Trade Finance TV: Asia’s journey to net zero

As Asia transitions away from fossil fuels and ramps up clean energy infrastructure, what does this mean for trade and project finance? Where are we seeing innovation in finding green alternatives?

Our guests, Alex Whitworth (Wood MacKenzie) and Matthew Moodey (Deutsche Bank) discuss how Black Swan events, such as the Russia/Ukraine conflict have driven the energy security agenda all over the world.

While emerging economy importers of gas have been hit by sharp price hikes, those same high prices are accelerating the development of renewable capabilities in Asia. Whitworth notes how “China is leading the pack for both wind and solar” and Moodey adds, “Outside China, Australia and Japan, pipelines are very strong for renewables, but emerging Asia markets are stuck.”

However, explains Whitworth, the trajectory of renewables capability in emerging markets will not be driven by aid (at COP27 there was a discussion about developed economies helping emerging ones in their energy transition), but by sheer economics. “Solar and wind are becoming cheaper than fossil fuels – that is what is driving the energy transition in Asia,” he adds.

Participants

 Alex Whitworth, Head of Asia Pacific Power & Renewables Research, Wood MacKenzie

 Matthew Moodey, Head of Natural Resources Finance Asia, Deutsche Bank

Co-presenters

 Katharine Morton, Head of Trade, Treasury and Risk, TXF Media Ltd

 Clarissa Dann, Editorial Director, Deutsche Bank AG