By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 19: Young innovators from across Southeast Asia gathered in Kuching this week for the fifth ASEAN Energy Youth Awards (AEYA) 2025, jointly organised by Sarawak Energy and the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE).
According to a joint media release by Sarawak Energy and ACE, it was held in conjunction with the Sustainability and Renewable Energy Forum (SAREF) 4.0 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on Sept 3-4, which highlighted the important role of youth in shaping the region’s renewable energy future.
Deputy Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Fadillah Yusof presented the awards during the closing ceremony of SAREF 4.0 on Sept 4.
Carrying the theme ‘Powering ASEAN’s Future: Youth Innovation in Hydropower and Renewable Energy’, the awards invited ASEAN youth aged 15 to 35 to showcase innovative solutions for the region’s sustainable energy future.
“This year’s competition attracted 384 submissions across three categories—Policy Pitch (156), Videos (34) and Infographics (194)—with participants representing Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, and Singapore,” said the media release.
Final presentations by the top three finalists in each category were held at the SAREF 4.0 Youth Pavilion. Among the finalists were five from Indonesia, three from the Philippines, and one from Cambodia.
“These awards demonstrate the creativity and determination of young people across ASEAN in driving the renewable energy agenda. Their ideas reflect the region’s shared vision of a sustainable energy future,” said Siti Aisah Adenan, Sarawak Energy’s Senior Vice President for Corporate Services.
The panel of judges was comprised of Dr Andy Tirta, Head of Corporate Affairs at the ASEAN Centre for Energy; Ir Dr Angelia Liew San Chuin, Advisor for Climate Change, Energy, and Sustainable Development at the Department of the Premier of Sarawak; Ir Tony Ting Tiew Whong, Senior Manager, Hydro Department, Sarawak Energy; and Hjh Happy Fadzilla Ali binti Hj Punjabi, Senior Electrical Engineer, Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication Sarawak.
“Youth are at the heart of ASEAN’s energy transition. Platforms like the ASEAN Energy Youth Awards empower them to innovate, lead, and collaborate, while ACE and Sarawak Energy work together to support youth-driven sustainable energy solutions,” said Tirta.
Through AEYA, Sarawak Energy and ACE continue to support innovation, creativity and collaboration among ASEAN youth. The awards highlight the importance of clean and renewable energy in advancing the region’s sustainable future and the role of young people in driving the energy transition.
Cash prizes were presented to winners for each category, with first-place winners winning US$1,000, followed by US$750 for second-place winners and US$500 for third-place winners.
The list of the 5th ASEAN Energy Youth Awards Awardees and Entries is as follows:
For more information on AEYA and past winners, visit go.aseanenergy.org/AEYA. — DayakDaily
