The dual mission: Tackling climate change and fueling the future

We all know that energy transition is not a one-size-fits-all journey. The Asia Pacific region, in particular, stands out with its unique challenges and opportunities. One major hurdle? The significant distance between renewable power generation sites and the demand centers. Just think about it: Singapore, Korea, and Japan have a huge appetite for renewable energy, but the solar plants are often located in India and Australia. These kind of challenges and unique opportunities make our work both complex and incredibly rewarding.?

Are we keeping up?

Absolutely! We are seeing some really encouraging signs and progress across the region. Take Indonesia for example - a country historically dependent on coal, yet making remarkable progress in transitioning towards greener and more sustainable energy sources. A recent example is their announcement to a trial of hydrogen-fueled bus in 2025 by PT PLN (Persero) , Transjakarta, and DAMRI.

Meanwhile, the Singapore government is really pushing ammonia and hydrogen forward. A perfect example of policy and framework supporting the transition effort is the Singapore Government’s Low-Carbon Energy Research Funding Initiative (LCER FI) . This initiative supports research, development, and demonstration projects on low-carbon energy technology solutions, including research on various ammonia and hydrogen applications.

Is it enough? Maybe not. But here's the catch: progress on the ground is only part of the equation, fundamental policies must also advance at the same pace to ensure a holistic and effective energy transition. ?

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Energy Security and Energy Transition are often seen as mutually exclusive, but I believe there is significant value in combining the two because energy security doesn’t have to threaten energy transition. With 75% of power generation in the region currently fossil-based, it is a tremendous task for all of us. For example, in Japan, our team recently commissioned a gas turbine in a cogeneration facility, reducing CO2 emissions by about 240,000 tons per year.

An important driver here is innovation and technology, let’s not forget that. This doesn't always mean buying new assets but ensuring we make optimal use of what we already have. For instance, Siemens Energy worked with a customer in Singapore to upgrade two of their turbines, successfully reducing 60,000 tonnes of carbon emissions per annum . That's equivalent to taking 9,300 cars off the road!

It is an exciting time for the energy sector in Asia Pacific and I am optimistic about the progress we can make together, especially with the talented #TeamPurple. Together, let's make tomorrow different today!

Watch the interview here ? Efforts to tackle climate change - interview with Siemens Energy - CNA ( channelnewsasia.com)