ADB and GEAPP Unite to Strengthen Asia-Pacific’s Clean Energy Future with Battery Storage Push

SINGAPORE, June 14, 2025 — In a significant step towards achieving Asia-Pacific’s ambitious clean energy goals, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) have launched the Enhancing Access to Battery Energy Storage System for Low-carbon Economies (ENABLE) platform. The new initiative is aimed at accelerating the deployment of battery energy storage systems (BESS), a crucial component for stabilising power grids as renewable energy capacity surges across the region.

Asia and the Pacific are witnessing a rapid expansion of renewable energy, with capacity projected to increase by nearly 430 gigawatts between 2023 and 2028. Solar energy is expected to drive two-thirds of this growth, much of it through large-scale installations. However, integrating such volumes of intermittent power into national grids presents complex challenges for stability and reliability—challenges that battery storage technologies are uniquely positioned to address.

“Asia-Pacific’s energy transition is at a critical juncture,” said Cindy Cisneros-Tiangco, ADB’s Director, Emerging Areas, Energy Sector Office. “With energy demand soaring alongside renewable capacity, battery storage is essential to ensure clean energy can be delivered reliably, securely, and affordably. The ENABLE platform directly supports countries in overcoming technical, financial, and policy hurdles that currently slow down BESS adoption.”

The platform will combine expertise, financial support, and development assistance to help countries in the region build the infrastructure and capabilities needed to integrate growing levels of renewable energy. The initiative will be supported by $500,000 from ADB’s Smart Energy Innovation Fund, under its Clean Energy Financing Partnership Facility, alongside $250,000 in grant financing from GEAPP.

ENABLE’s focus aligns with the broader decarbonisation goals of many Asia-Pacific nations, where governments are under increasing pressure to meet net-zero targets, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and maintain energy security in the face of growing consumption. Yet many economies continue to face barriers to scaling BESS solutions, including high upfront costs, limited technical capacity, regulatory uncertainty, and concerns over impacts on consumer energy prices.

“Without large-scale battery storage, the region’s clean energy ambitions could be severely constrained,” said Kitty Bu, Vice President, Southeast Asia at GEAPP. “Through ENABLE, we are bridging the storage gap that threatens to limit the full potential of renewable energy. Our blended finance model reduces risk and unlocks private sector investment, enabling battery storage to become a mainstream solution for Asia-Pacific’s energy transition.”

In its initial three-year phase, ENABLE will focus on Vietnam, Mongolia, and Cambodia—countries that are advancing rapidly in their renewable energy ambitions but face varying degrees of readiness in adopting BESS technologies. The programme will offer a tailored mix of technical assistance, pilot project development, and policy advisory services, alongside capacity building for key stakeholders.

Planned activities include developing technical standards, procurement frameworks, and innovative business models; conducting integration studies; and applying digital tools such as artificial intelligence to optimise storage deployment and grid management. By developing bankable projects and strengthening investment conditions, ENABLE aims to create replicable models that can be scaled across additional countries in the region.

Ultimately, the ADB-GEAPP collaboration represents a critical intervention to help Asia-Pacific realise its clean energy vision. As many countries pursue aggressive renewables targets in line with their climate commitments, robust battery storage will be essential to ensure that renewable power remains both sustainable and reliable.