Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet’s Sun to Sea initiative gains momentum with new support for Indonesia’s coastal communities

Bangkok, Thailand | October 27, 2026 — On the sidelines of AsiaXchange 2026, the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (Global Energy Alliance) announced further progress under its Sun to Sea initiative in Indonesia, with growing engagement from development partners, government, philanthropy and the private sector.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved US$1.5 million in technical assistance through the Energy Access and Transition Trust Fund to support activities across 20 Sun to Sea pilot sites in eastern Indonesia. The support will help generate practical evidence on clean energy systems, productive-use applications, community resilience, ecosystem restoration, operating models and financing approaches that can inform future scale-up.

“Indonesia’s coastal villages need energy that does more than keep the lights on. It has to power livelihoods and hold up financially over time. Sun to Sea gives us a practical way to test which renewable energy, cold-chain and operating models work in different village contexts, and what communities, government, and the private sector each need to bring to make them last. The lessons from these pilots can help inform how we support community-driven development in Indonesia at a larger scale,” said Nianshan Zhang, Director General, Southeast Asia Department, Asian Development Bank.

Building on their shared interest in supporting coastal development, the Directorate General of Strengthening the Competitiveness of Marine and Fishery Products, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia, and Global Energy Alliance have expressed their intention to explore collaboration under Sun to Sea.

The initiative also witnessed support from the Tsao Family Foundation, a member of the Just Energy Transition Community (JETC), a philanthropic coalition convened by Philanthropy Asia Alliance. The Tsao Family Foundation brings a systems-level perspective to Sun to Sea, recognizing the interconnectedness of clean energy access, community wellbeing, sustainable livelihoods and healthy ecosystems. Together, the Tsao Family Foundation and other JETC members have committed a combined US$1.1 million to support the first year of Sun to Sea in Indonesia, strengthening the initiative’s funding base as it moves forward.

The initiative is also attracting early private-sector engagement. Local businesses and potential investors can play an important role in identifying commercially viable opportunities and supporting sustainable implementation. Businesses operating within coastal economies bring an understanding of local markets, fisheries value chains and the needs of fishing communities. Their involvement can help identify opportunities for clean energy to improve productivity, reduce post-harvest losses and generate greater value locally.

The Sun to Sea initiative is designed to use decentralized clean energy to address multiple needs within coastal communities and support a range of local livelihoods. Solar and battery-based energy systems can power productive activities and essential services, including fisheries, mariculture and agriculture. Solar-powered cold chains and drying systems can strengthen value chains, reduce post-harvest losses and create opportunities for greater local value addition. The approach also explores opportunities linked to ecotourism and ecosystem restoration, alongside measures to strengthen community resilience.

Woochong Um, Chief Executive Officer, Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet said: “Sun to Sea is built on the belief that the energy transition can be a powerful enabler of broader development; from strengthening livelihoods and food systems to building resilience in communities that are particularly exposed to climate and economic pressures. Addressing these interconnected challenges requires collaboration across philanthropy, development partners, government, businesses and local communities. Through partnerships that bring together complementary perspectives and expertise, we have an opportunity to demonstrate how clean energy can support more productive and resilient coastal economies and develop approaches with the potential to work at a much greater scale.”

Indonesia’s extensive coastline and large coastal population make the country an important context for demonstrating how clean energy can contribute to more resilient and productive coastal economies. Sun to Sea will explore solutions that are technically viable, commercially sustainable and responsive to the needs of local communities, while generating practical lessons to inform future replication.

About the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet

Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet is a global non-profit that builds public, private and philanthropic partnerships to accelerate clean energy and economic opportunity. Founded in 2021 by The Rockefeller Foundation, IKEA Foundation and Bezos Earth Fund, we build the technical, financial and institutional foundations that make clean energy investable and scalable across emerging economies. Our work is anchored in two mutually reinforcing global pillars that together address the market fragmentation that has historically slowed down progress on energy access and economic development. Grids of the Future strengthens energy supply through AI-enabled, renewables-ready power grids. Powering Opportunity builds demand, helping people harness clean energy to power businesses, create jobs and drive economic growth. Together, these pillars create a reinforcing cycle of abundant energy and economic opportunity. With 130 projects across Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean, we are on track to reach 91 million people with clean energy, create or improve more than 3 million jobs and prevent nearly 300 million tons of carbon emissions. For more information, please visit www.energyalliance.org and follow us on LinkedIn.

For press queries, please contact:
Vaishali Mishra
Director – Asia Communications and Global Special Projects
vaishali.mishra@energyalliance.org