Atmospheric Emissions from Electricity Generation in Southeast Asia: Development Trend and Policy Responses

Purpose of Review

Rapid economic development accompanied by urbanization, motorization, and industrialization, together with population growth, puts great pressure on the power sector in Southeast Asia (SEA) to meet energy demand. This paper reviews the past 20-year power generation in SEA countries to analyze potential impacts on atmospheric pollution using DPSIR framework.

Recent Findings

In 2020, total region electricity generation reached 1050 TWh, 3.1 times above that of 2000, and is projected to further increase by 2.5 times in 2050. During the period, the annual per capita generation increased 2.4 times. Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam were the main electricity producers, sharing 83% in 2020. Coal and natural gas based thermal power plants (TPPs) were dominant with 72% of the total electricity produced, whereas low-carbon renewable energy, although increased during the period, shared only 25% in 2020. In 2018, the sectoral atmospheric emissions of different species increased by 2.4–11.5 times above 2000, contributing 55.3%, 26.8%, and 26.7% to the region’s total anthropogenic emissions of SO₂, CO₂, and NO_x, respectively.

Summary

Heavy reliance on fossil fuels makes the power sector a key emission source of air pollutants and greenhouse gases. SEA governments have promulgated policies and regulations for TPPs and set net zero emissions targets. These policies, directly and/or indirectly address atmospheric pollution, once fully implemented, bring in more secure and sustainable power sources in the region, along with multiple benefits to air quality, human health, environment, ecosystem, and the climate.