News Asia
Vietnam Ranks as Southeast Asia’s Least Transparent Real Estate Market
Vietnam’s real estate market has been ranked as the least transparent in Southeast Asia, placing 49th out of 89 countries and territories in JLL’s 2024 Global Real Estate Transparency Index. The report, released on September 11, 2024, positions Vietnam behind regional counterparts Singapore (13th), Thailand (32nd), Malaysia (33rd), Indonesia (40th), and the Philippines (45th). It highlights challenges for investors related to regulatory clarity, investment performance, and sustainability.
The index evaluates transparency by combining quantitative data and survey results from 151 cities, assigning each market a score from one to five, with one representing the highest level of transparency. Vietnam’s semi-transparent ranking reflects its underperformance in critical areas such as investment, regulatory and legal frameworks, transaction processes, and sustainability standards. By contrast, Japan was ranked as the most transparent real estate market in the Asia-Pacific region, securing the 11th position globally.
JLL emphasized that transparency across Asian markets has significantly improved since 2022, with India leading global advancements. However, sustainability continues to be a low-ranking factor worldwide, hindered by the lack of mandatory building performance standards, public energy-use disclosures, and climate risk reporting in many markets. The report also flagged money laundering as an ongoing concern.
Richard Bloxam, CEO of Capital Markets at JLL, noted that markets with clear pricing, robust fundamentals, and enhanced transparency—especially in emerging specialty sectors—are likely to drive a recovery in real estate liquidity. He further predicted that “emerging factors such as artificial intelligence and increasing sustainability standards will push investors to demand greater transparency across global real estate markets.”

Commercial Heating Equipment Market Report: 2023–2032
Allied Market Research has published a comprehensive analysis of the global Commercial Heating Equipment Market, covering product types (heat pumps, furnaces, boilers), fuel types (fossil fuel, electric), and key end-users (offices, restaurants & hotels, and others). The market was valued at $15.1 billion in 2018 and is projected to grow to $25.6 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 5.2% during the forecast period.
Market Drivers and Opportunities
The market’s growth is fueled by rapid urbanization, increased awareness of environmental issues and the expansion of the commercial sector. The adoption of IoT devices and energy-efficient technologies in heating systems presents lucrative growth opportunities. However, high initial costs and stringent environmental regulations remain challenges for market expansion.
Key Segment Insights
Heat Pumps: This segment is poised for significant growth due to advancements in energy efficiency and government incentives. Heat pumps’ dual functionality for heating and cooling makes them ideal for diverse commercial applications.
Electric Segment: Rising concerns over sustainability and technological innovations, such as smart controls and IoT integration, are driving the growth of electric-powered heating systems.
Restaurants & Hotels: The demand for adaptable and efficient heating solutions, including portable units and infrared heaters, is rising to enhance customer comfort and maximize space utilization.
Regional Outlook
The Asia-Pacific region leads the market, driven by rapid industrialization and growing demand in key industries such as automotive and electronics. Countries like Japan and South Korea are pivotal contributors to this growth.
Leading Players
Major companies such as Carrier, Daikin Industries and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation are leveraging strategies like product launches, joint ventures, and collaborations to maintain competitive positions globally.
This report highlights market trends, innovations, and strategic insights, providing valuable information for stakeholders and decision-makers.

Asia-Pacific Renewable Energy Investments Set to Surge by 2030
Investment in wind and solar energy across the Asia-Pacific region is projected to reach $1.3 trillion by 2030, doubling the amount spent in the decade to 2020, according to Wood Mackenzie. Speaking at the inaugural Asia Pacific Power and Renewables Conference, research director Alex Whitworth highlighted the region’s leadership in global power generation investments, expected to total $2.4 trillion this decade, with over half allocated to renewables.
Fossil fuel investments are forecast to drop by 25% from the previous decade to $54 billion annually, with coal comprising 55% of this spending until 2030 before declining to 30% as gas takes precedence. Subsidy reductions across Asia will not hinder renewables, as stronger policies and cost reductions position them to compete with coal power from 2025 in most markets.
Major contributors to renewable energy growth include China, Japan, India, South Korea, and Taiwan, with 140GW of new wind and solar capacity projected annually until 2030, comprising two-thirds of total power additions. China alone aims to add over 534GW of renewables to meet its 1,200GW wind and solar capacity target by 2030.
Offshore wind is expected to play a pivotal role in Japan and South Korea, with the latter poised to lead the sector in Asia with 4.4GW in development. Southeast Asia will require $14 billion annually for wind and solar investments through 2040, while Australia’s investments, though declining initially, will rebound to $7 billion annually by the 2030s.
Despite robust investments, carbon emissions from the region’s power sector are expected to peak at 7.3 billion tonnes by 2025, signaling ongoing challenges in transitioning to carbon-free power by 2050.
Source: windpowermonthly.com
Tata Power Launches India’s First Peer-to-Peer Solar Energy Trading Pilot in Delhi
Tata Power, in collaboration with India Smart Grid Forum (ISGF) and Australian technology firm Power Ledger, has initiated Delhi’s first peer-to-peer (P2P) solar energy trading project. Using Power Ledger’s blockchain-enabled technology, the project facilitates real-time trading of over 2MW of solar energy between consumers and producers (prosumers) in North Delhi.
The pilot involves 150 sites, including Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited’s (TPDDL) locations and residential or commercial consumers with rooftop solar systems. Prosumers can sell surplus solar energy directly to other users, with dynamic pricing ensuring transparent, near-instant settlements via blockchain.
This initiative supports the integration of distributed energy resources, such as EV charging stations and Battery Energy Storage Systems, into the grid-connected ecosystem. It aligns with India’s National Strategy on Blockchain and the International Solar Alliance’s mission to scale up solar energy and promote innovation.

Set to run through June 2021, the pilot will gather insights to aid regulators in establishing frameworks for P2P energy trading and expanding rooftop solar adoption across India. Power Ledger’s Dr. Jemma Green hailed the project as pivotal to achieving India’s renewable energy goals, including 100GW of solar by 2022. Tata Power-DDL CEO Ganesh Srinivasan emphasized the initiative’s role in empowering consumers as prosumers, while ISGF President Reji Kumar Pillai underscored blockchain’s transformative potential in India’s clean energy transition.
Source: smart-energy.com
Tackling Southeast Asia’s Water Quality Crisis Challenges and Solutions
Sectors like agriculture and manufacturing exacerbate water pollution through inadequate wastewater treatment and excessive chemical use. Contaminated water is linked to severe health risks, including cancer and cognitive impairments. Urban-rural disparities also persist, as seen in Jakarta, where only 59.4% of residents had piped water by 2017 despite privatization efforts.

Mining activities worsen the crisis, with local communities, such as those near the Didipio mines in the Philippines, facing unchecked water pollution.
A multi-pronged response is essential, focusing on government accountability, stringent regulations, corporate responsibility, and public involvement. Promising initiatives like nature-based solutions and sustainable agriculture offer hope, but collective action is vital to secure clean water access for Southeast Asia’s future.
Southeast Asia grapples with a severe water quality crisis driven by rapid industrialization, urbanization, population growth, and climate change. This challenge threatens public health, ecosystems, and socioeconomic stability in a region where water is essential yet unequally accessible.
The 2023 UN World Water Development Report highlights global progress in safe water access, yet approximately 110 million Southeast Asians still lack it. Climate change compounds the crisis, with the Mekong River Commission reporting that dam construction and climate shifts cause erratic water levels, sediment loss, salinity, and erosion—issues that amplify other challenges.
Souce:envirotech-online.com
SUEZ Secures Three Major Water Projects Across Asia to Enhance Sustainability and Resilience
SUEZ, a global leader in circular water and waste management solutions, has secured three new projects in Asia, announced during the Singapore International Water Week (SIWW). These initiatives highlight the company’s focus on advanced water management in both municipal and industrial sectors, emphasizing digital solutions, seawater desalination, and water reuse. The projects in Singapore, China, and the Philippines underline SUEZ’s dedication to addressing critical water challenges and enhancing resilience against climate impacts through strategic partnerships and innovative, circular approaches.
In Singapore, SUEZ has been awarded a contract by PUB, the National Water Agency, to implement and maintain a Smart Water Grid Analytics Platform for the country’s water supply network. This platform, based on SUEZ’s AQUADVANCED® Water Networks technology, will improve PUB’s operational efficiency and resilience. It will detect water quality and pressure issues, generate simulations, and provide actionable insights, enabling better decision-making and optimizing
network management.

In the Philippines, SUEZ and JEMCO are collaborating to design, build, and operate a large-scale seawater desalination plant in Metro Iloilo. This facility, which will produce 66,500 cubic meters of water daily, aims to address the region’s critical water shortage, supplying water to 50,000 households and a nearby power plant. The project will utilize SUEZ’s SeaDAF™ Filter technology and is expected to be completed within 24 months.
In China, SUEZ is working with Shandong Public to invest in and operate an industrial wastewater treatment plant in the Jining New Materials Industrial Park. The plant will treat high-salinity wastewater and recycle it for industrial use, achieving 100% wastewater recycling and significant environmental benefits.
