Southeast Asia

Prioritizing cleaner energy systems, inclusive economic development, and clean urban environments for a secure energy future.

What Is the Southeast Asia Energy Program?

RMI’s Southeast Asia Program is advancing secure cleaner energy systems in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Given the urgent challenge to reduce pollution-related health effects globally, RMI focuses on these countries because of their large populations and rapid growth in energy demand. Together with regional and local partners, we are decarbonizing electricity and mobility, achieving integrated clean energy through investment portfolios and specific technical solutions.

Why it Matters

Southeast Asia Expects Massive Increase in Demand for Energy. Across Southeast Asia, greenhouse gas emissions are projected to more than double by 2040, causing the fastest increase worldwide. This means many countries in the region will deepen their dependence on imported fossil fuels, further exposing their economies to global price volatility as well as negatively impacting health, air, and water. Rapid decarbonization is essential to mitigate emissions and ensure a secure and energy-independent future in Southeast Asia.

Our Approach

Our approach focuses on three countries: Indonesia, The Philippines, and Vietnam. We aim to scale our efforts to address energy and mobility issues while underpinning inclusive economic development by tailoring the global umbrella program’s theory of change to the local context. We anchor our program strategy around three strategic interventions:

Positive solutions for cost-effective cleaner energy systems
Supporting leading corporate conglomerates in accelerating decarbonization
Clean urban mobility with a focus on leader cities in the region.

What We’ve Accomplished

Our program was selected as the lead in a feasibility study funded by the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) to develop up to three gigawatts (3GW) of offshore wind projects in The Philippines.
In partnership with the utility (PLN) and Government of Indonesia, our team supports them in defining a path to cost-effective, cleaner energy systems by performing techno-economic analysis for faster coal-to-clean transitions in accordance with their G20 agenda and climate target.