From Tools to Impact: Accelerating Clean Energy Across the Region  

The energy transition in Southeast Asia is picking up pace, but delivering results at scale requires practical, replicable approaches. The Transition Toolbox is a new interview series that explores how development organizations are supporting this shift, highlighting the tools, strategies, and innovations that are making the transition more achievable. 

Each edition will spotlight a specific approach—from cross-border collaboration and public-private partnerships to climate finance solutions and data transparency. These are not one-size-fits-all solutions, but adaptable tools that reflect real-world experiences from organizations. 

The series aims to offer readers a deeper understanding of how technical assistance, strategic partnerships, and tailored programs are enabling progress on the ground. Whether you're designing policies, managing projects, or tracking regional trends, the Transition Toolbox offers insights you can use. 

Rising energy demand, geopolitical shifts, and the urgent need for a clean transition are putting Southeast Asia at the center of the global energy conversation. In the first interview of our new Transition Toolbox series, we speak with Sue-Ern Tan, Head of the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Regional Cooperation Centre in Singapore, about how IEA is responding to these challenges by deepening its regional engagement.

She explains why Singapore was selected for IEA’s first office outside Paris and outlines the Centre’s focus on accelerating renewable energy, enabling cross-border power trade, scaling up clean technologies such as hydrogen and carbon capture, and unlocking investment through tools like the Cost of Capital Observatory. With collaboration at the heart of the Centre’s mission, this conversation offers a powerful look at what it will take to drive a just and secure energy transition in Southeast Asia. 

On 17 June 2025, SIPET officially launched the Power Policy Tracker, an interactive tool offering a comparative overview of energy transition policies across ASEAN. The launch webinar brought together energy experts and regional stakeholders to discuss the tracker’s significance. Moderated by Maximilian Heil (GIZ), the session featured Hanna Fekete (NewClimate Institute), Ngoan Nghiem Thi (GIZ Viet Nam), Agus Tampubolon (IESR, Indonesia), and Charles Jason Diaz (ICSC, Philippines), who shared reflections on national progress and regional peer learning. 

Key takeaways: 

• High-level commitments are common, but follow-through on grid development and EV policy varies widely. 

• Data transparency and consistency remain challenges, making SIPET’s role as an open-access resource all the more critical. 

• Peer comparison is a motivator: seeing how neighboring countries perform can inspire faster action. 

Developed by CASE for Southeast Asia Program, and hosted on SIPET, the Power Policy Tracker offers a visual, side-by-side comparison of national energy transition policies across ASEAN on 3 areas - Renewable electricity targets, Grid development plans (with emphasis on renewable integration) and Electric vehicle (EV) targets for cars and two-wheelers. And the Tracker offers direct links to the underlying law, regulation, or directives for each of the countries’ policies. 

Who is it for? 

• Policymakers looking to benchmark national progress and shape future regulation 

• Researchers seeking centralized, comparable data on clean energy policy 

• Civil society aiming to track government accountability and push for stronger reforms 

The tracker is a practical tool to inform decisions, improve transparency, and foster regional learning across the clean energy landscape. 

Watch the webinar recording: YouTube