The dramaticallyincreasingpopulationofAsianecessitatesequallyasdramaticincreaseinenergysupply
to meetdemand.RapidlyincreasingenergydemandisamajorconcernforAsiancountriesbecausethe
increase indemandisbeingmetthroughtheincreaseduseoffossilfuelsupply,largelydomesticcoaland
imported fuel.Renewableenergysupplypresentsaloweremissionpathwaythatcouldbeaviableoption
for steeringoffthehigheremissionspath.However,severalmarket,economic,institutional,technical,
and socio-culturalbarriershindercountriesinmovingfromhightolowemissionpathway.Followinga
discussion ontherisingdemandforenergyinAsiaandtheprospectsofpartlysatisfyingitwith
renewableenergy,weoutlinethereasonsforgovernmentsupporttotacklethebarriersforwidespread
diffusion ofgrid-basedrenewableenergy.Additionally,wealsodiscussworkablemodelsforstrategic
governmentinterventiontosupportdiffusionofgrid-basedrenewableenergyinAsia.