Powering the transition: Understanding the role of renewable energy, hydrogen and electrification in phasing out fossil fuels

Agora Think Tanks will be hosting a three-day training aimed at preparing participants to better engage in policy debates around phasing out fossil fuels in Asia. The training focuses on the exploring the different roles of renewable power, electrification and hydrogen in shifting economies onto climate-compatible pathways. Upon completion of the course, participants will be equipped to compare electrification opportunities with the risks of hydrogen use while reflecting on their own country contexts. This training is targeted towards early-to-mid career staff working on energy transition issues, with particular interest in decarbonisation strategies related to phasing out fossil fuels.  

Background and purpose 

Countries throughout South, Southeast and East Asia remain heavily dependent on fossil fuels, not only for electricity generation, but as a fuel for transport and feedstock for the region’s industries. Although policy debates have begun to converge on the need to phase out coal, many policymakers and industry stakeholders continue to argue that fossil gas can act as ‘transition’ or ‘bridging’ fuel on the way to renewables-based energy systems. At the same time, hydrogen has generated great hype in recent years, drawing attention away from decarbonisation priorities in the region and opening new opportunities for further use of fossil fuels in different sectors such as power generation, industry and transport.  

Still, renewables-based electrification is often the quickest way for countries to reduce fossil fuel dependence, a strategy that can be complemented by renewable hydrogen, especially by displacing fossil fuels in applications where electrification is less viable. Moreover, renewable energy and electrification can enhance countries’ energy security and support key sectors such as industry and transport in their transition towards climate neutrality. As such, being able to assess the impacts of hydrogen produced by different resources and argue for the appropriate uses of renewable hydrogen will be key to avoiding competition for domestic renewable resources and delaying decarbonisation pathways. 

Agora Energiewende and Agora Industry will host a three-day training programme focused on sharing Agora’s expertise in policy, technology and economic analysis to assess and compare electrification solutions with the potential applications of renewable power as a strategy for climate neutrality.  

The programme is designed to enable participants to compare the role of hydrogen from different perspectives, including cost, technology development, policy, sustainability criteria and trade, and to discuss its potential use in their local contexts. 

“The training highlighted key, often overlooked insights into hydrogen, including the efficiencies of various hydrogen derivatives compared to other renewable options. I will share these messages with Filipino policymakers to help guide cost-effective pathways to net zero.”

                                                                         -Myron Alcanzare, Philippines

There is currently no open call for applications for this training.

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