Infrastructure development for "green" hydrogen is proceeding rapidly in China as the country aims to exploit its extensive generation capacity in renewable energy to get ahead of Western countries in production and transport.

As the climate crisis escalates, there are urgent and difficult choices that need to be made to drastically reduce our carbon emissions before more irreparable damage is done. Many have argued the energy industry needs to change to reduce carbon emissions, but one concern that remains is the consequence this will have on economic prosperity.

Utility giant Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) is committed to a rapid and responsible energy transition, electrifying 30% of its operational fleet, totalling more than 1,000 vehicles, by 2030. President and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Baharin Din said the strategic move is in alignment with Malaysia’s ambitious goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. “In a significant step towards realising this commitment, TNB is accelerating its transition to electric vehicles (EVs) with the deployment of 98 new units, comprising 78 electric pickup trucks and 20 electric vans.

The European Commission has awarded financing of up to 370 million euros ($402 million) to set up a 'Green Hydrogen Valley' in Italy's Puglia region, the energy groups involved said. Edison, Saipem and financial group Generali's green transition investment manager Sosteneo SGR said that the Commission had included the green hydrogen initiative among its important projects of common European interest (IPCEI), unlocking European Union funds.

The Global OTEC Dominique project, off the coast of São Tomé and Príncipe, has the potential to alter the energy demands of island nations significantly.

With its proposed location in the Pengerang Industrial Park (PIP), the Sultan Ibrahim Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Park, a 450-megawatt (MW) solar PV power project, is envisioned to be South-East Asia’s largest solar energy storage system. The project is Johor’s crown jewel into large-scale sustainable energy, which will promote a green economy as well as the state’s first-ever major private investment following Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar’s persistent efforts to bring investment and development to boost the socioeconomic standing of Johoreans.

Malaysia has expressed its commitment to collaborate with the European Union (EU), particularly on technology transfer for energy transition and water security in the nation, said Deputy Prime Minister. As Malaysia is on track to achieve zero net emission by 2050, Fadillah, who is also the energy transition and Water transformation minister, said the ministry is keen to cooperate with the EU in the research and development (R&D) field that could boost the country’s initiative.

The European Commission has invited interested companies to help "to facilitate and speed up the development, demonstration, and deployment" of small modular nuclear reactors, a fledgling technology it hopes will help the EU achieve its goal of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

Across the world, glittering cityscapes – emblems of progress – cast shadows over underprivileged communities battling for essential electricity access. These disparities resonate across regions around the world, underscoring the need for thoughtful and effective solutions on a global scale. Recent figures from the Asian Development Bank showed that 350 million people in the Asia and the Pacific region have only limited access to electricity, while 150 million people still have no access at all.

From turning recycled clothing into biofuel for cars and using disposable diapers as a substitute for sand to make concrete, to vending machines that suck carbon dioxide from the air, Japan’s private sector is not short of innovation to reduce its carbon footprint and of the Asian region.

The potential for solar energy is boundless; Thomas Garabetian, R&I Manager at SolarPower Europe discusses the most affordable renewable energy solution.

Malaysia's journey towards a greener future through solar energy presents vast potential, but the country has been slow to catch on and lacks direction, industry observers said. Hence, they said it requires concerted efforts from both the government and industry players to overcome existing challenges and seize opportunities for sustainable growth. With ambitious targets outlined in the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), the country aims to escalate its solar energy capacity from a measly 4.0 per cent to an impressive 58 per cent by 2050.