Renewable energy is cleaner and more affordable and is poised for rapid growth in South-east Asia once key roadblocks are overcome.

Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change.

Green Pulse is starting off 2024 with an appropriately green theme -- renewable energy. Specifically, the investment opportunity for green power in South-east Asia.

The region is one of the world's economic growth engines and it is hungry for power to drive that growth, fuel its factories and lift millions out of poverty.

And yet it remains deeply dependent on polluting coal, oil and gas. But cleaner wind and solar, and increasingly battery storage, are becoming more competitive and compelling investment choices. So what is the outlook? Are we on the cusp of a green revolution?

ST's climate editor David Fogarty hosts Mr Edward Northam, head of Core Renewables and head of Asia-Pacific for Macquarie Asset Management Green Investments.

Singapore-based Mr Northam is a veteran of the clean energy space and they both discuss an investor's point of view of the opportunities for the region.