Transmission infrastructure sits at the heart of ASEAN’s clean energy transition and energy security. Yet the region faces a supply chain bottleneck in the very components needed to deliver it. Lead times for key cables and voltage source converters now stretch to 4–6 years. Without intervention, supply chain delays risk pushing project timelines well beyond policy targets, inflating costs and weakening investor confidence.
GGI and Lucetia Group have undertaken a yearlong consultation process across the full stakeholder ecosystem with decision-makers from governments, project developers, manufacturers, investors, and development finance institutions. This process a closed-door Transmission Supply Chain Roundtable held during Singapore International Energy Week (October 2025), hosted by GGI, Lucetia Group, ARUP, and HSBC, to share insights and define an action plan.
Developed in collaboration with finance and infrastructure experts, these principles guide climate investors in identifying impactful grid projects.
Next Steps: we are forming a taskforce to work on a year long project to develop solutions to this issue and seeking interested organisations and people to join and contribute.
Governments can materially improve project bankability by codifying long-term electricity import/export license horizons (25–30 years), publishing clear subsea permitting and survey standards, and establishing single coordination points in each jurisdiction.
ASEAN must move from fragmented, project-by-project signalling to visible, aggregated demand. Regional order books for priority APG projects and pooled or pre-emptive slot reservations would provide manufacturers with the multi-year confidence required to expand capacity.
MDB-backed guarantees for surveys, manufacturing slot reservations, and cancellation risks — alongside staged, milestone-based payments tied to production capacity — can bridge the gap between concept and Financial Close.
Applying existing international standards consistently, harmonising project specifications across regional interconnectors, and adopting modern HVDC technologies (e.g. 525 kV XLPE) can reduce bespoke engineering, streamline testing cycles, and lower insurance premiums.
