20 February 2025: Southeast Asia is responsible for nearly a quarter of global energy demand growth through 2035, but it is currently heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels and hydropower. Given recent volatility in both fossil fuel prices and increasing severity and regularity of heatwaves and droughts which make hydropower less reliable, diversification into domestically located renewable energy sources like solar will have energy security benefits. This is particularly true for countries like Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam, which have significant existing hydropower in their power supply and also significant untapped solar potential. Floating solar (FPV) is a low-cost way to quickly diversify the power mix in ways that complement existing hydropower, support water conservation efforts at existing dams, and reduce the need for expensive new dams which have negative social and environmental impacts.
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This is the first of two pieces on new energy opportunities in the Mekong region. Its preparation was generously supported by the Building River Dialogue and Governance (BRIDGE) Project, which aims to build water governance capacities through learning, demonstration, leadership, and consensus building, and is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and led by IUCN.
