Welcome to the second issue of Pulse for 2026 - and EnergyLab Asia is continuing keeping you connected to the people, projects, and ideas shaping Southeast Asia's clean energy future.

From the Strait of Hormuz to the pagodas of Cambodia, this issue brings together stories that might seem worlds apart — but are all pointing in the same direction. A global energy crisis is sharpening the case for clean energy. A new generation of fellows is being trained to lead the transition. Monks are showing what community-led climate action looks like. And across the region, the skills, systems, and policies needed to make it all real are starting to take shape.

It's been quite a few months. We hope you enjoy the read!

Buddhism and Climate Change 2026 Report

We have exciting news to share — and this one means a lot to us!

EnergyLab Asia has just released the Buddhism and Climate Change 2026 Report, a research analysis exploring how Cambodia's Buddhist institutions and teachings are shaping the way communities think, decide, and act on energy.

What's inside?

Drawing on firsthand research gathered from pagodas across Cambodia, the report connects Buddhist philosophy with real-world climate action. It examines the values guiding monks in climate-related decisions and identifies concrete opportunities to integrate religious frameworks into national energy policy.

Why does it matter?

Buddhism is more than a spiritual tradition — it is one of Cambodia's most powerful social forces. When faith meets climate action, something remarkable happens: communities move together, with shared purpose.

This report makes the case that faith-driven leadership isn't just relevant to our environmental goals. It may be the key to accelerating Cambodia's transition to a sustainable future.

We invite you to read the report and join the conversation. A greener future is one we build together.

Read the report: https://energylab.asia/buddhismandclimatechange2026report

Building the Clean Energy Workforce: Global Lessons for Cambodia 2026

The Buddhist communities we highlighted above show what's possible when values and action align. But faith-driven momentum needs a skilled workforce to carry it forward — and right now, that workforce is still catching up.

Tens of thousands of new jobs in solar, EVs, and energy efficiency are expected by 2030. Yet companies across Cambodia are struggling to find engineers and technicians with the right skills, filling the gap with costly internal training. It's a clear signal that the skills system needs to move faster.

What's holding Cambodia back?

EnergyLab Asia's latest report spans 11 countries and points to three persistent barriers:

• Fragmented certification with no consistent standard
• TVET programs that are classroom-heavy with little hands-on learning
• Curricula that haven't kept pace with what industry actually needs

So what does the solution look like?

The countries with the strongest clean energy workforces share a common approach: they align policy with real labor market demand, focus investment on high-growth sub-sectors, and bring industry directly into the design of training.
That's exactly what we're working toward. In 2026, EnergyLab Asia is partnering with industry, educators, and the Cambodian government to put these recommendations into practice — through the Building a Clean Energy Skills Ecosystem for Cambodia project, funded by the Liechtenstein Development Service (LED).

Because the transition to clean energy isn't just about policy or technology. It's about people.

Read the report: https://energylab.asia/buildingthecleanenergyworkforcegloballessonsforcambodia

Strait to the Point: How the Hormuz Crisis Is Reshaping Cambodia's Energy Future

With the Strait of Hormuz blocked and fuel prices up over 50%, Cambodia's dependence on imported fossil fuels is impossible to ignore. But the tools to respond are already here — and the case for acting has never been stronger.

Read the full article: https://energylab.asia/tpost/rr8bzb46a1-strait-to-the-point-how-the-hormuz-crisi

Ancient Values, Clean Energy Future

Buddhism has long been a force for good in Cambodia — providing moral guidance, supporting communities, and inspiring action. With 97% of the population Buddhist, monks and pagodas hold a uniquely trusted place in Cambodian life, from village to national stage. That trust is now becoming a catalyst for clean energy transition.

New opportunities are opening up for Cambodians to access affordable, reliable clean energy — including recent changes to rooftop solar regulations that make small-scale installations more accessible. But seizing those opportunities requires more than information. It requires voices people already believe in.

Some pagodas aren't waiting. When Wat Seri Sakor Daun Sdoeung switched to solar, it wasn't just about electricity — it was about leading by example. Venerable Im Teang's commitment to clean energy is illuminating both a temple and a community's future. Their story offers a glimpse of what's possible when faith and clean energy align.

It's a story we believe deserves to be told more widely — and replicated.

That's why, with the support of the Clean Break Fund and other donors, EnergyLab Asia is preparing to launch a pilot program in partnership with monks, pagodas, and Buddhist organisations across Cambodia. The program will support capacity building for monastic communities on clean energy and climate change, as well as pagoda-led clean energy projects.

This is about meeting communities where they are — and working with the voices they already trust. Because lasting change isn't just about solar panels. It's about progress that feels familiar and rooted.

Our Clean Energy & Buddhism program is coming soon. Follow EnergyLab Asia for updates as the program unfolds!

Turning Research Into Action: Validating Cambodia's Clean Energy Skills Roadmap

Under the Building a Clean Energy Skills Ecosystem for Cambodia project, EnergyLab Asia convened two half-day validation workshops covering Electric Vehicles (EV), Renewable Energy (RE), and Energy Efficiency (EE).

The workshops built on two years of groundwork. In 2024, we completed an initial skills assessment of Cambodia's EV sector. In 2025, we followed this with a comprehensive study of the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors — mapping projected job growth, identifying critical skills gaps, and gathering perspectives from both private sector employers and training providers.

The workshops brought together representatives from the private sector, training institutions, the Directorate General of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (DGTVET) of MLVT, and development partners — all with hands-on expertise in EV, solar, and energy efficiency workforce development. Together, they reviewed and validated the study's key findings and recommendations, identified priority skills needs and practical interventions for each sector, and contributed to the development of occupational profiles, training pathways, and a strategic action plan for sector-specific skills development.

The conversations that took place in those rooms will directly shape how Cambodia builds the workforce its clean energy future demands — and all of it made possible through the Building a Clean Energy Skills Ecosystem for Cambodia project, funded by the Liechtenstein Development Service (LED).

Clean Energy Fellowship Cambodia 2026

The Clean Energy Fellowship (CEF) is EnergyLab Asia's flagship program, equipping early- and mid-career professionals from across sectors to become clean energy leaders in Cambodia. Over six months — from March to October — fellows participate in seminar-style training sessions covering priority clean energy topics, political economy analysis, communications, and project management.

This year, EnergyLab Asia is running two CEF Cambodia cohorts for the first time.

The Launch

At the end of March, EnergyLab Asia officially launched CEF 2026, welcoming 39 exceptional fellows from government, civil society, academia, development partners, and the private sector. On March 21 and 28, both cohorts came together for Session 1 — the first of 14 sessions designed to sharpen critical thinking, deepen expertise, and activate leadership.

Fellows didn't just learn — they challenged assumptions, interrogated trade-offs, and confronted the real complexities sitting at the intersection of climate change and Cambodia's energy system. From energy security to affordability to economic growth, they debated what it truly takes to transition a nation.

Going Deeper

On April 4, both cohorts reunited for one of the program's most powerful sessions yet. Using Political Economy Analysis (PEA), fellows moved beyond technical knowledge to explore the deeper forces that shape how clean energy transitions actually unfold — learning to read the room, engage the right stakeholders, and turn vision into action.

Because building a clean energy future takes more than the right technology. It takes the right people.

We thank our partners Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Cambodia and the Clean Break Fund for powering this mission forward.

Beyond the Signature: Making the Fossil Fuel Treaty Work for Cambodia

At COP30, Cambodia became the third country in Asia to join the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative (FFTI) — and EnergyLab Asia was pleased to take part in NGO Forum’s national consultation to build on this momentum.

EnergyLab Asia is quite excited by two immediate opportunities that the treaty could unlock for Cambodia: priority access to renewable energy financing and new debt reduction mechanisms for signatory countries.

We also made clear that any new initiative must build on — not duplicate — the Royal Government of Cambodia’s existing renewable energy agenda, which has already made significant progress. FFTI’s goals and Cambodia’s plans are aligned. The key is making sure they reinforce each other.

Thanks to NGO Forum for convening the session. It was excellent to see representatives from key ministries including the Ministry of Environment, the Council of Ministers, and the Ministry of Economy and Finance, alongside development partners such as the Australian and British Embassies, the EU, UNDP, and IFC sharing their thoughts on this important agenda.

Powering Up on Storage: EnergyLab Asia Engages on Battery Technology in the Region

In February 2026, the Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) under the Green Team Europe Initiative (GTEI) hosted a regional Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) workshop in Bangkok. Among the participants were Tristan Bellingham, Technical Program Lead, and Sinongpheng (Tik) Bouphanouvong, Country Operations Manager, representing EnergyLab Asia Lao PDR — joining developers, grid operators, and policymakers from across the region for a deep dive into the technical and economic dimensions of BESS.

The timing reflects a broader shift. Grid-scale battery storage is still in its early stages across ASEAN, but interest is accelerating fast. Falling costs, growing solar and wind capacity, and a clearer understanding of what BESS can offer — from energy storage to ancillary services like voltage and frequency control — are all driving momentum among developers and grid operators alike.

For Lao PDR, the opportunity is significant. EnergyLab Asia is now engaging with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC) and Électricité du Laos (EDL) to share learnings from the workshop and support institutional capacity building in this emerging and important technology.

As the region's energy mix evolves, getting storage right will be essential — and Lao PDR is positioning itself to be ready.