Asia is building the backbone of its renewable future with energy storage

As we move through this decisive decade for clean energy, Asia’s energy storage market is stepping firmly onto the global stage.

Across the region, countries are moving towards deployment targets, overcoming supply chain hurdles, and unlocking new pathways to scale up utility-scale batteries alongside renewable energy growth. 

From Southeast Asia to India and Australia, landmark policies, first-of-their-kind projects and bold investment decisions show that energy storage is no longer a niche technology but a central pillar of the region’s clean power ambitions. 

In the Philippines, momentum is building. The Department of Energy’s fourth Green Energy Auction (GEA-4) is the first to integrate energy storage with new solar capacity, which is a crucial move for delivering stable and dispatchable renewable energy at scale. Scheduled for September, the auction will help the Philippines meet growing power demand while cutting emissions and enhancing grid resilience. 

Read more: Philippines DOE opens 10GW GEA-4 renewables-plus-storage auction for registration 

For Japan, energy storage market opportunities are opening across trading and ancillary services. The government has been keen to promote the role of battery energy storage system (BESS) technologies through the Long-Term Decarbonisation Auction (LTDA) capacity market scheme and direct subsidies, and a mixture of major players and startups from Japan and overseas are making moves to invest in this key aspect of the national ‘Green Transformation’ (‘GX’) policy strategy. 

Read more: Japan: Electric utilities KEPCO, Kyuden, make progress in emerging battery storage market 

Cambodia has taken an important step too, commissioning its first grid-forming BESS demonstration project. This milestone supports its goal to source 70% of its power from renewable sources by 2030 and strengthens its role as an energy exporter, with clean power already approved for supply to Singapore. 

Read more: Huawei, SchneiTec commission Cambodia’s first grid-forming BESS demonstration project 

In India, developers are moving quickly to pair renewables with advanced storage technologies. Companies like Envision and SUN Terra are planning multi-hundred-megawatt projects, with a focus on long-duration BESS that can rival traditional pumped hydro. Indonesia and Australia are seeing similar momentum, with new long-duration systems planned to support ambitious national net-zero targets. 

Read more: Envision Energy, SUN Terra partner for ESS in Southeast Asia, India and Australia 

All of this is happening against the backdrop of a shifting supply chain. Trade tensions and expanded tariffs on Chinese battery components, and on Southeast Asian countries including Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia, are pushing manufacturers to diversify production and secure alternative sources of supply.