Malaysia is set to champion the development of the Asean Power Grid (APG) as it hosts a key regional energy forum in October aimed at accelerating South-East Asia’s energy transition, says Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir.

The government will continue efforts to increase the capacity of renewable energy (RE) within the national electricity supply system, according to the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (Petra). This includes introducing the implementation of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to stabilise the grid and raise the RE capacity mix to 70% of the national electricity supply by 2050, said the ministry on the Parliament website on Monday.

Malaysia Debt Ventures Bhd (MDV) has approved RM122.65mil in financing for six technology-based companies that are undertaking energy transition projects under the National Energy Transition Facility (NETF). MDV is an agency under the purview of the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (Mosti).

Malaysia is actively exploring best practices and the capabilities of clean energy and power plants, including nuclear and wind turbines, to suit the country's needs, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) plays a pivotal role in realising the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) initiative.  Reputed for its stable and secure energy supply in Malaysia, it has expanded its role in driving the transition towards clean sustainable energy for the region. Undoubtedly a bold initiative, the APG aims to establish the country and the region as a key clean energy hub. The vital pre-requisite to achieve a sustainable energy future for ASEAN is a collaborative effort by member states.

Energy has always been at the heart of human progress. Every major leap in industry and technology has been accompanied by a shift in how we power our industries. Coal fired the engines of the Industrial Revolution and propelled Britain to global influence. Oil and electricity fuelled America’s rise in the 20th century. Today the same question returns to us. What energy source will define the future, and where will Malaysia stand in it?

Taiwan should keep the option of nuclear energy open but avoid relying on decades-old reactors, a regional analyst has said ahead of the upcoming August 23 referendum on whether to restart the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant.

Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) is monitoring technical data through its Distribution Transformer Meter (DTM) Pilot Project to detect abnormal energy consumption patterns and uncover possible electricity theft. Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said smart meters have also been installed to enable real-time monitoring of energy usage, allowing for quick detection of any tampering or interference.

China's carbon dioxide emissions dropped 1% in the first half of 2025 from the same period last year, helped by growing use of renewable energy to generate power, according to a study by the Helsinki-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. Emissions from the power sector, the top source of greenhouse gases in China, fell 3% during the six-month period, according to the study by CREA's lead analyst Lauri Myllyvirta for UK-based research organisation Carbon Brief.

As countries in Southeast Asia race to meet their clean power targets by the end of this decade, some governments have introduced fast-tracked permitting processes for renewable energy projects. The Philippines has been a regional frontrunner in implementing policies to expedite the permitting of renewable projects.

A sharp drop in Western development aid threatens to derail Southeast Asia’s clean energy transition, hit its poorest nations hardest and tilt the region’s strategic ties further toward Asian powers such as China, Japan and South Korea, experts say. The Lowy Institute’s recently published Southeast Asia Aid Map reports that official development finance (ODF) to the region reached US$29 billion in 2023 – up from US$26.5 billion in 2022 but still below the pre-pandemic average of US$33 billion.

Sarawak is considering a proposal to set up a council to oversee energy policies in the state, says Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg. The Premier said the state government was in the process of engaging with stakeholders, including the private sector, on the council's formation. "We are looking into the possibility of setting up a Sarawak Energy Council where we coordinate all the stakeholders so that their businesses and policies are in line with the state policy," he told reporters after launching the Sarawak Energy Transition Policy (SET-P) here on Monday (Aug 11).