When we talk about the clean energy transition, it is easy to think only about technology. The truth is technology on its own is not enough. Asia’s greatest challenge - and its biggest opportunity - lies in transforming the systems, policies and behaviours that determine how energy is produced, consumed and financed. Without addressing these foundations, even the most advanced clean technologies will arrive too late to meet urgent climate goals.
Asia’s strength lies in its diversity. Different countries are at different stages of readiness - some are rich in resources, others excel in technology and innovation, while many are still shaping their policies. That diversity is an advantage. It allows the region to act as a real-world testing ground, where we can pilot solutions and scale them across borders. To unlock this potential, we need the right foundations in place – the right frameworks, clear targets, predictable permitting, strong market signals and carbon pricing that gives investors the confidence to commit at scale.
The scale of transformation needed cannot be achieved through small, incremental steps. It calls for a big-picture approach – one that combines technology, regulation, financing and consumer behaviour. Governments play a key role here, to create environments where innovation can thrive, investors feel confident and collaboration between the public and private sectors becomes the rule, rather than the exception. Equally, corporations must do their part by supporting emerging technologies through pilots, making early offtake commitments and in some cases paying a green premium to create the demand signals that help new solutions scale. Without strong corporate participation, even the best-designed policies can struggle to translate into real market traction.
Low carbon hydrogen is a powerful example of this potential. It can decarbonise some of the toughest sectors - steel, cement, heavy transport - while creating new opportunities through energy trade and local value chains. Gentari is already piloting production pathways in Malaysia, including early-stage projects in Sarawak that aim to harness the state’s abundant hydropower resources to produce green hydrogen. Together with partners, we are also advancing plans to export hydrogen to Singapore and markets across Northeast Asia. These projects show how hydrogen can be embedded into local economies while positioning Asia as a future exporter of clean molecules. To unlock these benefits, however, we need strong demand anchors - not just from governments through public procurement, but also from industrial offtakers willing to commit early and pay a premium for cleaner inputs. That shared responsibility between public and private sectors is what gives projects the momentum they need. Without that, investment decisions stall, even when the technology is ready for deployment.
Other innovations are reshaping our systems too. Digitalisation, energy storage, and distributed generation are changing how we design and manage energy. Smart grids, advanced forecasting and decentralised models allow us to leapfrog outdated infrastructure, building flexibility and resilience from the start. These technologies also empower communities to participate in the energy transition directly, from installing rooftop solar to integrating electric mobility into daily life.
Finance must keep pace with these changes. Mechanisms like blended finance and transition funds can channel investment into early-stage technologies while keeping them affordable for end users. We have seen examples where concessional capital or public guarantees have been instrumental in making commercially marginal projects viable, enabling them to mature into bankable investments. Without these tools, too many promising ideas risk remaining trapped in pilot phases.
Encouragingly, we are already seeing momentum. India is moving fast with tenders for green hydrogen and mobility infrastructure, backed by proactive, clear policy and strong industrial partnerships. Malaysia is investing in hydrogen hubs, such as the Sarawak hydrogen hub where Gentari is an active participant, alongside integrated renewable corridors that could serve as anchor projects for cross-border energy trade. In Australia, large-scale solar and storage projects – including Maryvale Solar and Storage Project - are demonstrating how renewable energy can underpin new economic sectors, while also laying the foundation for future green hydrogen production in the country. Across ASEAN, renewable projects are scaling with the support of both regional cooperation and private investment.
The challenge now is better alignment. Policymakers, industry players and financiers must move together to build a self-reinforcing ecosystem for next-generation technologies. This includes harmonising standards for hydrogen certification, creating predictable timelines for permitting, and integrating clean energy infrastructure into broader urban and industrial planning. Without such alignment, even well-intentioned projects risk delays, cost overruns or setbacks.
At Gentari, we are translating these principles into action. We are scaling solar and wind projects, piloting hydrogen production in Malaysia, India and Australia, and building one of Asia’s largest EV charging networks. Working across multiple markets allows us to test solutions in different regulatory environments, refine them and scale what works. Our partnerships cut across governments, technology providers and grid operators because achieving systemic change requires collaboration across the value chain.
We are also committed to shaping the policy environment, whether by participating in dialogues on market design, supporting grid integration strategies or contributing to discussions on carbon pricing. Operating across markets means we can adapt locally while keeping sight of the bigger picture: an Asia that meets its energy needs sustainably and leads the global transition.
For Asia, the way forward is clear: pair bold technological ambition with equally bold system-level reform. By harnessing our diversity, aligning markets and embracing collaboration, we can accelerate the deployment of next-generation clean technologies and take a leading role in the global clean energy transition. The time for small steps has passed - what is needed now is action that is faster, bolder and far more coordinated. That action must come from all sides, with governments providing clear direction and corporations backing the transition by piloting solutions, committing to early offtake and paying the green premiums that bring emerging technologies to scale.
The above insights were shared by Girish Nadkarni, Board Member of Gentari, during the panel session “Accelerating Deployment of Next-Generation Clean Technologies” at Energy Asia 2025.