The Asian Development Bank (ADB) plans to support USD70bn in new energy and digital infrastructure programmes by 2035, aiming to interconnect power grids, expand cross‑border electricity trade, and enhance broadband access across Asia and the Pacific (ADB press release, 03/05/2026).

“The Pan‑Asia Power Grid Initiative will link national and subregional power systems so renewable energy can flow across borders, while the Asia‑Pacific Digital Highway will help close the digital infrastructure gap and enable the region to harness AI‑driven growth,” according to the press release.

Under the Pan‑Asia Power Grid Initiative, ADB will collaborate with governments, utilities, the private sector, and development partners to mobilise USD50bn by 2035 for cross‑border power infrastructure that can unlock renewable energy at scale.

The initiative will prioritise transmission and grid integration, including cross‑border lines, substations, storage, and grid digitalisation. It will also back power generation tied to electricity trade, such as renewable energy export projects, regional renewable hubs, and hybrid generation‑storage facilities.

By 2035, ADB aims to integrate around 20 GW of cross‑border renewable energy, connect 22,000 circuit‑km of transmission lines, improve energy access for 200 million people and reduce regional power‑sector emissions by 15%.

The Pan‑Asia Power Grid Initiative represents a move from bilateral country‑to‑country energy links toward a broader regional model for power trade, said the organisation.