In this episode of Energy Insights, host Stephen speaks with Zhou Yu, Program Manager at New Energy Nexus, to explore China’s fast-growing clean-tech ecosystem and what it means for Asia’s energy transition.

Zhou explains how China’s leadership in solar, batteries, EVs and energy storage is reshaping regional supply chains and driving down global technology costs. He discusses the policies, innovation networks and startup support systems powering this growth, and why other Asian countries are looking to China as both a model and a critical partner.

The conversation examines the opportunities and risks for Southeast Asia, the role of cross-border collaboration, and whether China’s clean-tech engine can accelerate the region’s shift away from fossil fuels.

LinkedIn: Zhou Yu

In this episode of Energy Insights, host Stephen speaks with Sam Reynolds, Research Lead for LNG and Gas at IEEFA, to unpack how a global turbine shortage is slowing Southeast Asia’s LNG expansion.

Sam explains how long delivery backlogs, higher costs and supply constraints are delaying major LNG projects in the Philippines and Vietnam. This slowdown is raising doubts about gas as a reliable bridge fuel and opening more space for renewables to grow across the region.

The discussion highlights what this means for investors, energy security and long-term planning, and why Southeast Asia’s future power mix may shift more quickly toward solar, wind and storage.

Profile: Sam Reynolds

In this episode of Energy Insights, host Stephen sits down with Wai-Shin Chan, Director of Research at Asia Research and Engagement (ARE), to unpack what COP30 really means for climate finance, investment signals and economic decision-making across Asia.

COP30 was expected to be an implementation COP, yet countries left Belém with weak NDCs, unclear finance arrangements and no fossil fuel transition roadmap. Wai-Shin explains how this uncertainty raises costs, delays investment and leaves Asian economies exposed to growing climate and financial risks. He also clarifies what tripling adaptation finance actually means, why the NCQG still lacks delivery pathways and how vague fossil language shapes capital flows.

We explore how policy clarity, risk-sharing mechanisms and transparency will shape the region’s competitiveness, and why markets “reward clarity” when it comes to climate ambition. Wai-Shin also reflects on what Southeast Asia needs next, from stronger grids and carbon pricing to meaningful support for adaptation and resilience.

LinkedIn: Wai-Shin Chan

In this episode of Energy Insights, host Stephen sits down with Joel Chester (Cheng) Pagulayan, Climate Justice Portfolio Manager at Oxfam Pilipinas, to explore what COP30 means for climate justice in Southeast Asia and the growing gap between community needs and global delivery.

Despite years of warnings from frontline communities, the region continues to face stronger storms, rising seas and widening inequality. Cheng explains why climate justice must sit at the centre of COP30, how vulnerable countries are pushing for fair finance and loss and damage support, and why a just transition requires real participation from workers, Indigenous peoples and affected communities.

We explore the barriers that keep climate finance slow and uneven, the political tensions shaping the talks in Belém, and what Southeast Asia needs from COP30 at a critical moment for resilience, equity and long-term climate security.

LinkedIn: Joel Chester (Cheng) Pagulayan

In this episode of Energy Insights, host Stephen sits down with Katherine Hasan, Analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), to unpack Indonesia’s latest power plan — and the widening gap between climate ambition and reality.

Despite strong public messaging on renewables, Indonesia’s RUPTL 2025–2034 places fossil fuels at the centre of the next decade, delaying meaningful renewable expansion until the 2030s. Katherine explains why this “fossils first, renewables later” approach risks locking the country into high emissions, stranded assets, and rising power costs — and what it means for Indonesia’s net-zero commitments.

We explore the policy barriers slowing renewable scale-up, the financial consequences of continued coal and gas investment, and the opportunities Indonesia is missing at a decisive moment for the energy transition.

LinkedIn: Katherine Hasan

Across the world, wind and solar power are often accused of harming public health and disrupting communities — but the science tells a different story.

In this episode of Energy Insights, host Stephen takes a closer look at one of the most persistent myths in the energy debate: that renewable projects threaten wellbeing. Drawing on studies from health authorities and real-world data, the discussion reveals how wind and solar actually improve public health by reducing air pollution, cutting respiratory illnesses, and easing pressure on national healthcare systems.

Beyond health, the episode also explores the economic and social benefits of renewables — from lower public spending to revitalised rural economies and new local jobs. The evidence is clear: clean energy doesn’t just power homes; it powers healthier, more resilient communities.

Southeast Asia stands at a defining moment in its energy transition. While renewables have become cheaper and more reliable than ever, governments across the region continue to expand gas infrastructure — risking costly lock-ins and delayed climate progress.

In this episode of Energy Insights, host Stephen unpacks the findings from BloombergNEF’s latest analysis, which reveals how renewables like solar, wind, and battery storage are now outcompeting gas in markets such as Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines. Yet, despite the clear economics, policy inertia and fossil fuel dependence continue to shape the region’s energy future.

From the volatility of LNG prices to the growing momentum behind clean power, we explore why Southeast Asia remains at an energy crossroads — and what it will take for the region to finally pivot towards a more secure, affordable, and sustainable energy system.

In this episode of Energy Insights, we speak with Mia Watanabe, Climate Campaigner at Oil Change International, about the real costs of Australia’s gas strategy and its wider implications for Southeast Asia’s energy future.

Australia has become one of the world’s largest LNG exporters, but this dependence on fossil fuels raises serious concerns over environmental, social, and economic impacts. Mia explains how the continued push for LNG undermines climate goals across Asia, with public finance and corporate interests locking countries into long-term fossil fuel dependency.

The discussion also explores the urgent need for policy reform, the accelerating potential of renewables, and the opportunities for Southeast Asia to build a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.

Tune in for expert insights into the role of LNG, the energy transition, and how Australia’s gas strategy is shaping the region’s climate pathway.

LinkedIn: Mia Watanabe