ASEAN cooling: Energy efficiency and climate mitigation in sectors with high cooling demand

CONTEXT

The ASEAN region represents around 650 million people and an economic region with an annual growth rate of approximately 5%. This is accompanied by a continuous increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, mainly due to the high consumption of electricity that is growing by 6% annually. For a region with rapid urbanization and a warm tropical climate, the demand for cooling is so high that in summer about half of the electricity consumption is attributable to the use of cooling technology. The large, fast-growing member states Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia are particularly significant here.

Improving the energy efficiency of cooling systems is key to supporting the ASEAN member states to meet their soaring electricity demand. However, important conditions for increasing energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in sectors with high cooling demand are not yet in place in ASEAN countries. Industries and companies with high cooling demand offer great potential for the implementation of energy efficiency measures and the use of climate-friendly cooling technologies.

OBJECTIVE

The political, regulatory, and entrepreneurial conditions for enhancing energy efficiency and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions in sectors with high cooling demand in the ASEAN region have been improved.

APPROACHES

To advance energy efficiency and climate mitigation in sectors with high cooling demand, the project will support the implementation of activities in the following areas:

• Development of regional strategies and knowledge exchanges among public institutions on measures for improving the framework conditions to foster investments in energy efficiency, climate-friendly cooling technology and photovoltaic systems that partially cover their electricity consumption.
• Offering support to national public institutions to improve the framework conditions for GHG mitigation measures in sectors with high cooling demand in member states with significant energy consumption for cooling.
• Support for the private sector for the implementation of GHG mitigation measures in sectors with high cooling demand.
• Regional exchanges and knowledge dissemination of GHG mitigation measures in sectors with high cooling demand for the private sector.

To this end, the project supports the ASEAN member states in implementing selected measures of the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC), the ASEAN strategy for carbon neutrality, and national energy policy.

FINANCED BY

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

COUNTRY

ASEAN region with pilot measures in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam

PROJECT PARTNER

ASEAN Secretariat through the Energy & Minerals Division

PROJECT DURATION

12/2024 – 11/2028