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Hello there,
It’s been an excruciatingly hot summer here in Manila, where temperatures can go as high as 40°CC on some days. No surprise then that many are turning to (or turning on – pun intended) air conditioning units to cool their homes.
A decade ago, that would have meant skyrocketing electricity costs. But some households have decided to install solar panels on their roofs, which has led to cheaper electricity bills.
Going solar also allows people to use energy-intensive appliances without hurting the environment. And for some people, knowing that helps them sleep better at night.
Data centers in Southeast Asia could benefit from renewable energy in the near future, too. A think tank found that as soon as 2030, a third of the region’s data centers could be powered by solar and wind farms.
Now that’s the kind of projection that the industry and green advocates can warm up to.
— Elyssa
THE BIG STORIES
1️⃣ Tracking Chinese EVs’ stunning surge in Southeast Asia
Image credit: Timmy Loen
Since the start of 2025, Chinese electric vehicles have made up eight out of every 100 new cars sold in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, Tech in Asia’s analysis shows.
This data story visualizes how much inroad Chinese EV brands have made in Southeast Asia, a market that had long been dominated by automobiles made in Japan and Europe.
2️⃣ Indonesia’s EV battery bet falters amid global, local pressure
Lithium iron phosphate batteries now power 40% of EVs sold globally in 2024, lowering demand for new nickel-refining projects in Indonesia.
Three major companies including South Korea’s LG Energy Solution, had already pulled out of their initial plans for nickel refining projects in the country. Could the trend spell the end of the country’s ambition to be the electric “Detroit of Southeast Asia”?
3️⃣ Typhoons to tech: a new climate future for the Philippines
Carlo Chen-Delantar, partner and head of ESG at Gobi Partners, argues that there’s a pressing need for climate tech solutions in one of the most disaster-prone places in the world: his home country, the Philippines.
DEEP READ
A third of Southeast Asia’s data centres could be powered by renewable energy by 2030: study
Image credit: Timmy Loen
It’s no secret that AI gobbles up a lot of power. What remains a mystery for many experts, however, is how economies around the world can continue to use the technology without endangering their energy security.
Some experts may now have answers. UK-based think tank Ember reports that in Southeast Asia, solar and wind farms could power a third of the region’s data center needs.
An expert warns, however, that renewable energy cannot be the sole solution. Southeast Asia still needs to be smart with how it uses electricity and consider investing in battery storage to fully support the growing need for data centers.
TRENDING NEWS
Also check out Tech in Asia’s coverage of Asia’s ecommerce scene here.
1️⃣ Indonesia’s 10-year power procurement plan: Green boon or climate doom?
The Indonesian government unveiled a 10-year energy development plan aimed at building renewable power plants at a pace 5x faster than today in the first five years and 11x faster in the next five years.
Why it matters:
While this is welcome news, critics and environmentalists are skeptical of the initiative as Indonesia is still committed to building new coal-fired power plants.
Implementing this plan would also require new policies, which an expert says may include the government using royalties collected from coal mines to construct smart grids.
2️⃣ Climate action leaning towards more global collaboration over the years: Singapore minister SM Teo
Despite the cooling sentiment among other countries, Singapore will continue to pursue climate change policies and projects, according to the city-state’s senior minister.
Why it matters:
Chee’s pronouncements are a breath of fresh air in a political environment where countries like the US are backtracking from their climate change mitigation policies.
3️⃣ Microsoft feels the heat as ‘carbon negative’ goal looms nearer
The tech titan is committed to meet its ambitious goal of being “carbon negative” by 2030.
Photo credit: Shutterstock
Why it matters:
Microsoft is partnering with various firms worldwide to offset its carbon footprint. That’s encouraging news for the climate tech sector, which has been hit hard by the US withdrawal from climate mitigation projects.
Financing from the private sector for climate adaptation and resilience projects could reach between US$500 billion and US$1.3 trillion by 2030, according to a report by Boston Consulting Group and Temasek.
Why it matters:
Such studies highlight that despite the current political atmosphere, investing in climate tech can lead to long-term returns for those who are patient enough to play the long game.
5️⃣ Japan bets on homegrown startups to adapt to a hotter world
The country’s Environment Ministry is committing US$415 million (60 billion yen) to invest in startups that aim to address climate issues.
Why it matters:
Such capital could be critical to Japan’s climate tech scene, which remains nascent compared to those in other developed countries.
STARTUP WATCH
1️⃣ Indonesia’s Remind bags $1.3m for e-waste recycling
Remind collects discarded electronics from manufacturers and dismantles them to extract valuable metals.The fresh capital will be used to establish a separation facility, which will help improve the startup’s recovery rate for useful materials.
2️⃣ Climate tech startup Arysun secures $575k pre-seed funding
The Indonesia-based company offers solar energy solutions for middle-income households. With this pre-seed funding, Arysun expects to sign partnerships with financial institutions to expand its customer base in the country.
3️⃣ Indian startup Alt Carbon bags $12m to accelerate CO2 removal
The deeptech startup uses enhanced rock weathering (ERW), a process that uses waste basalt rock dust on farmland to capture carbon dioxide and convert it into stable bicarbonates. The new funds will help Alt Carbon’s research and development efforts.
4️⃣ Maybank Indonesia funds $20m EV plant with VinFast
The capital will reportedly be used to construct a VinFast EV manufacturing plant in Indonesia.
5️⃣ Singapore’s Alternō raises series A funding from UntroD Capital Asia, ADB Ventures
Alterno provides agricultural and industrial clients with sand battery technology, which refers to the use of sand to develop thermal storage systems. Its product delivers zero-emission heat.
How startups can thrive in Southeast Asia’s evolving tech scene
Explore strategies to overcome today’s toughest market challenges
Southeast Asia’s tech ecosystem is entering a new era of challenges and opportunities. At AMPED 2025 Malaysia, discover how to lead your startup through uncertainty in the session “Reset and Rise: Navigating Southeast Asia’s Tougher Tech Landscape.”
Khailee Ng, managing partner at 500 Global, will share actionable frameworks to rethink growth strategies, sharpen decision-making, and build resilience. This session empowers founders to move beyond survival and position their startups for long-term success amid evolving market conditions.
If you’re ready to rethink your approach and unlock new potential, secure your spot now and gain the edge to thrive in today’s competitive landscape!
Less than 30 tickets remain! Bring your team and enjoy 20% off group purchases.
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Edited by Eileen C. Ang
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