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ASEAN Green Future Presents at the Asia Clean Energy Forum and the University of the Philippines

By ASEAN Green Future

On June 8–11, 2026, the Asia Clean Energy Forum (ACEF) 2026 was convened at the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) headquarters in Manila, Philippines. Coinciding with ADB's landmark 60th anniversary, this year's forum centered on renewing the region's commitment to secure, resilient, and inclusive clean energy solutions.

To drive this vision forward, ACEF 2026 was structured around four pivotal tracks:

  • Energy security: Building diversified, reliable clean energy sources.
  • System resilience: Developing grids and infrastructure capable of withstanding climate and market disruptions.
  • Inclusivity: Promoting equitable energy access and community participation across the region.
  • Intelligent systems: Leveraging digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and smart grids to optimize energy management and efficiency.

ASEAN Green Future Highlights Regional Grid Paradox

Professors Woo Wing Thye and Leong Yuen Yoong were invited to speak on the Energy Infrastructure Resilience panel. Supported by the core research team, including Dr. Goh Chun Meng and Low Wai Sern, they presented a landmark paper titled Integrated Resilience: A First-of-its-Kind LEAP-NEMO Assessment of ASEAN's Decarbonised Power Sector.

Their findings demonstrate that while full regional integration unlocks a massive efficiency dividend for the ASEAN Power Grid—delivering more energy with 507 GW less generating capacity and a 65% reduction in required storage compared to national isolation—physical connectivity alone is not a climate strategy. In a pure least-cost technical optimum, an integrated grid without carbon pricing or asset bans will optimize for natural gas, thereby increasing emissions.

To break the inertia of fossil fuels and overcome the "sovereignty trap"—where rigid borders leave half of the grid's clean energy benefits untapped—the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) must actively pair its physical infrastructure with a polycentric governance architecture, utilizing multilateral green power trading and cross-border consumption guarantees. Ultimately, true power system resilience cannot be achieved through wires alone; it requires a multi-layered defence architecture that seamlessly integrates engineering physics (X-axis), institutional governance rulebooks (Y-axis), and deep regional diplomacy (Z-axis) to protect the grid as it navigates the mid-transition "Valley of Vulnerability."

“The accelerated decarbonization pathway plunges into a valley of vulnerability because coal is retiring and gas is being reduced, but renewables have not yet reached its critical mass,” said Professor Leong. “So mid-transition risks temporarily exceed the baseline. The policy takeaway here is clear. The states must actively manage this valley of vulnerability. Forceful subsidies purchase temporary price stability but not resilience.”

Moderated by Ms. Randi Krishensen, Executive Director of the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ), the panel explored global case studies on maintaining power system reliability amid the rapid integration of variable renewable energy. The distinguished panel also included Sarah Love of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office; Professor Ma Jinlong, Vice President of the APEC Sustainable Energy Centre at Tianjin University; and Dr. Josef M. Ullmer, President Director and Regional Executive, Asia, Oceania, PT ANDRITZ Hydro.

Strengthening Cross-Border Collaboration

On June 8, the ASEAN Green Future (AGF) Malaysia team met with colleagues from AGF Philippines for a strategic discussion and progress update. Hosted by Professor Joy Abrenica at the University of the Philippines School of Economics (UPSE), the meeting served as a valuable platform for regional research alignment.

The Malaysia delegation — comprising Professor Leong Yuen Yoong, Dr. Goh Chun Meng, and Low Wai Sern — presented two key areas of their recent work: (1) Orchestrating Malaysia's Decarbonisation Through Market-Based Resilience and (2) Decarbonising the ASEAN Power Grid.

Combining rigorous quantitative modelling with qualitative analysis, the presentations highlighted the significant economic and environmental benefits of avoiding the "sovereignty trap"—a barrier created when countries maintain rigid borders and inflexible, limited energy trade agreements. As the presentations progressed, both teams engaged in an insightful discussion on the evolving landscapes of carbon taxation, renewable energy penetration, and decarbonisation progress in their respective countries.

Strengthening Regional Ties

The AGF Malaysia team also met with Antonio Carlos M. Maralit, Executive Director of the University Sustainability Office at De La Salle University and Country Manager of SDSN Philippines. The discussion focused on strategic insights from SDSN Philippines regarding the opportunities and challenges of the local energy transition.

Maralit shared valuable insights into navigating the complexities of the local economic and sustainability landscapes, demonstrating how academic policy research can be translated into actionable frameworks. The session concluded with both teams exploring future opportunities for institutional collaboration and knowledge exchange between SDSN Philippines and Sunway University.

AGF-Malaysia team members Low Wai Sern, Professor Leong Yuen Yoong, and Dr. Goh Chun Meng met with Dr. Ceren Ayas Yilmaz (second from right), Programme Impact Manager (Southeast Asia) at Climateworks Centre, during ACEF 2026.
Professor Leong Yuen Yoong (second from right) participated as a panellist in the "Energy Infrastructure Resilience" session, alongside fellow panellists Dr. Josef M. Ullmer (PT ANDRITZ Hydro), Sarah Love (UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office), Professor Ma Jinlong (Tianjin University), and moderator Randi Kristiansen (GFANZ, centre).
Professor Leong Yuen Yoong presents ASEAN Green Future modelling findings at ACEF 2026.
Low Wai Sern presenting the ASEAN Green Future research findings at the University of the Philippines School of Economics (UPSE), Diliman.
Dr. Goh Chun Meng presenting the ASEAN Green Future research findings at the University of the Philippines School of Economics (UPSE), Diliman.
The AGF Malaysia and AGF Philippines teams at the University of the Philippines School of Economics. Left to right: Low Wai Sern, Dr. Goh Chun Meng, Professor Joy Abrenica, Professor Leong Yuen Yoong, Justin Rainer Chan, Penny Laine, Josh Ambrosio, Pauline Majarucon, and Kenmore Espinoza.
Left to right: Professor Leong Yuen Yoong, Antonio Carlos M. Maralit, and Dr. Goh Chun Meng.