ASEAN Resilient Grid Capacity Building Programme Launches with Focus on Pumped Storage

Beijing, China, and Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (March 25, 2025) — The Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization (GEIDCO), in collaboration with UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Asia Headquarters at Sunway University, launched the ASEAN Resilient Grid Capacity Building Programme in support of Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship 2025. The inaugural workshop focused on pumped storage, with esteemed experts providing an in-depth exploration of its applications and benefits within modern energy systems.

The event commenced with welcoming remarks from Professor Leong Yuen Yoong, SDSN, Sunway University, setting the stage for discussions on the crucial role of energy storage in Southeast Asia. While ASEAN member states are implementing energy storage technologies, policy gaps are slowing wider adoption and hindering the full renewable energy utilisation. Notably, pumped storage, a key technology for grid resilience, is currently limited to Thailand and the Philippines. Therefore, this workshop aimed to accelerate the development of pumped storage in suitable Southeast Asian locations, with the goal of long-term regional impact.

Representing The Honourable Datuk Dr. Haji Hazland bin Abang Hipni, Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability Sarawak, Ir. James Ung Sing Kwong, Group Chief Operating Officer of Sarawak Energy Berhad, delivered the opening address. He expressed appreciation for this timely and valuable capacity-building initiative, crucial for addressing the workforce needs of the region’s energy transition. Highlighting the importance of energy storage, such as pumped storage hydropower, in balancing economic growth, power grid stability, and sustainable development, he expressed hope for deepened practical cooperation through this training.

Dr. Cheng Zhiqiang, Executive Secretary for Cooperation of GEIDCO, delivered a second opening address, emphasising GEIDCO's focus on energy interconnection and sustainable development in Southeast Asia. He highlighted the "Southeast Asia Energy Interconnection Research Report," a collaborative effort with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and the ASEAN Centre for Energy. Dr. Cheng identified pumped storage as a mature and economically viable flexible regulation resource, crucial for clean energy-dominated power systems. This training aims to accelerate pumped storage development in Southeast Asia, offering valuable insights for ASEAN governments and enterprises.

The workshop showcased expert presentations on the techno-economic analysis of pumped storage and power station computer control systems, delivered by:

• Dr. Liang Quanwei, Deputy General Manager and Chief Engineer, Dongfang Electric Group Dongfang Motors Co., Ltd. (China Dongfang Electric Group Co., Ltd.), and State Council Special Government Allowance recipient
• Shan Pengzhu, Senior Engineer, Nanjing Automation Research Institute (NARI), State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC)
• Lin Kai, General Manager, International Department, and Deputy General Manager, Engineering Construction Management Subsidiary, China Southern Power Grid Energy Storage Company

Following the presentations, Low Wai Sern of SDSN, Sunway University, moderated an engaging Q&A session that delved into the practical and environmental considerations of pumped storage. Participants inquired about specific challenges, including construction timelines for projects in China, maintenance needs, the integration of pumped storage with floating solar, the interplay with existing hydroelectric dams, potential methane emissions and sedimentation risks, especially in tropical climates, winter freezing concerns, and the crucial role of pumped storage in grid stabilisation alongside growing inverter-based renewables. GEIDCO experts Quan Nan and Wang Xiaofei provided detailed and informative answers.

The workshop concluded with a stakeholder discussion, moderated by Dr. Goh Chun Meng of SDSN, Sunway University, to gauge perception and validate key techno-economic assumptions for pumped hydro, informing an ASEAN-tailored power system model for the ASEAN Green Future project. Participants perceived pumped hydro as "best energy storage solution", "expensive," and linked to "deforestation." Despite these concerns, two-thirds favoured pumped hydro over other storage technologies, with the rest uncertain, when financial viability was disregarded. However, opinions varied regarding its financial attractiveness compared to batteries and hydrogen by 2050. Fewer participants offered insights on key modelling parameters, such as capital and operational costs or lifespan, indicating a potential knowledge gap in pumped hydro technology.

Over 150 participants from governments, the energy sector, civil society, and academia in Australia, Canada, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and the USA attended the online workshop.

Building on this workshop, GEIDCO and the SDSN have planned three subsequent sessions this year, focusing on battery storage, interconnection, and nuclear power. Following each workshop, the two organisations will facilitate private discussions with Malaysian utilities and interested countries to explore local project development opportunities, presenting a significant prospect for potential investors.

We encourage ongoing engagement in these vital discussions and invite stakeholders to collaborate in accelerating Southeast Asia's energy transition.

About GEIDCO

Launched in March 2016 with its headquarters in Beijing, China, the Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization (GEIDCO) is a non-profit international organisation dedicated to promoting the sustainable development of energy worldwide. The mission of GEIDCO is to promote the establishment of a Global Energy Interconnection (GEI) system, to meet global power demand with clean and green alternatives, to implement the United Nations “Sustainable Energy for All” and climate change initiatives, and to serve the sustainable development of humanity. For more information, visit https://en.geidco.org.cn/

Contact: [email protected]

About SDSN

The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) has been operating since 2012 under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General. The SDSN mobilises global scientific and technological expertise to promote practical solutions for sustainable development, including the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement. We aim to accelerate joint learning and promote integrated approaches that address the interconnected economic, social, and environmental challenges confronting the world.

For more information, visit https://www.unsdsn.org

About ASEAN Green Future

ASEAN Green Future, a multi-year regional research project led by SDSN and Climateworks Centre, collaborates with nine Southeast Asian universities and think tanks. The researchers undertake quantitative and qualitative climate policy analysis and develop net-zero pathways to inform policy recommendations and support the strategic foresight of policymakers.

For more information, visit https://www.unsdsn.org/our-work/asean-green-future/

Contact: [email protected]