The Asia Clean Energy Forum (ACEF) 2024, held on 3–7 June 2024 at the Asian Development Bank Headquarters in Manila, Philippines, gathered thought leaders and innovators to discuss urgent actions needed to accelerate the clean energy transition while ensuring energy security and affordability. One of the impactful sessions was “Renewable Energy for Transport, Agriculture, and Other Sectors,” during which WE4F South and Southeast Asia (S/SEA) Hub Manager, Radtasiri (Bes) Wachirapunyanont, shared insights on the critical intersection of water-energy-food nexus technology and the lessons learned from WE4F to accelerate these innovators.
Highlighting Innovations and Challenges
During his presentation, Bes delved into how the WE4F program has provided technical assistance to more than 34 startups, promoting technologies that benefit smallholder farmers across the region. The technologies discussed included:
- Solar pumps which help farmers achieve efficient water usage for irrigation.
- Solar-powered cold storage which reduces post-harvest losses, leading to more income.
- Biogas/biomass solutions which provide end-users with sustainable energy alternatives to diesel.
- Organic fertilizer with rice husk biochar which enhances soil’s water-holding capacity and soil health.
Bes outlined the program’s objectives and celebrated the innovators’ achievements, while also addressing the significant challenges they face in scaling these technologies.
Broader Session Insights
Moderated by Gurbuz Gonul, Director of Country Engagement and Partnerships at IRENA, the session provided a comprehensive overview of renewable energy applications in various sectors. It covered:
- Solar PV and agrivoltaics with examples of innovative practices in China and the Philippines that combine solar power and agriculture.
- Modernizing marine transportation by using renewable energy technologies in the Philippines.
- Space-based decision support systems to assess and map renewable energy sources.
“Through the WE4F program, we are empowering startups to drive productive use of renewable energy for sustainable food production and water management that transform[s] the lives of smallholder farmers. The role of [the] development sector should go beyond providing grants, to ensure the provision of required technical assistance [that encourages the] adoption of these technolog[ies] at farm level. Moreover, [this is an area in which] end-user financing scheme[s] can play a crucial role.”
— Bes Wachirapunyanont
Engaging Global Audiences for Clean Energy Promotion
The participation of the WE4F S/SEA Hub in ACEF 2024 underscores its commitment to fostering sustainable change through innovation and collaboration. By addressing the critical challenges at the nexus of water, energy, and food, WE4F is driving impactful solutions that benefit smallholder farmers and contribute to a more resilient future for the region.
For more information about the Water and Energy for Food (WE4F) South and Southeast Asia Regional Innovation Hub, please visit https://we4f.org/
