USAID Clean Power Asia Quarterly Report Fiscal Year 2017: October 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016

The program focuses on incorporating renewable energy into energy planning, promoting smart incentives, building an enabling environment for renewable energy policies and frameworks, and catalytic finance. The program employs a regional approach by collaborating with diverse stakeholders, partners, and regional organizations in four Lower Mekong (LM) countries (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Vietnam) and shares lessons learned and best practices from additional ASEAN member countries (Philippines, Indonesia). The goal of USAID Clean Power Asia is to accelerate the regional transition to a high performing, low carbon power sector. The program has three interconnected outcomes: high renewable energy scenarios included in energy planning, improved enabling policy, regulatory, and technical environment for renewable energy deployment, and increased investment in and deployment of grid-connected renewable energy projects. To achieve these outcomes, the program has established several indicators, including the number of laws, policies, regulations, or standards addressing clean energy formally proposed, adopted, or implemented, the amount of investment mobilized for clean energy, and the clean energy generation capacity supported by USG assistance that has achieved financial closure. During the reporting period (FY17Q1), USAID Clean Power Asia began implementation of activities to support improved data, tools, and processes for high RE scenario planning. The program participated in workshops where the program approach, including the focus on high RE scenario planning, was shared. Technical staff drafted a concept note to guide the data and planning assessment and began implementation by developing a schedule and process to identify local sources of data for RE planning and to document planning questions and issues to be addressed in each of the LM countries. The program also organized specific presentations on cooperation with the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) for developing a renewable energy metadata repository, incorporating data into the Renewable Energy Data Explorer (RED-E), and potential assistance for planning high RE scenarios. Program staff attended workshops in Thailand and regional meetings to share information and coordinate activities. The program has made significant progress in promoting sustainable and equitable regional growth, improving management of natural capital, and mobilizing public and private sector support for low emission development strategies. The program has also trained a number of people in clean energy and has supported the development of renewable energy zones, grid-connected renewable energy targets, and power purchase agreements for renewable energy. Overall, the USAID Clean Power Asia initiative is making significant progress in promoting the transition to a high performing, low carbon power sector in the Lower Mekong region. The program's focus on high renewable energy scenarios, improved enabling policy and regulatory environment, and increased investment in grid-connected renewable energy projects is critical to achieving this goal.