The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region is an economic zone of around 630 million people with regional gross domestic product of US$ 2.4 trillion (2015) growing on an average of 5.3 percent per year in the period 2007-2015. The demand for energy is immense due to the economic growth in the region driven by transport and industry sectors. However, energy demand and supply in individual ASEAN Member State (AMS) vary depending on available resources, as well as political and regulatory frameworks.

A regional guiding document, ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2016-2025 envisages target of 23 percent of renewable energy (RE) share in total primary energy supply (TPES) by 2025. As for energy efficiency and conservation (EE&C), the AMS are committed to achieve 20 percent reduction in energy intensity by 2020 and 30 percent by 2025 based on 2005 level.

Since 2008, Germany and ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) have been cooperating in advancing RE in the region. Started with the implementation of ASEAN-German Mini Hydro Programme in 2007-2010 and continued with the Renewable Energy Support Programme in ASEAN in 2010-2016.

Now with additional focus field on energy efficiency, ACE and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH are jointly implementing ASEAN-German Energy Programme (AGEP). The programme is commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and is implemented from October 2016 up to June 2019.

AGEP aims to improve regional coordination for the promotion of renewable energy and energy efficiency towards sustainable energy for all. AGEP is being implemented in regional contexts in all ASEAN Member States.

About ACE

Established on 1 January 1999, the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) is an independent intergovernmental organisation within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) structure that represents the 10 ASEAN Member States’ (AMS) interests in the energy sector.   The Centre accelerates the integration of energy strategies within ASEAN by providing relevant information and expertise to ensure the necessary energy policies and programmes are in harmony with the economic growth and the environmental sustainability of the region. It is guided by a Governing Council composed of Senior Officials on Energy from each AMS and a representative from the ASEAN Secretariat as an ex-officio member. Hosted by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia, ACE’s office is located in Jakarta.

On 26 May 2015, ACE Governing Council endorsed the business plan of an Enhanced ACE; a high-performing institution and a regional centre of excellence which builds a coherent, coordinated, focused and robust energy policy agenda and strategy for ASEAN.  The three critical roles of the Enhanced ACE:

  1. As an ASEAN energy think tank to assist the AMS by identifying and surfacing innovative solutions for ASEAN’s energy challenges on policies, legal & regulatory frameworks and technologies.
  2. As a catalyst to unify and strengthen ASEAN energy cooperation and integration by implementing relevant capacity building programmes and projects to assist the AMS develop their energy sector.
  3. As the ASEAN energy data centre and knowledge hub to provide a knowledge repository for the AMS.

For more information, visit: www.aseanenergy.org

About German Cooperation

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a global service provide in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development with more than 17,000 employees. GIZ has over 50 years of experience in a wide variety of areas, including economic development and employment, energy and the environment, and peace and security. As a public-benefit federal enterprise, GIZ supports the German Government, particularly the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), in around 130 countries as they strive to achieve their international cooperation objectives. With this aim, GIZ works together with its partners to develop effective solutions that offer people better prospects and sustainably improve their living conditions.

With approximate total of 620 million citizens, ASEAN constitutes the eighth largest economy in the world and, in terms of economic growth, is one of the globe’s most dynamic areas. GIZ is supporting regional efforts to achieve a more sustainable future for ASEAN. GIZ is encouraging “ASEAN helps ASEAN” initiative, currently overseeing the transfer of both knowledge and experience form the region’s more developed countries to its less-developed nations, while the ASEAN-German Joint Cooperation Review offers a stable platform from which various challenges may be addressed. More information, visit: www.giz.de 

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