1. June 2013
South East Asia update: Energy and
Environment - Market opportunities for
Norwegian companies
Countries in South East Asia region (including UAE and
South Africa) are different in terms of natural energy
resources and electricity generation pattern. Hydropower
potential has been developed in South Africa, Vietnam, Laos
and Malaysia. All of countries in the region, except
Singapore and UAE, are enriched with bio-energy
resources, which is potential for generation of heat and
electricity. Solar radiation is good in the whole region. A
common interest of developing waste to money is seen in
the region. Only Thailand and Singapore have special
mechanism to provide financial support to renewable
energy. Malaysia is going to apply feed-in-tariff in the near
future. Vietnam currently applies avoided cost tariff, which
is not sufficient to encourage renewable energy
development except small hydropower and biogas-
electricity.
INDIA (*)
India is the third most attractive country for renewable
energy financing in the world (according to Ernst & Young
Report). Opportunities are seen across a spectrum of
technologies—biomass, solar PV, solar thermal, wind,
hydropower, solid and industrial waste-to-energy,
geothermal, and tidal energy, which is supported by one of
the world’s largest renewable energy programs. This has
resulted in an established infrastructure in terms of
institutions (finance, research etc.), trained manpower and
supply of equipment. Furthermore, expanded financial
support for renewable energy and energy efficiency from
local and international financial institutions, multilateral
agencies, donor organizations, and others are seen.
(**) Further information can be seen in the separate leaflet
of India.
MALAYSIA
Solar Energy: Malaysia now ranked fifth in the world for
solar megawatt output. The opportunities within solar
energy include: (i) Local production of solar energy
equipment; and (ii) providing equipment and consultant
service for Solar energy pilot projects. Local main players:
local solar energy equipment producers (First Solar, Q-Cells,
Sunpower, Elpion Silicon, etc.), local project investors
(Berjaya Solar Sdn Bhd, TNB Energy Services Sdn Bhd, etc.).
Biogas and Biomass: electricity generation from biogas and
biomass has been developed in Malaysia recently. The
opportunities within biomass/biogas include: (i) providing
technology, equipment and consultant service for power
projects fueled by biogas/biomass; (ii) providing technology,
equipment and consultant service for landfill and gas
recovery projects. Local main players: Felda Global Group,
FTJ Bio Power Sdn Bhd, Cypark Resources Berhad, etc.
THAILAND (**)
Thailand has huge renewable energy potential as well as
governmental incentives given to renewable energies.
Thailand solar energy market is vibrant and is predicted to
approach commercial viability in the near future.
Photo: The “Korat 2” solar farm project in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
Source: SPCG Public Company Limited
Contact
Hai Anh, Tran
Telefon (+84) 903463318
tran.hai.anh@innovasjonnorge.no
www.innovasjonnorge.no
Innovation Norway. Akersgata 13, P.O.Box 448 Sentrum, NO-0104 Oslo, Norway We give local ideas global opportunities

2. Together with favorable support mechanisms from the
government, opportunities in waste to energy are seen.
Potential support organizations: (i) Thailand Board of
Investment (BOI) www.boi.go.th; (ii) ESCO Revolving Fund
www.efe.or.th; (iii) Ministry of Energy; (iv) Asian
Development Bank (ADB) www.adb.org
(**) Further information can be seen in the separate leaflet
of Thailand.
SINGAPORE
Solar Energy: Singapore has good solar radiation and
favorable financial mechanism to support solar energy
development. The opportunities within solar energy
include: (i) cooperation on pilot and demonstration projects
which generate electricity from solar energy; and (ii)
cooperation on pilot and demonstration projects which use
solar energy for buildings.
Potential local partners: Energy Market Authorities;
Singapore Economic Development Board, Clean Energy
Research and Test Blending, Electricity Vehicle Taskforce,
etc.
Biofuel: Singapore has solid foundation to develop R&D
within biofuel. The opportunities within biofuel include: (i)
Cooperation on trading biofuel; (ii) Cooperation on
producing biofuel from none-food feedstock; (iii)
Cooperation on biofuel pilot projects.
Main local players: Finland’s Neste Oil; Temasek Life
Sciences Laboratory, TLL, Institute of Chemical and
Engineering Science (ICES), Institute of Environmental
Science and Engineering (IESE), etc.
Hydrogen and Fuel Cells: Singapore has engaged in fuel
cell’s R&D development. The business opportunities include:
(i) Cooperation on fuel-cell pilot projects; (ii) Collaborate in
Fuel Cells Research and Development projects
Main local players: Rolls Royce Fuel Cell Systems Pte. Ltd.;
Singapore Consortium Enertek, etc.
SOUTH AFRICA (***)
South Africa’s energy sector is predominantly reliant on
coal, with nuclear and hydropower providing small
contributions. There is a strong need for new technologies
in order to reduce the emissions of CO2 and other
pollutants and increase the reliance on renewable energy.
Renewable energy is an important focus as South Africa
faces a shortfall of electricity supply. The following
opportunities are seen:
• Solar energy: Scatec Solar is already operating in South
Africa and has won a few tenders.
• Energy efficiency for buildings;
• Water and waste water treatment. An amount of R75
billion has been allocated between 2012 and 2015 for
investment in water infrastructure, quality management,
resource planning and support to local government to
address the water problem.
• Carbon capture.
(***) Further information can be seen in the separate leaflet
of South Arica
UAE (****)
In the Middle Eastern countries, the opportunities within
Energy and water are seen in: (i) utility scale PV expected to
dominate installations; (ii) Cleaning / dust removal with
low-water input.; (iii) technologies that perform better at
high temperatures / high humidity / high diffuse light (low
DNI) conditions; (iv) receivers, pipes, insulation, thermal
storage media for CSP; (v) smart-grids / smart-building
applications have a strong potential; (vi) Insulation
materials, coatings, water-saving metering infrastructure.
Waste water treatment is often done with large centralized
plants for major city centers. There is a strong potential for
smaller plants for large communities/resorts that are being
developed away from the main cities as well as for the
refurbishing of existing plants. Non-thermal desalination
will need to be installed to match the rate of substitution of
thermal electricity generation by renewables and nuclear.
Due to low costs and the availability of land, landfill is the
primary means of waste disposal. However, policy-makers
and stake holders are keen to promote sustainable waste
management strategies & innovative technologies as the
following: (i) Initiatives to improve waste management; (ii)
waste to Energy technologies; (iii) wastewater treatment
facilities under strain; (iv) processing of used materials and
conversion to new products including composting; (iv) Well
designed and managed landfills compliant to national
legislations.
(****) Further information can be seen in the separate
leaflet of UAE
VIETNAM (*****)
Vietnam energy sector is driven by the fastest – growing
demand in the region. To meet the rapidly growing energy
demand, renewable energies, especially affordable
renewable energies, are given priority by the Vietnam
government. The affordable renewable energies include
small hydropower, bioenergy (biogas, biomass and biofuel).
Vietnam also has a potential of using LNG as an alternative
to coal and natural gas for power generation as well as the
potential of switching from FO/DO to LNG. Especially,
Vietnam has huge potential of converting waste to money.
Valuable wastes are Aquaculture processing by-products
for producing fish mill, fish oil, pharmaceutical materials;
animal husbandry waste for CH4 generation as well as
agricultural residual also to be used as fuel for heat and
electricity generation. Furthermore, opportunities have also
seen in drinking water production, waste water treatment
and energy efficiency/demand side management.
(****) for detail information, please refer to the separate
leaflet of Vietnam.
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