The document emphasizes a strategic transition that includes peaking the consumption of coal and oil during the 2026-30 period. Central to the China energy plan is the goal to double the contribution of non-fossil fuel sources over the upcoming decade through the advancement of technologies like nuclear fusion and hydrogen. To ensure energy security, the strategy outlines the continued development of a major natural gas pipeline from Russia alongside capacity increases for nuclear power, offshore wind, and pumped hydro storage. Specific infrastructure targets include reaching 160 gigawatts of pumped hydro capacity and 300 gigawatts of battery storage, supported by 50 gigawatts of virtual power plants designed for demand response. By 2030, the nation intends to reach 2 million tons of green hydrogen production capacity, which is nearly double the volume currently operational or under development.

Under the new guidelines, wind and solar power are expected to constitute more than 50% of the total installed power capacity across the nation. While the focus remains on renewables, fossil fuel management remains a priority with oil output maintained at approximately 200 million tons annually and natural gas production slated for a steady increase. The government intends to rationally organize the construction of natural gas power plants and encourage the domestic manufacture of gas turbines. Furthermore, the plan calls for the creation of a coal production buffer exceeding 100 million tons per year, ensuring that capacity is ready for extraction whenever necessary. Looking toward long term innovation, the scheme also prioritizes the development of space-based power plants, superconducting transmission, and further research into nuclear fusion to sustain future energy needs.

Upon its completion, the facility is expected to generate sufficient clean electricity to supply approximately 880,000 households in southern Kazakhstan, effectively preventing roughly 2.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year. The project also involves the installation of over 400 km of overhead transmission lines to upgrade the regional grid infrastructure. Concurrently, Masdar entered into a roadmap agreement with the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development to pursue Kazakhstan’s first Round-the-Clock (RTC) clean energy initiative. This RTC project aims to provide 24/7 utility-scale power, with an initial 200MW phase dedicated to supporting the country’s AI ambitions through data centres and infrastructure.

Nurlan Zhakupov, Chief Executive Officer of Samruk-Kazyna, said, “We are proud to launch this landmark project together with Masdar, marking an important milestone in our strategic partnership. The 1GW wind farm opens a new chapter in the cooperation between Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates and reflects our shared commitment to advancing a low-carbon economy, deploying innovative technologies and building a sustainable energy future for Kazakhstan.” Following this, Yerlan Akkenzhenov, Kazakhstan Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, stated, “Our partnership with Masdar drives renewable energy development and propels Kazakhstan toward carbon neutrality. This project will strengthen regional energy security and bring cutting-edge technologies to the renewable energy sector. We appreciate our partners’ commitment to investing in the country’s sustainable development and will provide all the necessary support to ensure the successful delivery of every project phase.”

Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, noted, “This project represents a significant step forward in Masdar’s global expansion and our growing presence in Central Asia. As our first project in Kazakhstan, it bolsters our leading position in the region and reflects our commitment to enhancing the country’s long-term growth and energy security. We are also delighted to sign a roadmap agreement to expand the deployment of Round-the-Clock renewable energy solution in Kazakhstan, helping to provide the industries of the future with the reliable, affordable, clean power that they need.” Furthermore, Engineer Hamad Al Ameri, Managing Director and Group CEO of Alpha Dhabi Holding, commented, “This groundbreaking marks another milestone in Alpha Dhabi’s strategy to position climate investment as a core driver of sustainable growth. Through our partnership with Masdar and our subsidiary W Solar, we are demonstrating that the UAE’s leadership in clean energy extends far beyond our borders; mobilising capital, expertise, and long-term commitment to markets where the energy transition is accelerating. The wind project, combined with a battery energy storage system in the Zhambyl region, reflects our belief that patient, purpose-driven investment in clean infrastructure is the defining opportunity of our era and essential for long-term value creation.” This Kazakhstan wind farm aligns with the nation’s goal of reaching 15% renewable energy in its electricity mix by 2030 and 50% by 2050, supporting Masdar’s target to achieve 100GW of global portfolio capacity by 2030.

The project reflects China’s broader strategy to strengthen deep-sea offshore wind development as global energy systems increasingly shift toward cleaner power sources. Beyond lowering emissions from offshore oilfield operations, the platform is expected to support the development of the floating offshore wind supply chain across the Pearl River Delta while contributing to a cleaner, low-carbon and more efficient energy system. China has also advanced supporting infrastructure this year, including the completion of the offshore floatover installation of the world’s largest offshore converter station, “Heart of Sea Wind,” in Yangjiang, Guangdong Province. The converter station is entering its final commissioning stage and will play a key role in transmitting electricity generated by large-scale offshore wind farms to the mainland grid.

Industry experts said offshore wind remains an important contributor to China’s low-carbon transition because projects located near coastal demand centers provide clean electricity while reducing dependence on fossil fuels. They also noted that as nearshore development opportunities become more limited, the industry is increasingly moving into deeper waters where wind resources are stronger. According to the National Energy Administration, China’s installed power generation capacity reached 4.01 billion kilowatts by the end of May, while installed wind power capacity increased 17 percent year on year to 660 million kilowatts. A separate industry report released in Shanghai on June 17 further highlighted China’s leadership, showing that the country accounted for 78 percent of newly grid-connected offshore wind capacity worldwide during 2025, reinforcing the significance of the floating wind platform in advancing commercial deployment.

Surging Demand and Infrastructure Growth

Despite a broader shift in the global supply chain, the Philippines recorded a 145% year-on-year increase in imports, with the majority of equipment arriving from China. Adrian Sabatera, a software engineer who recently invested 570,000 pesos in a rooftop system, observed, “I wouldn’t be shocked if a third of the middle-class population eventually finds their way to this setup.” This transition is helping many families significantly reduce their monthly bills. Local installers, such as Philergy German Solar, reported a massive spike in interest, at one point fielding 3,000 inquiries in a single day. Managing partner Jochen Staudter noted that “Demand will continue to be driven by high electricity prices.” Market analysts now project substantial capacity growth, suggesting that the Philippines solar market could see its distributed capacity triple to 3,500 megawatts within the next two years.

Economic Barriers and Future Outlook

The rapid expansion of the Philippines solar market is supported by shrinking payback periods, which have dropped from four years to 3.1 years. However, significant hurdles remain for widespread adoption. Solar currently accounts for less than 4% of total national energy consumption, and a weakening currency has exacerbated the cost of imported fuels used for traditional power generation. Brenda Valerio of New Energy Nexus highlighted that a volatile supply chain and equipment hoarding have occasionally delayed installations. Furthermore, while the government offers 5% interest loans, these programs often exclude private-sector workers, making the upfront cost prohibitive as it frequently exceeds the average annual household income. As the nation continues to monitor its trade statistics and energy security, the push to lower monthly bills remains a primary driver for capacity growth. Alnie Demoral, an analyst at Ember, concluded, “The opportunity is real, but the upfront cost is often too high for a household or business, no matter how quick the payback time is.”

A key achievement of the facility is the successful implementation of two technologies for the first time: 50% green hydrogen co-firing and 100% pure hydrogen combustion. The system enables hydrogen and pulverised coal to be fully blended and burned inside the boiler, allowing a 50% heat input ratio from hydrogen in a 40 MW coal-fired boiler. According to project information, this represents a world-first application at this scale. The technology has the potential to cut coal consumption and carbon emissions by as much as 50% while also reducing nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. The presence of onsite solar generation and energy storage further supports the production and use of green hydrogen when required.

The completion follows a large-capacity pilot-scale hydrogen-coal co-firing test carried out on June 7 by Yantai Longyuan Power Technology, a subsidiary of CHN Energy Technology & Environment Limited. The test took place at the company’s 40 MW Boiler Clean Combustion Engineering Laboratory and demonstrated the operation of a fully self-developed low-NOx burner designed specifically for hydrogen-coal co-firing applications. The project also incorporates a comprehensive safety protection system covering the entire process, from hydrogen delivery through to combustion inside the furnace.

Green hydrogen used in the project is produced using electricity generated from renewable sources such as solar and wind power. Because its combustion releases only water, developers describe it as a zero-carbon fuel. They believe the Hydrogen Co-Firing technology provides a practical pathway for reducing emissions from existing coal-fired power plants while supporting the broader transition toward greener and lower-carbon power generation. The project is also expected to encourage closer integration between coal power assets and renewable energy resources.

Presenting the national budget in parliament on Thursday, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said the government would also eliminate import duty, regulatory duty, supplementary duty and advance tax on a range of essential solar energy components. Under the new notification, products eligible for the exemptions include solar inverters, battery pack housing, lithium cells, lithium-ion batteries, solar photovoltaic modules and panels, mounting structures, battery energy storage systems (BESS), battery management systems, UV-protected solar DC cables and battery thermal management systems. “Through the gradual expansion of solar, wind and other clean energy sources, the foundations of a low-carbon economy will be established,” the minister said.

The minister further stated that investors would continue to receive support and incentives for local manufacturing of renewable energy equipment, including solar panels, wind power components and battery systems. Industry participants have welcomed the announcement, viewing it as a significant step toward expanding renewable energy investment and domestic clean energy production. Mostafa Al Mahmud, president of the Bangladesh Sustainable and Renewable Energy Association (BSREA), said the measures reflect the government’s commitment to the sector. “There is no alternative to clean energy for sustainable development,” he said. He added that sustained policy backing would enable industries to generate their own electricity while encouraging wider adoption of rooftop solar systems among households.

Bangladesh currently has an installed renewable energy generation capacity of 1,797 MW. Of that total, solar power accounts for 1,504 MW, underscoring the technology’s dominant role in the country’s renewable energy portfolio. The latest Solar Power Incentives package is expected to further support the expansion of solar capacity as Bangladesh advances its long-term clean energy objectives.

The newly acquired portfolio includes 42 operational solar power plants distributed throughout Central and Southern Taiwan. These facilities possess a combined nameplate capacity of 187MW and are projected to produce approximately 270 million kWh of clean electricity annually. This output is estimated to support the energy needs of roughly 80,000 Taiwanese households, with the assets maintaining a remaining operational lifespan exceeding 15 years. By integrating these facilities, J&V Energy intends to solidify its standing as a prominent independent power producer.

This solar acquisition serves to enhance the supply capabilities of GREENET, the group’s green electricity retail subsidiary. According to Jerome Tan, Group Chief Investment Officer of J&V Energy, the addition of these assets aligns with a broader strategy to develop a high-quality portfolio that features stable, long-dated, and fully contracted cashflows. The company views this as an opportunity to leverage its internal expertise in asset management, operations, and offtake solutions to drive further value. Furthermore, Kai Tan, Deputy CEO of J&V Energy, noted that the initiative directly addresses the increasing demand from local corporations particularly those within the semiconductor, electronics, and ICT sectors for reliable, large-scale green electricity to meet net-zero commitments. Following the finalization of the deal in 2026, the plants will be fully incorporated into the firm’s existing electricity retail and management platforms.

New Capacity Targets and Tender Framework

The EMA has issued a request for proposals inviting private sector participation to develop one combined cycle gas turbine plant of at least 600MW capacity by 2031, with the option to build up to two additional plants by early 2032. Each facility under the hydrogen-ready power plants programme must be capable of operating with at least 30% hydrogen by volume and meet strict emissions thresholds of 0.355 metric tons of CO2-equivalent per MWh at a 75% load factor.

Proposals for the 2031 plant are due by June 24, 2026, while submissions for the 2032 projects are expected by September 30. The EMA has also mandated that bidders demonstrate financial capability, with no revenue support mechanisms provided under the tender.

Key Project Specifications

• Minimum capacity requirement: 600MW per plant
• Hydrogen compatibility: At least 30% hydrogen blending capability
• Emissions intensity cap: 0.355 tCO2e/MWh
• Operational timelines: One plant by 2031; up to two by 2032
• Submission deadlines: June 24, 2026 (2031 plant), September 30, 2026 (2032 plants)

Demand Growth and Capacity Planning

Singapore’s electricity demand is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 2.4% to 4.8% over the next decade, driven largely by energy-intensive industries such as semiconductors and data centres. Peak demand is expected to rise from around 8GW in 2025 to between 9.6GW and 11.4GW by 2031.

According to EMA projections, the reserve margin could fall below the required 27% threshold from 2031 onward without additional generation capacity. This underlines the urgency of commissioning new power plants to maintain system reliability and prevent supply constraints.

Role of Natural Gas in Transition Strategy

Despite ongoing investments in solar, electricity imports, and exploration of nuclear energy, natural gas continues to play a central role in Singapore’s energy mix. In the first half of 2025, approximately 93% of the country’s electricity was generated using natural gas.

The EMA has emphasised that gas-fired plants remain essential for delivering stable baseload power, particularly as intermittent renewable sources scale up. The integration of hydrogen capability into these plants is intended to future-proof assets as hydrogen becomes commercially viable.

Power Info Today notes that embedding hydrogen compatibility at the design stage allows infrastructure developers to avoid costly retrofits while aligning with evolving emissions standards and fuel transition pathways.

Integration with Existing and Planned Infrastructure

By 2032, Singapore is expected to operate at least 11 hydrogen-ready natural gas power plants, including four completed in 2025 and two additional 600MW facilities scheduled for launch in 2026 by Keppel and Sembcorp.

The current fleet of 31 power plants is further supported by fast-start backup units, including installations by PacificLight Power and EMA subsidiary Meranti Power, designed to respond rapidly to supply shortfalls.

Policy and Market Implications

The initiative builds on a centralised planning framework introduced in 2023, under which the EMA forecasts electricity demand on a rolling 10-year basis and initiates capacity tenders when supply gaps are identified. This approach aims to prevent both under- and over-investment in generation infrastructure.

Additionally, Singapore’s solar capacity reached 2,093MW in 2025, with a national target of 3GW by 2030. However, due to intermittency, solar is expected to contribute around 600MW of effective capacity, reinforcing the continued need for dispatchable gas-fired generation.

From a market perspective, the absence of revenue guarantees signals a competitive procurement model that prioritises financially robust developers capable of delivering large-scale, low-emission infrastructure.

Strategic Outlook for Power Generation

EMA chief executive Puah Kok Keong stated that the new plants will “underpin the stable baseload power needed to support our transition to a cleaner energy future.” The emphasis on hydrogen readiness positions Singapore to gradually integrate low-carbon fuels without compromising grid stability.

Power Info Today highlights that the move reflects a pragmatic balance between decarbonisation goals and operational reliability, particularly in a market where industrial demand continues to expand.

According to the tender framework, the selected lenders will provide the required debt financing, enabling the project’s development without direct equity strain. The initiative reflects a broader approach where central agencies coordinate funding pathways for renewable infrastructure. The Gujarat Solar Project is expected to benefit from this arrangement by securing structured financing, which remains a critical factor in large-scale solar deployment. The tender outlines clear eligibility criteria for banks and financial institutions, focusing on their ability to meet the project’s financial requirements and timelines.

The development highlights SECI’s continued role in aggregating demand and facilitating financing solutions for solar initiatives across India. By enabling competitive loan procurement, the agency aims to ensure cost-effective funding while maintaining transparency in the selection process. The Gujarat Solar Project, backed by this financing model, is positioned to contribute to the country’s renewable energy targets, reinforcing Gujarat’s role as a key solar hub. The tender mechanism also underscores the importance of financial structuring in accelerating project execution, particularly in capital-intensive sectors such as utility-scale solar power.

The facility represents an initial investment exceeding USD 95 million and currently supports more than 1,370 cabinets, with capacity planned to scale to over 5,475 cabinets at full build-out. Designed for resilience and efficiency, MB3 enables enterprises to connect with cloud providers, network operators, and ecosystem partners while supporting secure and scalable digital operations. Its architecture incorporates high-density configurations and energy-efficient systems, allowing enterprises to manage data-intensive applications and next-generation services effectively.

The Mumbai data center launch comes as India’s digital economy advances toward a projected USD 1 trillion milestone by 2027–2028. This growth is being fuelled by expanding digital services and public digital infrastructure such as Aadhaar, UPI, and ONDC. As AI transitions from experimental stages to large-scale deployment, enterprises face increasing challenges related to latency, data gravity, power density, and compliance with local data regulations. MB3 addresses these issues through deep interconnection capabilities, enabling organizations to position AI workloads closer to data sources, cloud platforms, and end users while ensuring regulatory compliance and operational performance.

Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra, said, “We are pleased to welcome Equinix, a global leader, on the launch of its first self-built data center in Mumbai. With Maharashtra hosting nearly 60% of India’s data center capacity, the addition of the AI ready MB3 data center, along with Equinix’s solar plant in Yavatmal, further strengthens Mumbai’s position as the country’s premier digital hub. These investments reflect strong confidence in Maharashtra’s pro-investment policies and focus on sustainable, next-generation infrastructure. We look forward to expanding our partnership with Equinix.”

Equinix has committed over USD 365 million in cumulative investments across India, reinforcing its long-term outlook on the country’s digital infrastructure sector. Its Mumbai and Chennai campuses, interconnected through dedicated dark fiber, collectively deliver more than 4,725 cabinets of capacity, supporting redundancy and optimized traffic management nationwide. The company’s ecosystem includes over 300 organizations in India, ranging from network service providers to enterprises, along with multiple internet exchanges. The Mumbai data center integrates with Equinix’s broader infrastructure network, including its Chennai facility, CN1, enabling seamless access to cloud platforms such as Alibaba Cloud, AWS, Google Cloud, IBM Cloud, Oracle Cloud, and SFDC via Equinix Fabric®.

Anil Kumar Nair, Head of IT Infrastructure & Cyber Security, Kotak Securities, said, “India’s financial markets are moving faster than ever, and our infrastructure needs to keep pace. Low-latency connectivity, data sovereignty, and operational resilience are non-negotiable for us. Equinix’s MB3 strengthens a campus we already trust, and gives us the density, interconnection and cloud adjacency to support our next phase of AI-driven innovation, whether that’s real-time analytics, algorithmic trading infrastructure or next-generation client experiences.”

Cyrus Adaggra, President, Asia-Pacific, Equinix, said, “India continues to play a pivotal role in shaping Asia-Pacific’s digital future, and the opening of MB3 strengthens our ability to support customers as they navigate new growth driven by cloud adoption, AI innovation and increasing interconnection needs. With this expansion, organizations can now tap into greater capacity and a globally consistent platform, helping them accelerate transformation and unlock the full potential of India’s fast-growing digital ecosystem. Equinix remains firmly committed to investing in India and building the infrastructure that empowers our customers to thrive.”

Manoj Paul, Managing Director, India, Equinix, said, “India is at a pivotal stage in its digital transformation, with growing AI and cloud adoption and stricter data localization requirement that are shaping the next phase of economic growth. The Union Budget 2026 proposals, including a tax holiday for global cloud providers leveraging India-based data center infrastructure and the introduction of safe harbor provisions, are viewed as strong policy enablers that reinforce the country’s position as a trusted global digital hub. As enterprises embrace hybrid multicloud and prepare for AI inferencing at scale, seamless interconnection between businesses, network service providers and hyperscalers becomes essential. The launch of MB3 comes at exactly the right time, providing the ecosystems, interconnection density and scalable capacity needed to power India’s next wave of digital expansion.”

The facility operates with 100% renewable energy coverage, aligning with Equinix’s global sustainability targets for 2030. This includes integration with a 26.4 MWp solar project developed in partnership with CleanMax, expected to generate around 41.4 million kWh of clean energy annually while reducing carbon emissions by more than 30,000 tonnes. Globally, Equinix operates 280 data centers across 77 markets in 36 countries, including a strong Asia-Pacific presence spanning 64 facilities across key regional markets.