GRIDUA – Southeast Asia stands at an energy crossroads. On one side lies the old dependence on fossil fuels—coal, gas, and oil—that has powered industries for decades but now threatens the region with pollution, climate risk, and rising costs. On the other side lies a cleaner, more sustainable future, built on renewable energy and regional cooperation.
The ASEAN Power Grid (APG) is central to this transformation. Designed to link national grids across Southeast Asia, the APG enables countries to share renewable resources, reduce costs, and cut carbon emissions together. Yet for this ambitious vision to succeed, it needs strong infrastructure, investment, and leadership.
Malaysia is stepping forward with GRIDUA – Green Renewable Integrated Distribution for Universal Access—a flagship project that embodies the shift from carbon to clean.
The ASEAN Power Grid: A New Regional Energy Model
The ASEAN Power Grid has been a long-standing vision since the late 1990s. Its goal is simple: interconnect the region’s electricity systems to create a more reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy market.
Why it matters:
- Carbon Reduction: Replace coal and gas with hydropower, solar, and wind across borders.
- Economic Growth: Lower electricity costs and attract green investments.
- Energy Security: Balance supply and demand during peak loads or shortages.
- Regional Integration: Strengthen ASEAN’s competitiveness in the global economy.
Yet, progress has been slow due to high costs, grid imbalances, and lack of coordination. This is where GRIDUA makes the difference.
GRIDUA: Malaysia’s Game-Changer
GRIDUA is Malaysia’s bold response to the challenges of energy transition. It is not just another transmission project—it is a green superhighway that carries clean power across regions and borders.
Core Features of GRIDUA:
- HVDC Backbone: ±500kV HVDC lines capable of carrying 4–6 GW with minimal losses.
- Smart Grid Technology: AI-driven load balancing and real-time monitoring.
- Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS): Stabilizing supply and enabling peak shaving.
- Multi-Scale Access: Connection points for both large independent power producers (IPPs) and small rural solar cooperatives.
- Cross-Border Readiness: A foundation for Malaysia–Singapore–Vietnam interconnections.
By creating this backbone, GRIDUA accelerates Malaysia’s role in the ASEAN Power Grid while ensuring national benefits of jobs, rural empowerment, and tariff competitiveness.
From Carbon to Clean: The Environmental Shift
One of the most profound impacts of GRIDUA is environmental. By enabling large-scale renewable integration, GRIDUA helps ASEAN transition away from fossil fuels.
- Carbon Emission Reductions
- 6 GW of clean energy through GRIDUA can offset up to 20 million tonnes of CO₂ annually.
- This is equivalent to removing millions of cars from the road each year.
- Cleaner Air and Water
- Shifting from coal and gas plants reduces smog, acid rain, and respiratory illnesses.
- Renewables require far less water, conserving ecosystems already under stress.
- Efficient Land Use
- GRIDUA promotes agrovoltaics, combining solar farms with agriculture.
- This avoids forest clearing and provides farmers with dual income streams.
- Energy Efficiency
- HVDC transmission reduces line losses from 7% (traditional AC) to under 3%, preventing waste and unnecessary fossil backup.
Together, these impacts show why GRIDUA is not only a national project but a regional environmental solution.
Empowering People and Businesses
Energy transition is not just about technology—it’s about people. GRIDUA ensures that the shift to clean energy benefits everyone.
- Bumiputera SME Participation: At least 40% of subcontracts are allocated to local businesses, boosting Malaysia’s SME sector.
- Talent Redeployment: GRIDUA pledges to rehire 1,000 retrenched Petronas engineers and workers, keeping expertise in the green economy.
- Rural Development: Communities along the Kenyir–Bentong corridor benefit from agrovoltaic projects, tourism, and electrification.
- Community Energy Fund: 1% of wheeling revenue reinvested into local energy access and education.
By combining technology with inclusivity, GRIDUA proves that the journey from carbon to clean is also a path to shared prosperity.
A Regional Legacy in the Making
The phased rollout of GRIDUA aligns with Malaysia’s National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) and NIMP 2030:
- Phase 1: Kenyir–Bentong corridor (~500 km, RM9.5–11B investment).
- Phase 2: Extension to Johor Bahru and Singapore.
- Phase 3: Kenyir–Tok Bali renewable hub with subsea Vietnam link.
- Phase 4: Vietnam–Kelantan HVDC subsea corridor.
Each phase doesn’t just expand Malaysia’s renewable backbone but also strengthens ASEAN’s interconnected future.
Conclusion: GRIDUA as the Engine of ASEAN’s Transition
The ASEAN Power Grid is more than an infrastructure plan—it is a blueprint for sustainability, resilience, and cooperation. But a blueprint needs champions, and Malaysia’s GRIDUA is one of them.
By combining cutting-edge HVDC technology, inclusive partnerships, and a strong environmental mission, GRIDUA takes ASEAN on the path from carbon to clean. It ensures that the region not only keeps the lights on but does so in a way that protects the planet and empowers its people.
In the decades to come, GRIDUA will be remembered not just as Malaysia’s contribution to the ASEAN Power Grid, but as a turning point in Southeast Asia’s clean energy revolution.