Energy socialization: The Northeast Asia energy grid and the emergence of regional energy cooperation framework

摘要

Over the past decade, global energy generation via clean resources has grown considerably. An energy dependent region, Northeast Asia (NEA), in this regard, has made significant progress in clean energy development. However, a region-wide energy cooperation is still far from being realized due, in large part, to a lack of viable framework which helps coordinate, among others, infrastructure development, institution build-up, market connectivity and regulation, and financing. In this paper, through an examination of the potential role of an energy grid interconnection, we aim to explore the causal links between clean energy development in NEA and the emergence of a regional energy cooperation framework. We observe that the energy complementarities and complexities in NEA both facilitate and require the establishment of a regional energy grid, which would have far-reaching economic and political implications. Economically, grid development may encourage energy-related investment, innovation, efficiency and environmental protection. Geopolitically, regional grid networking may contribute to confidence building, institutionalization and de-securitization. Thus, we argue, as a process of energy socialization, the formation of a comprehensive and institutionalized cooperation framework in NEA would lead to broad implications for regional development, security and community build up.