The Path Forward: GEAPP’s Vision for a Sustainable Energy Future in Asia

The share of renewables in Asia-Pacific’s (APAC’s) is expanding rapidly at an average annual growth rate of 9%, making the region central to the global energy transition efforts. By 2030, renewable energy is anticipated to account for 30% to 50% of the power generation mix in most APAC markets. Yet, this promise comes with profound challenges.

Millions across Asia still lack reliable energy access and the region faces high vulnerability to climate change. A critical gap in climate finance and infrastructure continues to hinder uninterrupted power supply and the transition from conventional fuels to renewable energy. As energy demand surges, emerging economies must address the dual imperative of balancing development priorities with climate action.

Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), since its inception at COP26 in 2021, is catalyzing systemic changes and unlocking opportunities for green energy access in emerging economies to bridge these gaps. With our three change levers—government enablement, market-building, and catalytic finance—we have supported over 605,000 livelihoods, enhanced energy access for over a million people and businesses, invested over USD 460 million in green energy, and averted 147,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions.

With the right support, Asia can emerge as a leader in renewable energy, setting a global precedent for sustainable development.

Key Milestones from Our Journey

As we hit the ground running in 2025, we take a moment to recapitulate the milestones that have shaped our journey in Asia over the past year. These achievements highlight our commitment to drive the global energy transition forward.

2024 began with a partnership with Clime Capital to back the first closing of SEACEF II, Southeast Asia’s first blended investment fund. The year also marked the official launch of Climate Leaders Network (CLN) in Vietnam. Developed in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), CLN is the first-ever gender, climate, and energy transition initiative in Vietnam, dedicated to elevating women’s leadership and voices in climate action and decision-making. As part of our larger support to the government of Vietnam’s Eighth Power Development Plan (PDP8), we partnered with USAID, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) to coordinate a plan to embed and expand a pilot BESS project in Vietnam, create a BESS growth roadmap for 300MW, establish a robust regulatory framework.

In India, we attained a significant milestone with the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (DERC) regulatory approval for India’s first commercial utility-scale BESS pilot. The project was developed by GEAPP in partnership with IndiGrid, BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL), and AmpereHour.

Acknowledging the urgent need for fostering regional cooperation between emerging markets in addition to strengthening national capacities, a peer-to-peer exchange between India and Nigeria was organized in collaboration with the World Resources Institute (WRI) India and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL). Drawing valuable insights from India’s e-bus deployment model, the meeting aimed to advance Nigeria’s vision to electrify its bus fleets under its Presidential CNG Initiative (Pi-CNG).

In recent months, there has been an increasing focus on aligning state and national priorities with green development objectives. We developed a digital platform to support the Rajasthan State Government in implementing and monitoring feeder-level solarization. The Alliance has also partnered with the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) to develop a 450-500 MW solar park, creating India’s first green energy corridor across the 296-km route. To further advance sustainable development and enable governments at sub-national levels, GEAPP signed a Statement of Intent (SOI) with NITI Aayog.

November, with COP29 and the milestone of 100 MW renewable energy installed capacity in India, marked a momentous month for the Alliance. At COP29 in Baku, we highlighted our commitment to Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) for Indonesia’s de-dieselization program, aimed at improving renewable energy access to remote islands in Indonesia. This marks a significant step forward in our aim to assist the government in effectively planning and implementing the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). Some other projects currently in the pipeline include the Tembesi Floating Solar Power Plants, Productive Use of Energy (PUE) and cold storage solutions for fisheries, and empowering last-mile island communities.

Along similar lines, GEAPP is working with Smart Power Myanmar and other alliance partners to empower the Commercial & Industrial (C&I) consumers in Myanmar with DRE solutions. The goal is to create a supportive ecosystem for solar systems through technical assistance, blended finance, and greater engagement from the private sector as well as local communities. To date, we have mobilized over USD 4.2 million in finance, achieving 5 MW rooftop solar projects and creating about 1500 jobs.

The climate challenge that we’re facing is not transient; it requires long-term action plans. And this demands that our future generations carry forward the legacy of innovation and accountability. With this view in mind, the Alliance concluded the year with CLN’s Career Fair in Vietnam—an event organized in partnership with IFC, GIZ, USAID, and DFAT to highlight career opportunities in the renewable energy sector and empower the next generation of climate leaders.

The Role of Partnership and Alliancing in GEAPP’s Journey

Pivotal to achieving all these milestones has been our unique approach to alliances and partnerships. It is with the coming together of multiple stakeholders—the governments, the private sector, civil society, and philanthropies—to pool their  resources and expertise that we tackle critical energy challenges. These partnerships enable us to identify specific challenges and target them with tailored solutions and strategic approaches, coordinating efforts towards a shared vision to drive impactful action.

This collaborative approach also enables us to center people in the energy transition narrative. By prioritizing equitable solutions, we’re fostering a people-positive energy revolution that places community welfare at the heart of climate action.

2025 and Beyond

While the progress made so far is commendable, we are closing in on the 2030  deadline for tripling renewable capacity and the 2070 net-zero goal for India. Accelerating the pace of the transition is critical to deliver on these targets.

GEAPP is committed to bridging this divide. In 2025, our resolution is to promote renewable energy access by focusing on digitalization of grid systems, integrating AI-based solutions into energy transition planning, improving energy access and quality with Distributed Renewable Energy and energy storage solutions, and enhancing the startup ecosystem by supporting and scaling investable opportunities. Concretizing these ambitions are the recent initiatives and partnerships announced by GEAPP for facilitating India’s energy transition. These include- DUET (Digitalization of Utilities for Energy Transition) and ENTICE 2.0 (Energy Transitions Innovation Challenge). A Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) in partnership with the International Solar Alliance (ISA) is also one of our priorities. The USD 100 million fund aims to scale solar projects in ISA partner countries. GEAPP will support ISA through governance oversight, fundraising efforts, and its expertise in energy transition planning, financing, and project implementation. We look forward to the insights we will gain from these initiatives.

The success of these models could open new avenues for replication across other emerging economies and help fulfill climate commitments. Our long-term ambitions for 2030 include: enhancing energy access for 1 billion people, reducing 4 giga tonnes of carbon emissions, and creating 150 million new jobs and sustainable livelihoods. Transforming energy means transforming lives, and together, we can power a brighter, more equitable future.