Energy Transition Task Force (ETTF)


The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries can only realize their climate goals if they pursue an accelerated transition to cleaner forms of energy.

Realizing this, the GMS Regional Power Trade Coordination Committee (RPTCC) who managed regional power trade in the subregion from 2004–2022, formally transitioned to the GMS Energy Transition Taskforce (ETTF) during its 29th meeting in July 2022.

The ETTF is tasked to

  • enable and accelerate the GMS countries’ energy transition through regional cooperation;
  • optimize the use of regional clean energy resources through regional power trade and regional power market development;
  • assess the role of clean energy technologies and green/climate financing to support energy transition and
  • promote a just, equitable, and affordable energy transition.

 


 

Work streams

The ETTF activities are grouped into four key areas.

Regional Power Trade

Technology Capacity Buiding

Energy Efficiency

Green Finance

Planning and executing bilateral or multilateral interconnections and preparing rules and regulations for regional power development.

Implement multi-country pilot projects

Technology capacity building programs on renewable energy, energy storage to improve grid stability.

Leveraging electric vehicles

Accelerating energy efficiency programs in standard and labelling of high-energy consuming household and building appliancees.

Knowledge sharing and awareness raising to support GMS countries in raising finance for clean energy transition and multi-country pilot projects.

 

Events


Date

Event Name

Venue

5-6 June 2024

3rd ETTF meeting

The meeting will enable the participants to learn updates of regional significance from GMS countries, relevant ASEAN bodies, and development partners and discuss ETTF work streams and next steps.

Manila, Philippines

7 June 2024

Game-based Simulation Workshop on Electricity Market Principles

The course will enable the participants to acquire a hands-on understanding of important electricity market concepts, including: (i) why wholesale electricity markets are generally cleared via uniform-price rather than pay-as-bid auctions, (ii) the operation of transmission constraints, (iii) how wind and solar affect electricity market outcomes, (iv) when suppliers have incentives to exercise unilateral market power, and (v) how fixed-price forward contracts can align supplier behavior with the policymaker’s goal of least-cost electricity supply, including when there are transmission constraints and high shares of wind and solar. The workshop is organized by ADB, ADB Institute, and Standford University Program on Energy and Sustainable Development.

Week of 24 June 2024

ASEAN SOME-ADB Dialogue

This year’s dialogue will focus on how to reinvigorate and advance the implementation of the ASEAN Power Grid, an initiative to construct a regional power interconnection to connect the region.

Vientiane, Lao PDR

July 2024

Study Tour on Green Energy Transition 

The study tour and masterclass will provide the participants with in-depth understanding and practical knowledge of (i) key energy transition tasks and tools, (ii) technologies and applications to be utilized for renewable energy integration and expansion, (iii) policy frameworks to support energy transition, and (iv) power market development to support energy transition including interstate trades.

Sydney and Canberra, Australia

 

ETTF Membership

Each GMS country nominates six ETTF members representing the areas of energy policy (energy transition, renewable energy, and energy efficiency), energy regulation, grid operation and green finance, and assigns one of them as the GMS ETTF National Coordinator/Chair.

The members are director general/deputy director general level of relevant ministries and utilities. Three ADB staff members are assigned to work on matters relating to the ETTF. 

Two ETTF working groups will be initially established: (i) the regional power trade working group, which serves the same function as the Regional Power Trade Coordination Committee (RPTCC) and (ii) the energy efficiency MEPS harmonization working group.

If a need arises for a particular working group, ADB as the ETTF Secretariat, will prepare the terms of reference for the working group for endorsement of the ETTF.

The GMS ETTF National Coordinator/Chair leads the formation of the country team to facilitate national consultations for ETTF activities as necessary. Representatives to the country team may be drawn from relevant ministries or other agencies.

The GMS ETTF meets at least once annually to identify priorities and to create a two-year rolling work plan. The ETTF will also prepare reports on its outputs and activities for consideration at future meetings of the GMS Summit, GMS Ministerial Conference, and Senior Official Meetings.

Capacity Building

The years 2023-2025 are considered capacity building years for the ETTF.

In 2023, three webinars, two face-to-face workshops and a study tour in South Korea exposed the participants to various tools that can support clean energy transition in the GMS. They resulted in the GMS policy makers and utilities gaining knowledge of

  • the latest practices in renewable energy and energy efficiency,
  • emerging green technologies and applications, and
  • challenges and issues of power market and power system operation with increased renewable energy.

In 2024-2025, the capacity building program for ETTF members as well as ASEAN stakeholders will support accelerated energy transition by providing a deep dive into multilateral power trade and regional power market. See Capacity Building Series. See Capacity Building Series..

Capacity Building Series


 

Summary of Proceedings