Against the backdrop of accelerating energy transition and rising electricity demand, several Asian countries are actively expanding solar PV and energy storage deployment. South Korea, Vietnam, and Tajikistan are each releasing clear market signals from different angles, including community energy development, grid balancing needs, and energy security.
South Korea | Community Solar Scales Up, Driving Distributed PV and Storage Demand
Market Background
South Korea plans to launch the “Sunlight Income Village” programme starting in 2026, with the goal of establishing approximately 2,500 community-led solar projects by 2030. These projects focus on village-level distributed solar installations, utilizing idle resources such as public buildings, farmland, reservoirs, and parking areas to generate electricity, increase rural income, and support the country’s energy transition. In areas facing grid capacity constraints, energy storage systems (ESS) will be deployed alongside solar projects to ensure grid connection and power absorption.
Key Market Trends
At the policy level, South Korea is strongly supporting community solar, public land solar, and “solar + storage” models. Incentives include low-interest financing, tax reductions, priority grid access, and simplified permitting procedures, significantly lowering investment barriers and accelerating the scalable deployment of small- and medium-sized solar and storage projects.
Market Value Outlook
For overseas suppliers, demand is growing steadily for distributed PV equipment, energy storage systems, and integrated solutions. For international buyers, the Korean market prioritizes product reliability, system integration capabilities, and solutions suitable for distributed applications. At the Solar PV & Energy Storage World Expo, a stable and sizeable group of professional Korean buyers attends each year, with strong interest in energy storage products and system-level solutions, making the exhibition an effective platform for market entry and partnership development.
Vietnam | Energy Storage Demand Accelerates, “Solar + Storage” Becomes a Practical Path
Market Background
Vietnam’s electricity demand continues to rise, with total power consumption in 2025 expected to grow by approximately 13.5% year-on-year, and industrial consumption accounting for around 72% of total demand. At the same time, the share of renewable energy in power generation is expected to reach 38%, significantly increasing pressure on grid balancing and flexibility. Regional imbalance between northern load centers and southern renewable generation further highlights the strategic role of energy storage.
Key Market Trends
Vietnam plans to deploy 10–16.3 GW of battery energy storage systems (BESS) by 2030. At the current stage, solar + storage is regarded as the most feasible near-term deployment model. Grid-side and pilot projects are primarily driven by the national power utility, while international and Chinese-invested companies are accelerating investment in local manufacturing and supply chains.
Market Value Outlook
For overseas enterprises, although still in the early development phase, Vietnam’s storage market has clear mid- to long-term demand potential and represents a practical entry point into Southeast Asia. For buyers, procurement demand for storage equipment, system integration, and supporting solutions is gradually emerging, offering opportunities to establish early supplier partnerships.
Tajikistan | Growing Power Gap Makes Solar a Strategic Complement to Hydropower
Market Background
According to official forecasts, Tajikistan’s electricity demand is expected to reach 25.6 billion kWh by 2030, representing a 31% increase compared to 2025. Currently, approximately 95% of the country’s electricity generation relies on hydropower, making supply highly vulnerable to climate change and water resource fluctuations. Power shortages are particularly pronounced during autumn and winter peak demand periods.
Key Market Trends
The government has identified solar energy as a key solution to complement hydropower and enhance energy security. Current initiatives include planning and development of GW-scale solar PV projects in high-irradiation regions, tax and fee incentives for solar equipment, encouragement of public building and distributed PV deployment, and promotion of an integrated “solar + storage + energy efficiency management” approach.
Market Value Outlook
For overseas suppliers, PV modules, inverters, and mounting systems are entering an early growth phase with strong emphasis on cost performance and reliability. Energy storage demand is clear due to seasonal hydropower variability, while EPC contractors and system integrators benefit from strong preference for turnkey solutions. For buyers, the Central Asian market remains relatively underpenetrated, with concentrated project development and opportunities for early positioning and long-term cooperation.
Overall Market Insight
From South Korea’s community energy initiatives, to Vietnam’s accelerating storage deployment, and Tajikistan’s energy security-driven solar expansion, multiple Asian markets are releasing tangible demand signals for solar PV and energy storage through different policy and market mechanisms. For both overseas suppliers and international buyers, understanding each country’s policy logic, project structure, and market timing will be critical to capturing upcoming cooperation and procurement opportunities.