USAID Clean Power Asia Quarterly Report FY21Q1

The program specifically focuses on incorporating renewable energy (RE) into planning, promoting smart incentives, building an enabling environment for RE policies and frameworks, and catalytic finance. The program collaborates with diverse stakeholders, partners, and regional organizations in four Lower Mekong (LM) countries, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam, and shares lessons learned and best practices among additional ASEAN member countries, including the Philippines and Indonesia. The goal of USAID Clean Power Asia is to accelerate the regional transition to a high performing, low carbon power sector, and is being accomplished through three interconnected outcomes: high RE scenarios included in energy planning, improved enabling policy, regulatory, and technical environment for RE deployment, and increased investment in and deployment of grid-connected RE projects. In the reporting period from October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020, the program made significant progress in achieving its outcomes. The number of laws, policies, regulations, or standards addressing clean energy formally proposed, adopted, or implemented as supported by USG assistance increased by 25% compared to the baseline data. This progress was achieved through the mobilization of public and private sector support for low emission development strategies, which increased by 30% during the same period. The program also made progress in improving the management of natural capital, with a 20% increase in the mobilization of public and private sector support for low emission development strategies. This progress was achieved through the implementation of various activities, including the development of a regional energy plan, the establishment of a renewable energy subsector network, and the provision of technical assistance to regional institutions. In addition, the program made progress in increasing investment in and deployment of grid-connected RE projects. The number of RE projects proposed, adopted, or implemented increased by 15% compared to the baseline data. This progress was achieved through the provision of technical assistance to regional institutions, the development of a regional energy plan, and the establishment of a renewable energy subsector network. The program's progress was achieved through the collaboration of diverse stakeholders, partners, and regional organizations in the four Lower Mekong countries and additional ASEAN member countries. The program's outcomes are expected to contribute to the acceleration of the regional transition to a high performing, low carbon power sector, and to the achievement of the program's goal of promoting sustainable and equitable regional growth. The program's geographic coverage includes Cambodia, Laos, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. The program's reporting period is from October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. The program's major counterpart organizations include the National Council for Sustainable Development, Ministry of Mines and Energy, Electricity Authority of Cambodia, Électricité du Cambodge in Cambodia; the Ministry of Energy and Mines, Électricité du Laos, Électricité du Laos-Generation Public Company in Laos; Chulalongkorn University, Office of Energy Regulatory Commission in Thailand; and the Ministry of Industry and Trade/Electricity and Renewable Energy Agency in Vietnam. The program's implementation is being accomplished through three interconnected outcomes: high RE scenarios included in energy planning, improved enabling policy, regulatory, and technical environment for RE deployment, and increased investment in and deployment of grid-connected RE projects. The program's goal is to accelerate the regional transition to a high performing, low carbon power sector, and to promote sustainable and equitable regional growth.