United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)

Cross-border power system integration has long been used as a strategy to lower costs and to increase security. It is also recognized as a key strategy for supporting increased power system sustainability, in particular by helping countries meet Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7).

At UN ESCAP’s 77th Commission Session, member States endorsed the Regional Road Map on Power System Connectivity.¹ The road map details nine strategies which, if implemented, would support increased and sustainable cross-border power system integration in the region. These strategies can be grouped into four categories:

• Planning integrated power systems
• Financing and developing cross-border infrastructure
• Sustainable and secure operation of integrated power systems
• Cross-cutting issues, such as political will and ensuring connectivity efforts support sustainable development

Each category offers a lens through which to examine the potential opportunities power system connectivity offers to meet sustainable development and national policy goals. At the same time, it is important to recognize that efforts to plan, develop, and operate cross-border power system infrastructure face real world challenges.

This roundtable will focus on the challenges and opportunities of increased cross-border power system integration. Expert participants from around the world will discuss real-world examples of cross-border integration projects, including the reasoning behind the projects, the challenges those projects faced, and how those challenges were overcome.

Time	Programme
9:30 – 9:40	Opening Remarks Matthew Wittenstein Section Chief, Energy Connectivity UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Click here to download the presentation
9:40 – 10:05	Preparing for an Integrated Future: Examples of Regional Power System Planning Beni Suryadi Manager ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) Click here to download the presentation Moderated by Mika Ohbayashi Director Renewable Energy Institute
10:05 – 10:30	Financing Cross-Border Infrastructure: Making the Case for Connectivity Panellists Frederic Asseline Head of Program Team Multilateral Cooperation Centre for Development Finance (MCDF) Click here to download the presentation Pradeep Tharakan Unit Head, Sovereign Energy Operations, Greater Mekong Subregion Asian Development Bank (ADB) Moderated by Mika Ohbayashi Director Renewable Energy Institute
10:30 – 10:55	Aligning Energy Connectivity with Sustainability Goals Panellists Jagjeet Sareen Assistant Director-General, Strategy International Solar Alliance (ISA) Secretariat Valerie Lee Head, Corporate Development (Singapore & Southeast Asia) Sembcorp Industries Ltd Dr Huang Han Deputy Director-General GEI Research Institute, GEIDCO Click here to download the presentation Moderated by Mika Ohbayashi Director Renewable Energy Institute
10:55 – 11:25	Panel Discussion Beni Suryadi Manager ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) Frederic Asseline Head of Program Team Multilateral Cooperation Centre for Development Finance (MCDF) Pradeep Tharakan Unit Head, Sovereign Energy Operations, Greater Mekong Subregion Asian Development Bank (ADB) Jagjeet Sareen Assistant Director-General, Strategy International Solar Alliance (ISA) Secretariat Dr Huang Han Deputy Director-General GEI Research Institute, GEIDCO Valerie Lee Head, Corporate Development (Singapore & Southeast Asia) Sembcorp Industries Ltd Matthew Wittenstein Section Chief, Energy Connectivity UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Moderated by Mika Ohbayashi Director Renewable Energy Institute
11:25 – 11:30	Closing Remarks Matthew Wittenstein Section Chief, Energy Connectivity UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

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