Analysis of renewable energy as export commodity (case study Indonesia-ASEAN)

The net zero emission commitment under Paris Agreement has fostered the clean energy transition agenda. ASEAN becomes the home of untapped renewable energy resources due to its geographic condition. However, the distribution of renewable energy is far from it has expected. It is not only limited extent due to the country spread, but also the high capital investment costs that caused sluggish progression. It is believed that the interconnection grid and integration energy market across region becomes a prominent key to broaden energy access and bolster the growth of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as well. Hence, it is essential to study and analyze the scheme to foster the energy security across border through clean electricity that produced from renewable energy, particularly in ASEAN. The qualitative method through desk review approach was adopted for the paper work. There are two study objectives for this paper: (1) Renewable energy as export commodity in ASEAN which in line with ASEAN Power Grid (APG) agenda and (2) Indonesian future potential as renewable energy exporter. It is found that untapped renewable energy across ASEAN possibly meet the regional electricity demand through interconnected grid and electricity market integration. Such condition also supports the on-going APG project. Electricity trades are regulated through bilateral and multilateral agreement between countries with certain tariff. In this case, a comparison between Indonesia and Singapore about renewables export issue has been analyzed and studied. For attaining the status of renewable energy exporter in the future, it is suggested that Indonesia should deal with policy & regulation certainty (including its harmonization) and renewable energy infrastructure readiness.