@Green July/August 2023 | Page 14

14 EVENT

@ green | JULY-AUGUST , 2023

Renewable alternatives

To ensure a sustainable future , traditional power generation must transition to renewable sources
Laura Ashton
Chimney smoke from an electricity plant pollutes the air .
BY DANIAL FAUZI

POWER IS the primary currency used by humankind to develop and further progress its civilisation . It is the currency that drives innovation and development , producing and manufacturing new technologies and goods humans consume and often take for granted .
In this modern era , many power companies across the globe have managed to lay the foundations of power generation and distribution to their respective populations . Now known as traditional energy sources , many power plants worldwide have relied on fossil fuels for power generation , such as coal , petrol , and natural gases .
The continuous use of fossil fuels has noticeably affected the planet in more ways than one . One is the obvious and extreme changes in the Earth ’ s climate , where we see erratic weather patterns .
Another is the depletion of Earth ’ s fossil fuel deposits which takes countless lifetimes to replenish . As the human population grows , the continuous use of fossil fuels will inevitably lead to a shortage in the foreseeable future .
To address these pressing issues , the recently held World Power Plant Innovation Conference 2023 gathered power company representatives and experts worldwide to discuss matters and the role of the power plant in the transition to renewable energy in ASEAN States .
TRANSITIONING FROM TRADITIONAL FRAMEWORKS
Power generation via traditional methods has long been the framework for many power plants . With power grids providing vast amounts of electricity to power up a city or town ’ s infrastructure directly from power plants , there is no doubt that the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources will not come without its own challenges .
“ Power is essential for economic and social advancements , and the challenges in transitioning from hydrocarbons are substantial ,” said Laura Ashton , Chief Executive Officer , Low Carbon Advisors ( Singapore ).
“ Among the challenges we face are making power available in a sustainable and just way , transitioning to cleaner sources , embracing change and not allowing short-termism to prevent necessary transformation in policy , financing , infrastructure , technology and business models .”
Indeed , some organisations in ASEAN are slowly but steadily transitioning to renewable energy sources to meet the net zero carbon emission and ESG goals for a sustainable future .
However , we must not forget that other organisations still fall behind in making this transition , be it because they either lack the necessary infrastructure to change or they only seek short-term profits without realising the futility of it in the long run .
“ Climate action is needed now ,” Ashton expressed during the conference . “ There is no long term without a strong medium term . Only 62 per cent of global businesses have made public commitments toward carbon emission reductions , but even more concerning , only 12 per cent are meeting or exceeding these challenging goals .”
“ There are significant actions we need to take in this decade , and the responsibility lies in all of us ,” added Narendra Asani , General Manager of GE Gas Power , Malaysia .
“ Of course , the cost and the technology will play a major role , but we have to work together collectively to drive this energy transition forward .”
With the noticeable effects of climate change that threaten our way of life , power companies and organisations in ASEAN must shift their mindset to a renewable

Power in leadership

THE RECENT World Power Plant Innovation Conference ( WPPIC ) 2023 provided the stage for industry experts and power company delegates from ASEAN and the world over to discuss and tackle issues concerning power generation , carbon emissions and climate change .
As the effects of climate change become more apparent with each passing day and the dwindling of finite resources of fossil fuels on the planet , the need to transition to clean and renewable energy has become the forefront of tackling climate change and achieving net zero carbon emissions goals by 2050 .
However , someone must pick up the torch to lead others down this noble but challenging road for a sustainable future
Datuk Adam Yee
to become a reality . “ The success of our clean energy transition depends on strong leadership at all levels ,” said Laura Ashton , Chief Executive Officer for Low Carbon Advisors Singapore .
“ Senior executives must lead by example , setting ambitious goals and fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration .”
The energy transition not only focuses on the types of renewables that can be used for power generation but also on the governance and the shift in the mindset of world leaders , company management and even the people in Southeast Asia .
Datuk Adam Yee , Managing Director , CEO and Strategic Advisor of Powerwell International Sdn Bhd Malaysia , attested to this notion of leadership on the road towards energy transition .
“ ESG is a huge topic nowadays in recent years , and many people talk about ESG ,” said Yee .
“ Sustainability is important because of climate change . In Powerwell , we look into reducing the carbon footprint by taking steps to achieve that .
“ We embrace total quality management ,” added Adam on Powerwell ’ s stance on sustainability .
“ We have a standard on total quality management with compliance to ISO . Our products and equipment are all tested according to IEC standards . We also have quality management to ensure that our products comply with all the technical and quality procedures before sending them out to our customers .”
Laura Ashton , Chief Executive Officer , Low Carbon Advisors ( Singapore ), was very optimistic about the energy transition with ASEAN States .
“ What I hope for the most is that leaders will step up and seize this opportunity to recognise their role in their organisations to drive the energy transition , embrace sustainability as part of their core strategy and ensure that they have actions that are planned , that have science-based targets , that are linked to executive compensation and hard KPIs and they see it as their role to lead the energy transition ,” said Ashton .