NEWS & UPDATE

Sarawak Energy And ASEAN Centre For Energy Empower Youth Innovation In Hydropower And Renewable Energy At 5th ASEAN Energy Youth Awards (AEYA) 2025

KUCHING
18 SEPTEMBER 2025

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). Held in conjunction with the Sustainability and Renewable Energy Forum (SAREF) 4.0 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on 3 and 4 September, the event highlighted the important role of youth in shaping the region’s renewable energy future.

Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, The Right Honourable Dato’ Sri Haji Fadillah Haji Yusof presented the awards during the closing ceremony of SAREF 4.0 on 4 September.

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.

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, Senior Vice President for Corporate Services, Sarawak Energy.

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 Dr Andy Tirta, Head of Corporate Affairs for the ASEAN Centre for Energy.

Through AEYA, Sarawak Energy and the ASEAN Centre for Energy (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:

  • 1st Place Winner: US$1,000
  • 2nd Place Winner: US$750
  • 3rd Place Winner: US$500


List of the 5th ASEAN Energy Youth Awards Awardees & Entries

Category

Winner

Group/Individual Name

Title of presentation

Country

Innovation Lab Track: Policy Pitch

Winner

Group name: Fisconomics
1. Muhammad Ilham Pratama

2. Siti Komariah

3. Faiz Attaqi

Beyond Megadams: ASHARE, A Policy Framework to Unlock ASEAN's Community-Scale Hydropower Potential

Indonesia

1st Runner Up

Group name: AQUA Wŏ Men

  1. 1. Weilie Winaldy Sugianlie
  2. 2. Dwina Mahira Nahdi, Elloh’Nia
  3. 3. Michelle Angella

From Flow to Future: The AQUA Framework for Resilient & Responsible ASEAN Hydropower

Indonesia

2nd Runner UP

Group name: AUB-PL

1. Ensophea Toch

2.Helen Chhit

Cross-Border Hydro Synergy (CBHS):

A Regional Framework for Sustainable and Cooperative Hydropower in Southeast Asia”.

Cambodia

Creative Advocacy Track: Video Challenge

Winner

Jhun Jhun Agustin

Powered By Youth, Driven By Water

Philippines

1st Runner Up

Prince Loyd Cabalida Besorio

Powering Mindanao through Iligan's Majestic Waterfall

Philippines

2nd Runner Up

Mareeno Anang Septianto

Microhydro: Powered by Nature, Driven by Youth

Indonesia

Creative Advocacy Track: Infographic

Winner

Francheska Jhoy Panganiban Rembulat

EMPOWER: The Future is Youth-Powered

Philippines

1st Runner Up

Muh Fauzan H

Empowering Smart Villages Through Micro-Hydropower: A Path Toward Sustainable Rural Innovation

Indonesia

2nd Runner Up

Michael

Hydropower: One Step Closer to ASEAN Energy Sustainability

Indonesia

For more information on AEYA and past winners, visit go.aseanenergy.org/AEYA.