Southeast Asia Emerges as a Hub for Offshore Wind as U.S. Retreat on Renewables Sparks Global Shuffle
Southeast Asia is becoming a notable bright spot for offshore wind, especially as the U.S. shifts away from renewable energy under President Donald Trump. The White House’s policy change has unsettled billions of dollars’ worth of U.S. offshore wind projects, pushing industry players to look for opportunity abroad. Analysts say developing regions with abundant wind resources, like Southeast Asia, stand to gain the most from this reshuffle.
Wind power is widely recognized by scientists as essential to curbing climate change, a threat that grows as global temperatures climb. Offshore wind, which relies on turbines placed in ocean waters, is projected to expand rapidly because the sea offers stronger and steadier winds, enabling cleaner electricity generation according to the International Energy Agency.
With its many islands, long coastlines, and consistently windy seas, Southeast Asia is poised to become one of the world’s leading regions for offshore wind. As electricity demand rises, nations such as the Philippines and Vietnam are building policy momentum that observers hope will spur broader regional interest.
Experts from the Global Wind Energy Council view Southeast Asia as a potential model for other developing nations seeking to deploy wind energy as an alternative to fossil fuels. "Asia and Southeast Asia are a beacon of hope for the industry," one analyst said.
Trump’s stance has rattled the U.S. offshore wind sector, reflecting his broader skepticism toward renewable energy and skepticism about climate science. The White House has halted or paused major offshore wind projects, revoked permits, canceled plans to lease large tracts of federal waters for wind energy, and cut federal funding for several projects. The moves mark a sharp reversal from the Biden administration’s approach and have undermined confidence in U.S. wind initiatives.
Despite these moves, global wind power development continues, led by China. China dominates new installations and imports more than half of the world’s wind turbines. The country is also quietly shaping the region’s offshore wind growth by supplying turbines and engineering know-how as nations race to tap their coastal wind potential.
Williams of the Global Wind Energy Council notes that more governments in the Global South, particularly in Asia, are stepping up to embrace offshore wind, even if they are starting from a lower baseline. The momentum in Asia is attracting investment and attention, making the region a magnet for wind projects.
There remains substantial untapped potential across the Asia-Pacific. Asia accounts for about half of the world’s population and is expected to drive much of the globe’s future energy demand, yet wind currently supplies only around 7% of Asia-Pacific electricity. The ASEAN bloc, which spans from Brunei to Indonesia, has not yet installed wind capacity, underscoring the scale of opportunity available.
Amisha Patel of the Global Offshore Wind Alliance emphasizes that, despite disappointing rhetoric from Trump, global wind development continues and Southeast Asia is advancing as the U.S. steps back. Recently, Singapore announced a three-year plan to host wind energy conferences aimed at attracting investment and establishing itself as a regional hub.
The Philippines and Vietnam are taking leading roles in Southeast Asia’s wind push. The Philippines held its first offshore wind auction in November to award rights for up to 3.3 gigawatts of wind farms, with clear rules on grid connections, port access, and equipment logistics. A Philippine energy official stated that the country is ready to compete for global investment.
Filipino company ACEN formed a partnership with Denmark’s Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners to co-develop the nation’s first large-scale offshore wind project, targeting up to 1 gigawatt in Camarines Sur. Vietnam has revived long-stalled ambitions by revising its power plan to allow up to 17 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2035 and by speeding up marine zoning and permitting processes. While earlier projects faced regulatory delays, investor interest is gradually returning. Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners is collaborating with state-owned PetroVietnam on a Vietnam project, and Germany’s PNE AG plans a $4.6 billion, 2-gigawatt farm in Binh Dinh province.
Vietnam is also exploring regional connections, including a May deal to transmit power to Singapore and Malaysia. China is becoming a notable player in the region as well; Power China completed the Binh Dai offshore wind project in Vietnam, and Mingyang Smart Energy is examining a 2-gigawatt project in Northern Luzon, Philippines.
Extreme weather remains a challenge for offshore wind in the region, with the Philippines and Vietnam bearing the brunt of powerful typhoons this year. Yet experts argue that offshore wind technology can be adapted for resilience, stressing that sites should be designed to withstand local environmental conditions to ensure long-term viability.
Source notes: AP reporting from Southeast Asia, with additional context on global wind energy trends and market dynamics.
