Asia Enhancing Development and Growth through Energy (Asia EDGE) is a U.S. Government-wide initiative in support of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Vision to grow sustainable and secure energy markets throughout the Indo-Pacific region by helping governments expand energy access, promote energy diversification and trade, and strengthen energy security.  USAID’s Regional Development Mission for Asia (USAID/RDMA) leads USAID’s Asia EDGE efforts for Southeast Asia.

In Southeast Asia, overall energy demand has risen by more than 80 percent in the past two decades.  It is expected to grow by an additional 60 percent by 2040.  While coal, gas and oil dominate, Southeast Asia has significant potential to increase renewable energy from wind, hydro, and solar sources.  USAID/RDMA, through Asia EDGE, seeks to unlock these gains through the modernization of Southeast Asia’s energy infrastructure, improving regional energy connectivity, increasing private sector investment, and accelerating adoption of regional and bilateral competitive energy markets.

PARTNERSHIPS FOR POWER

USAID/RDMA’s Asia EDGE portfolio comprises the following programs:

• Asia Gas Partnership: This program aims to share best practices in the development of secure, reliable, and economic sources of natural gas while facilitating investment in the energy industry.
• USAID Clean Power Asia: This program works with the Lower Mekong countries and other Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states to encourage power sector investments in environmentally friendly, grid-connected renewable energy sources.
• U.S. Advanced Energy Partnership for Asia: Through this program, the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory and other related labs work with Southeast Asian partners to develop and deploy state-of-the-art approaches and tools to scale up advanced energy systems in electricity, transportation, and infrastructure.
• USAID Mekong Safeguards: This program with government policymakers and regulators, financial institutions, and contractors aims to promote smarter, more sustainable infrastructure development, especially in transportation and power generation, to prevent environmental damage and depletion of natural resources in the Lower Mekong region.
• Smart Infrastructure for the Mekong: In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Interior, this program works with Lower Mekong Initiative partner countries to develop environmentally sound and socially equitable infrastructure, increase access to clean energy, and sustainably manage land and water resources.

IMPACTS AND RESULTS

USAID/RDMA’s activities alone mobilized $251 million of private and public financing for renewable energy projects, resulting in 265 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy.  In addition:

• USAID/RDMA helped Thailand’s B. Grimm Power and Vietnam solar developer TTVN to close a $283 million deal to construct one of Vietnam’s first solar farms designed to generate 257 MW—enough energy to power more than 50,000 homes.
• In Thailand, USAID/RDMA worked with six Thai Union factories to procure and install 7.6 MW of rooftop solar projects valued at more than $10 million.  USAID/RDMA also helped retail giant Big C Thailand close a $4.8 million deal to launch a 3.6 MW solar rooftop program.
• USAID/RDMA strengthened its partnerships with the Governments of Laos, Philippines, and Vietnam in 2019 to update energy policies and accelerate the deployment of clean energy technologies.