When the EC-ASEAN COGEN programme started in 1991, nobody could imagine all the challenges that would have to be faced to facilitate the implementation of efficient European biomass cogeneration projects in the ASEAN industry. Biomass cogeneration was indeed rather unknown and definitely not part of the ASEAN countries energy policies.

Fifteen years later, many state-of-the-art projects have been implemented, mainly in the rice, sugar, palm oil and wood industries. New highly efficient technologies broke through in the ASEAN region and are now ready to be replicated by a very dynamic and more and more competitive market.

Cogeneration is a technology which is now fully recognised and is being promoted by the ASEAN authorities, as they realised that it is energy efficient, as it allows the saving of precious primary energy resources. The concept of cogeneration has been spread all around the ASEAN region, thanks to the dedicated efforts of the national country co-ordinating teams. As a consequence, cogeneration associations are now being created in several ASEAN countries. They aim at further promoting cogeneration and at facilitating the development of new projects, as well as the implementation of projects which had been identified during COGEN 3. There is definitely a bright future for cogeneration in ASEAN!

Many people who have contributed to the success of this fascinating adventure should be thanked: the EC and the ASEAN institutions, ASEAN country coordinators, policy makers, project developers, equipment suppliers, financing institutions and all colleagues from the three COGEN phases. Thanks to their support and shared vision, dreams of the early 90’s became reality! That is all what is reported in the COGEN Experience Overview (CEO)! Enjoy reading it!

Dr Ludovic Lacrosse
COGEN 3 Programme Coordinator