Multi-Objective Auctions for Utility-Scale Solar-Battery Systems: The Case of ASEAN and East Asia

Globally, auctions are increasingly popular to competitively promote and procure renewable energy technologies to meet energy, social, and climate change objectives. To do so, auction designs need to accommodate technological progress, declining costs, and increasing demand for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG). This chapter focuses on auctions of large scale solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage system (BESS) in Southeast and East Asia. It revisits the theoretical and conceptual frameworks of auctions while focusing on the ESG component from the perspective of key stakeholders, such as investors, government, bidders, and communities regarding efficient allocations of risks, costs, and benefits. The chapter then relates this framework to real-world practices and international evidence on solar PV as well as those without BESS. The analysis shows that integrating ESG in the auction designs and business models is possible and could benefit business and sustainable development.