ADB and GEAPP Unveil ENABLE Platform to Accelerate Battery Storage Adoption in Asia-Pacific

ADB and GEAPP Launch ENABLE Platform to Accelerate Battery Storage Adoption

On June 12, 2025, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) announced a grant agreement to establish the Enhancing Access to Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) for Low-carbon Economies (ENABLE). This platform is designed to expedite the deployment of battery storage across the Asia-Pacific region by consolidating resources and support for BESS projects alongside like-minded development partners.

The grant, managed by ADB, includes $500,000 from the Smart Energy Innovation Fund under the Clean Energy Financing Partnership Facility and an additional $250,000 from GEAPP. “ENABLE addresses critical barriers by offering technical expertise, project development assistance, and innovative financing solutions that will help countries integrate more renewable energy into their grids,” stated Cindy Cisneros-Tiangco, ADB’s director of Emerging Areas, Energy Sector Office. “As energy demand surges in the region, battery storage is essential for maintaining stable, reliable, and clean power systems.”

The urgency for this initiative is underscored by the rapid expansion of renewable energy in the Asia-Pacific, where renewable capacity is expected to increase by nearly 430GW between 2023 and 2028. Solar installations are projected to contribute two-thirds of this growth, primarily through utility-scale deployments. As renewable energy expands, BESS solutions will be crucial for ensuring grid stability and optimizing renewable energy usage.

Vietnam’s latest power development plan, approved in May 2023, aims to more than double the maximum power generation capacity to 150GW by 2030, up from 69GW in 2020, transitioning away from coal and targeting nearly half of its total generating capacity from renewable sources. Currently, Vietnam leads the region with an installed renewable energy capacity of 21GW but is experiencing power shortages due to insufficient transmission infrastructure and renewable energy integration.

“By 2030, Vietnam aims for 49% of its energy capacity to come from solar and wind power. To achieve this, we will need battery energy storage systems. GEAPP has supported us over the past two years with vital studies on frequency control, replacing coal-fired power plants with renewables and BESS in North Vietnam, and providing frameworks for integrating BESS and solar power into our energy system. With the launch of the ENABLE platform, we are further closing the policy gap and facilitating BESS adoption in Vietnam’s electricity market,” remarked Nguyen Manh Cuong, a representative from the Institute of Energy.

“The rapid growth of renewables in the region is both an achievement and a challenge,” noted Kitty Bu, vice president of Southeast Asia at GEAPP. “Through ENABLE, we are addressing the critical battery storage gap that could limit the region’s clean energy potential. Our unique approach leverages philanthropic capital to mitigate risks and attract greater private sector investment. Our collaboration with ADB allows us to systematically tackle market barriers and create favorable conditions for BESS to become a mainstream investment opportunity in the region.”

The ENABLE platform aims to accelerate BESS deployment through a comprehensive strategy that encompasses technical assistance, pilot project preparation, and capacity-building initiatives for key stakeholders within the energy sector. It will tackle significant barriers to BESS adoption, including limited technical understanding, high costs, concerns about the financial impact on consumers, and restricted access to concessional financing, all of which are vital for the region’s green transition goals.

In its initial three-year phase, ENABLE will focus on Vietnam, Mongolia, and Cambodia, employing a tailored approach based on each country’s BESS development stage. The platform plans to expand its reach to additional countries in the region as it scales up. Key areas of focus will include private-led grid-scale BESS integration studies, policy frameworks, procurement guidelines, technical standards, the application of digital tools like AI, and innovative business models for storage deployment. Countries will receive targeted support to integrate BESS with their growing renewable capacities.

By creating fast-track bankable projects and enabling conditions for private investment, this landmark partnership between ADB and GEAPP aims to position BESS as a cornerstone of the region’s sustainable energy future. ENABLE will unite a diverse range of stakeholders, including other development partners and innovative financing strategies, to establish a replicable project development model that supports the long-term clean energy transition while delivering economic benefits throughout the Asia-Pacific region.