Collaboration at Work: Advancing Southeast Asia’s Clean Energy Goals  

RETD 2025: Turning Dialogue into a Tool for Southeast Asia’s Energy Transition 

Amid shifting geopolitics and ongoing energy market volatility, Southeast Asia is increasingly looking at ways to act collectively. The Regional Energy Transition Dialogue (RETD) 2025, held in Bangkok this July, brought together government officials, energy regulators, utilities, and development partners from across the region to share perspectives and identify practical pathways forward. 

Hosted by the Clean, Affordable and Secure Energy for Southeast Asia (CASE) program and supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, RETD has grown into more than an annual event—it’s emerging as a practical tool for regional alignment. This year’s theme, “Geopolitical Currents and Energy Shifts,” set the tone for urgent, solutions-focused dialogue. 

Sessions explored cross-border power trade, grid flexibility, supply chain resilience, and just transition strategies, with insights from CASE partners, including the International Energy Agency, SEforALL, and the ASEAN Centre for Energy. RETD’s evolving format reflects the region’s need for replicable platforms that build trust, surface practical ideas, and support shared progress toward net-zero. 

In the latest interview of our Transition Toolbox Series, Peter du Pont of SIPET Connect talks with Sascha Oppowa, Project Director at GIZ Thailand, reflects on what makes the Regional Energy Transition Dialogue (RETD) effective. He explains how trust, the Chatham House Rule, and a focus on timely themes allow policymakers to speak candidly and learn from one another—turning convening itself into a strategic tool for the energy transition. From breaking down country silos to creating shared understanding, RETD shows that purposeful dialogue can drive collaboration long after the event ends. 

Sascha shares how curating discussion of timely issues and topics, such as geopolitical shifts and the resilience of critical mineral supply chains, can ensure that discussions remain relevant to national priorities. He also highlights the importance of bringing together policymakers, think tanks, and experts to blend evidence with experience. 

Enlit Asia 2025 will bring together POWERGEN Asia and Asian Utility Week to create ASEAN’s largest annual power and energy platform, welcoming over 12,000 visitors and 350 exhibitors. This year’s theme — “Advancing a Realistic Energy Transition in ASEAN” — focuses on inclusive, pragmatic pathways to achieve the region’s net-zero ambitions. 

From renewable integration and emerging energy technologies to cross-border collaboration, Enlit Asia is where utilities, developers, policymakers, and innovators converge to shape the future of energy in ASEAN. Expect dynamic discussions, cutting-edge solutions, and networking opportunities with leaders driving the transition. 

We’re excited to announce that our colleague Maximilian Heil, Regional Project Coordinator at GIZ Thailand’s Clean, Affordable and Secure Energy for Southeast Asia (CASE) project, will be speaking on Day 3 in the session “Empowering Regional Collaboration through Data and Digital Tools”. Maximilian leads regional initiatives such as the ASEAN Power Grid Advancement Programme (APG-AP) and the Southeast Asia Information Platform for the Energy Transition (SIPET), focusing on multilateral energy cooperation and clean energy narratives. He will share how transparent, reliable, and interoperable data can drive cross-border energy planning and accelerate the clean energy transition across Southeast Asia. 

GIZ is also an official exhibitor at Enlit Asia 2025. We invite you to visit our booth to learn more about CASE and SIPET’s regional initiatives and explore opportunities for collaboration.