This book examines clean energy financing and approaches in hydropower and demand-side energy efficiency projects. It presents policies and strategies on energy, based on the experiences in South Asia. This is the second of two volumes that reviews tried and tested approaches and instruments in scaling up clean energy development in Asia and the Pacific.

This book is the first of two volumes that review various approaches and instruments that have been tried, tested, and utilized to scale up clean energy development in Asia and the Pacific. This volume examines clean energy investment needs and financing gaps in the region and reviews existing financing options and approaches, including examples of how these have been applied. Innovative solutions for mobilizing private finance and managing risks associated with clean energy investments are also discussed.

This book examines clean energy investment needs and financing gaps in Asia and the Pacific and discusses how they are being addressed. It reviews existing financing options and approaches for clean energy, and includes country examples of how these have been applied. Innovative solutions for mobilizing private finance and managing risks associated with clean energy investments are also discussed. The book is the first of two volumes that look at various approaches and instruments that have been tried, tested, and utilized to scale up clean energy development in the region.

Unlocking Commercial Financing for Clean Eneargy in East Asia was written for government decision makers in middle and high-income countries, members of international financing communities, and practitioners. In East Asia, all middle-income countries have national targets for energy efficiency and renewable energy, and some even have targets for carbon reduction. However, a major hurdle to achieving a sustainable energy path is mobilizing the required financing. Policy makers must determine how to unlock commercial financing to scale up clean energy investments. Unlocking Commercial Financing for Clean Energy in East Asia builds on recent experience in applying public financing instruments and attempts to address the following issues: when and under what circumstances to use public financing instruments, which instrument to select, and how to design and implement them most effectively. First and foremost, effective and conducive policies are essential to catalyzing commercial investment in clean energy. Once the right policy regime has been put in place, public financing mechanisms designed to mitigate risks and close financing gaps have proven to play a major catalytic role in kick-starting substantial investments in clean energy. Public financing mechanisms for energy efficiency are particularly important to mitigating financiers' risk perceptions, to aggregating small deals, and to enhancing the interest and capacity of domestic banks. Public financing for renewable energy can provide long-term loan tenure to match the long payback period, mitigate technology risks, and increase access to financing for small and medium enterprises. The selection of public financing instruments should be tailored to the market barriers, the targeted market segments, the regulatory environment, and the maturity of the financial market. Engaging domestic banks through credit lines and guarantees has had the greatest impact in unlocking private financing. Dedicated funds and mezzanine and equity funds can effectively increase access to financing for small and medium enterprises and clean energy start-ups. Finally, the impact of public financing instruments can be substantially increased if they are packaged with technical assistance.

Green Finance and Renewable Energy in ASEAN and East Asia edited by Phoumin, Taghizadeh-Hesary and Kimura provides several empirical policy-oriented studies with new data on ASEAN member states and East Asian economies that deal with innovative and market-based solutions for unlocking private investments in renewable energy projects. In the wake of COVID-19, the importance of innovative ways and policies for enhancing investments in renewable energy projects to achieve climate-related goals is highlighted. Chapters cover various aspects and means of green finance for renewable energy development, including identifying the financing barriers and solutions for mitigating them, cleantech finance and energy transition, green investment risks, green technology financing, market development, carbon taxation, green bonds, FinTech, and green digital finance. The book collectively provides policy recommendations for designing funding strategies for renewable energy development in ASEAN and East Asia. A valuable resource to end-users, policymakers, and market players in ASEAN, East Asia, and the rest of the world on access to finance for renewable energy development.

Under the auspices of the Second Annual Asia–Pacific Dialogue on Clean Energy Governance, Policy, and Regulation, the Special Roundtable to Develop a Regional Plan of Action for Clean Energy Governance, Policy, and Regulation was held on 24 June 2011 at the Asian Development Bank. This publication provides (i) overviews of the key development strategies on clean energy policy and regulatory priorities for Asia and the Pacific discussed during the roundtable, and (ii) discussions and commitments that can guide stakeholders in understanding the region’s capacity building needs; and presents ideas for better clean energy implementation strategies within their own jurisdictions.