way.
“Every single one of us expects to turn on the fan or the air conditioning with the flick of a switch,” he said.
To meet these expectations at scale, Huzaini further emphasised that grid development must be viewed beyond individual nations, pointing toward a broader regional system to support the growing share of renewables in Asia’s energy mix. — Bernama
