Jane Lim

from today's lunch talk with Ahmad Yuniarto former CEO of PGE and Putra Adhiguna Managing Director - Energy Shift Institute The Complexities of Energy Transition in Developing Countries: Beyond Technology and Regulation The energy transition in most of the developing countries is a deeply complex issue, far from being a straightforward shift from fossil fuels to renewable alternatives. The common belief that this challenge revolves around finding the right technology, securing financing, or amending regulations misses the underlying problems. At its core, the challenge of energy transition in Indonesia for instance lies within the nation's economic structure and the entrenched political reliance on major economic players. These major economic actors, who dominate the energy sector, view energy not as a critical service for the people but as a commodity for trade. As a result, energy policies in the country tend to align with what benefits these influential players. "The mindset of treating energy as a tradable good is deeply ingrained, and shifting this perception does not happen overnight," says one industry expert. This approach undermines the idea of providing the population with stable, secure, and sustainable energy supplies. To achieve a meaningful energy transition, the solution must go beyond technical innovation and alternative fuel options. It requires bridging the interests of the economic elite, policymakers, energy stakeholders, and—crucially—the people who consume this energy. As one stakeholder commented, "Energy transition is not just about shifting to renewable sources; it’s about shifting the mindset of those who control and influence energy policy." This shift requires a nuanced, multifaceted approach that acknowledges the political and economic realities. There are various pathways to explore, but the solution must include building collaboration between economic players and creating policies that prioritize the needs of the people over the profit motives of the few. Only through this broader cooperation can developing countries hope to move toward a sustainable energy future. Andy Tirta | Zulfikar Yurnaidi | Amira Bilqis | Rika Safrina | Silvira Ayu Rosalia | Indira P.

132

11 Comments

The growing demand for credible, verified data/credits/solutions is a symptom of success - if they did not matter no one would care. Additionally the implicit and explicit need for regional or global registries that will facilitate liquidity in markets is another growing theme. We should celebrate these rapidly emerging requirements and focus on meeting them and building trust. We finally have the attention of the markets, lets be sure we don't blow our opportunity to change them for good. Now is the time to provide the narrative of why and how the markets can rely on the credibility of our outputs. #ecobusiness #creditmarkets #verified #credible #trusted

2

In many off-grid sectors, outdated generators are the norm—inefficient, costly, and environmentally harmful. Renewable energy like solar and wind, while promising, isn’t yet viable in many rural or logistically challenging environments, especially in regions like Malaysia and Indonesia. This is where TailorTech Sdn Bhd steps in with a practical solution. TailorTech, one of the innovative companies from our Antler Malaysia 2nd cohort, is rewriting the rules of power management. Founded by brothers Indera Shaiful Baharudin, Ph.D and Ts. Indera Shafiq, TailorTech has developed the POWER ENHANCER SYSTEM (PES)—a smart power management solution designed to optimize generator usage. The goal? To cut costs, reduce environmental impact, and bring efficiency to sectors where reliable power is non-negotiable. Here’s what makes TailorTech’s solution stand out: 📌 Smart Optimization: PES fine-tunes generator operations for maximum efficiency, reducing fuel consumption and minimizing wear and tear. 📌 Greener Power: While PES doesn’t eliminate carbon emissions entirely, it significantly reduces them—an essential step toward net-zero goals. 📌 Wide-Reaching Impact: TailorTech’s solution is a game-changer for telecom towers, plantation estates, mining sites, off-grid construction, and rural communities. By bridging the gap between today’s energy challenges and tomorrow’s sustainable solutions, TailorTech’s PES delivers immediate benefits in efficiency and sustainability. Let’s meet the dynamic founders behind TailorTech: ➡ Dr. Indera Shaiful: With a PhD in mechanical engineering and 10 years of experience in off-grid electrification, Dr. Shaiful is a pioneer in green technology. He installed Malaysia’s first wind-solar hybrid system and is a certified professional technologist in green tech by the Malaysian Board of Technology. ➡ Ts. Indera Shafiq: A proven entrepreneur, Shafiq has successfully founded, commercialized, and exited a microcarrier manufacturing business, crucial for viral vaccine production. As a master consultant in business transformation, he specializes in business strategy and development, driving TailorTech’s innovative approach. Together, they’re turning TailorTech into a leader in power management, offering sustainable and economically viable solutions for industries that depend on off-grid power. As the push for net-zero carbon emissions gains momentum, TailorTech’s PES arrives just in time. Their next move? Deploying the PES across various industries, with their first on-site installation serving as a crucial proof of concept. _____ Have a transformative idea? Join our next Antler Malaysia cohort and turn it into reality! 🇲🇾 Curious for details? Check out the comment section for the full article.

76

6 Comments

KUALA LUMPUR (July 27) In a move to bolster Malaysia’s technology ecosystem, ViTrox Corp Bhd’s (KL:VITROX) co-founders are partnering with private equity firm Southern Capital Group to create a venture capital fund. Dubbed the Cambrian Fund, it aims to support local tech startups and nurture a robust tech ecosystem in Malaysia. The fund will focus on the Industrial 4.0 themes, including vision artificial intelligence and robotics. It aims to invest in early-stage tech companies whose founders have the right mindset, compelling vision, and exceptional execution capabilities necessary to achieve market leadership and success in a dynamic and competitive global environment. The fund intends to cast a wider net to attract other industry leaders and key stakeholders into the fund's ecosystem. The fund, which will be launched in October this year, is targeting to raise RM150 million, of which RM60 million is to be secured from ViTrox founders and Southern Capital. ViTrox's founders are Chu Jenn Weng, Steven Siaw Kok Tiong, and Yeoh Shih Hoong. Speaking at a pre-launch of the Cambrian Fund, Chu said Malaysia has the potential to become the Silicon Vallley of the East. He emphasised that achieving this vision requires industry players to contribute their knowledge and expertise, as well as increased investment from those who share the goal of strengthening the local tech ecosystem. “Southeast Asia is poised for significant growth and we see unique opportunities to foster local tech companies and create global champions. Our initiative aligns with the National Semiconductor Strategy, which aims to cultivate a dynamic ecosystem and establish at least 10 Malaysian tech companies with over RM1 billion in revenue,” said Chu, who is also president, managing director and chief executive officer of ViTrox. Chu is the largest shareholder in Penang-based ViTrox with a 26.44% stake. The group produces machinery and equipment designed to automate the rigorous testing of semiconductor devices. He highlighted that Penang is an excellent destination that boasts strong infrastructure, a highly educated and motivated workforce, and successful companies founded by entrepreneurs, which create significant investment opportunities. “Permanent dislocations in global supply chains due to geopolitical changes have led to tremendous prospects for local operators and entrepreneurs to achieve massive growth, but this requires networks, knowledge and capital. "Southern Capital is excited to have the founders of Vitrox as limited partners and allies in this transformative venture. We share the same values and vision, aiming to leverage our collective experience and knowledge to help others achieve significant returns and growth,” Tan added.

10

Singapore has a Singapore Government Partnership Office. Citizens can sent proposals to make any aspects of improvement to policy or support by the government and it'll be listened to. I've submitted several and received responses. We are now working on a few of them. I encourage Singaporeans take up this opportunity to go beyond complaining and start putting your thoughts of how we can actually create system changes by writing down your ideas. It does not need to be a complete plan. But it should at least shows some methods of solving the stated problem, enough to start a constructive discussion. When a citizen makes an effort to write down the plans, he takes ownership of his ideas and begin his personal nation-building process. Give it a try. Start writing your ideas now. Describe the Problem Statement as clearly as possible. What is the problem? Why is this a problem? How does it looks like if it is solved? How should it be solved? Who are the stakeholders who should be invited to solve the problem? What are the resources needed to solve it? Advocacy, funding, policy change, popular support, or technical solutions like an app or sciences. This requires you to put in a lot of effort thinking about the potential answers. You don't need to have all the answers. But if you start to find the answers, the process of solving begin. You also do not have to insist your answers are the best ones. You need to keep an open mind because it doesn't matter who is the one who provides the answers as long as the problem can be solved. Focus on the beautiful future and how it'd look like when we all arrived there by working together with everyone else. You are one of the resources but invite others to contribute as well. Complaining is easy, but it only becomes nation building when we take ownership of the solutions.

41

4 Comments

Temasek's annual sustainability showcase Ecosperity just concluded, Jovi Ho and I compress everything we thought was eventful in this piece below: After the cop28 failed to land on the complete phase-out of fossil fuels, this 10th edition of Ecosperity zoned in on what a just and equitable transition looks like through urgent emission cuts and scaled-up financing. Some of the most controversial names in the sustainability industry were present: mining giant guilty of social and environmental destruction Rio Tinto and carbon credit players (South Pole, Gold Standard...) accused of overstating the environmental impact of their products, were all looking to rehabilitate their image and role in the global movement towards decarbonization. Is owning up to past errors enough? Are the initiatives and collaborations enough to meet the imminent goal of 1.5 degrees by 2030?

40

As we move towards a greener future, the demand for quick charging electric vehicles is on the rise. However, can our power grids keep up? In a recent article for e27 (Optimatic), I raised an important concern about the power requirements of EV chargers. Did you know that 7000 of the 480kW Ultrafast EV chargers will require the same power as the entire Singapore residential household? It's time to ask ourselves, can we truly afford to have so many? Let's continue to push for sustainability, but let's also ensure that we're not sacrificing too much in the process. #sustainability #evcharging

19

(Part 2: continuation of previous post) During the second half of the 1960s, Singapore’s leaders charted the route based on total commitment at the individual and collective level, and zero tolerance for corruption. They embraced the ideal of government excellence, and the discipline of dashboard-accountability via short, medium, and long-term strategic planning with measurable objectives. This is how government and multisectoral performance is evaluated. The common-good goal is to compete globally to be number one, regionally or globally, in each aspect of the SG strategic competitiveness plan. In one sentence, we learned that Singapore's transformation is a function of the right attitude combined with the right discipline to achieve its goals. The results speak for themselves. Singapore is today admired and envied by countries and thinkers. Can we achieve such a standard in Puerto Rico? Someone once said: “Is it possible? Of course it can be done! A homeland’s progress is not made by speaking to give an opinion. A homeland is made by toiling, sacrificing, and grit." And I add: the only thing that is needed is the necessary level of desire because sheer willpower can make mountains move. I bet on our collective capacity. I bet on Puerto Rico’s future. It can be done. We can make it happen. Puerto Rico can be “the Singapore of our hemisphere.” I urge us to always remember the phrase and prayer of the late Prime Minister of Israel Shimon Peres: “allow no room for small dreams.”

1