Indonesia recently launched the most ambitious energy transition program in its history as part of an international partnership to combat climate change. The program, known as the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), will see an initial US$20 billion mobilized over the next three to five years toward Indonesia’s adoption of renewable energy.

South Korea will raise electricity prices for the first quarter of 2023 by 13.1 won per kilowatt-hour, a 9.5% increase that is the highest in four decades, its energy minister said on Friday, after a year of surging global energy prices. The amount of increase for the second quarter and beyond will be decided after reviewing trends in global energy prices, domestic inflation conditions and financial standings of public enterprises, Minister Lee Chang-yang said.

Support for businesses to help them cope with swelling energy bills will halve in the spring to avoid taxpayers holding the bag if oil and gas prices surge again, according to The Times. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt next month will announce a 12-month extension to a scheme that caps energy costs for businesses, similar to a package for households, although the generosity of the aid will be cut to save money

Scientists in the US have developed thin-film materials with photovoltaic cells capable of producing energy. Much lighter than regular solar panels, they can be added to any type of surface, including clothing! Imagine ultra-thin photovoltaic films that could be added to your windowsill, the back of your smartphone or even your clothes!

Pakistan's government has ordered all malls and markets to close by 8:30 p.m. among other measures in a new energy conservation plan, the defence minister said on Tuesday, as the country grapples with an economic crisis. Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves barely cover a month's worth of imports, most of which are accounted for by energy purchases from abroad, with funds expected under an International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme having been delayed.

US scientists yesterday revealed a breakthrough on fusion energy that could one day help curb climate change if companies can scale up the technology to a commercial level in the coming decades. Scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Lab in California on Dec 5 for the first time briefly achieved a net energy gain in a fusion experiment using lasers, the US energy department said.

Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) via its wholly owned subsidiary, Vantage RE Ltd. (Vantage RE), signed an Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) contract with BELECTRIC GmbH (BELECTRIC) for the construction and commissioning of 102MW solar farms in the United Kingdom (UK). The solar farms are expected to achieve Commercial Operation Date (COD) by Q1 2024.

The government has agreed that all domestic users will not incur any tariff increase following the electricity tariff adjustment through the Imbalance Cost Pass-Through (ICPT) mechanism. Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said tariff increase would also not be implemented on lower voltage (LV) non-domestic users. This group includes micro businesses as well as small and medium enterprises.  

The Malaysian Photovoltaic Industry Association (MPIA) has launched a data collection system (DCS) platform following the support granted by the Energy Commission (EC) and Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB). This will support the growth of the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry with a faster installation period and lower cost. MPIA president Davis Chong Chun Shiong is pleased to introduce the DCS platform, as it signifies the agency's commitment to improving the data collection of the solar PV systems installed in Malaysia.  

At today’s EU-ASEAN Summit in Brussels, the European Commission and the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have agreed to set up the EU-ASEAN Energy Dialogue. In the context of global challenges such as the fight against climate change and the ongoing energy crisis, this dialogue will allow for a structured engagement on energy policy development, regulatory reforms, and practices in the two regions.

European Union nations’ energy ministers have agreed on a gas price cap, after weeks of talks on the emergency measure that has split opinion across the bloc as it seeks to tame the energy crisis. The Czech presidency of the European Council, which represents member countries, said a deal was reached in Brussels on Monday. The cap is the 27-country EU’s latest attempt to lower high gas prices that have inflated citizens’ energy bills and driven record-high inflation this year after Russia cut off most of its gas deliveries to Europe.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today instructed all government departments to formulate and develop suitable measures to implement targeted subsidies by taking into consideration the interests of the consumers and the industries. In a statement issued after chairing the National Action Council on Cost of Living (NACCOL) meeting today, Anwar said Malaysia must channel bulk subsidies, which also benefit the super-rich and conglomerates, towards supporting the B40, M40 and small business owners who are particularly affected by the rising cost of living.