Building Sustainable Energy Projects in Asia: How Environmental and Social Expertise Supports the Energy Transition

At AFRY, Mark Wilson, Head of Environmental and Social Consulting, and his team are helping developers, sponsors and financial institutions navigate this evolving landscape.

When Mark joined AFRY in Bangkok nearly a decade ago, he was the company's first environmental specialist in the region.

"When I joined, I was the first environmental professional in the team. Initially, our focus was mainly on environmental and social due diligence for lenders. As demand increased, we gradually expanded our capabilities and started building a larger team."

Today, AFRY's Environmental and Social Services team in Asia has grown into a multidisciplinary group of specialists located across Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Laos, India, Taiwan and the Philippines. The team includes experts in environmental and social impact assessment, biodiversity, air quality, noise, water quality and social performance.

This growth reflects a wider trend across the energy sector.

Environmental and social expertise from project concept to financing

Environmental and social considerations now influence projects throughout the entire development lifecycle.

AFRY's Environmental and Social Services team is often involved in the earliest project stages, supporting feasibility studies alongside technical experts. As projects move forward, the team helps clients assess environmental and social impacts and ensure compliance with international standards required by lenders and investors.

These services have become increasingly important as financial institutions strengthen their ESG requirements.

"Today, virtually every major lender and many project sponsors have environmental, social, and governance requirements. That's where we can support clients by helping projects meet international standards."

A large part of the team's work focuses on Environmental and Social Due Diligence (ESDD) and Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA), helping clients align projects with frameworks such as the Equator Principles and IFC Performance Standards.

Supporting Asia's renewable energy growth

The team is currently involved in a wide range of renewable energy projects across the region, and in the past 5 years the team has acted as an environmental and social advisor on 100+ due diligence projects and has undertaken 15+ bankable environmental and social impact assessments.

In Indonesia, where AFRY has its largest environmental team in Asia, specialists are supporting multiple renewable projects, including ground-mounted solar, floating solar, and wind developments. The team is also pursuing opportunities in onshore wind and supporting offshore wind projects in markets such as Thailand, Taiwan, and the Philippines.

Indonesia remains one of the strongest growth markets for environmental and social services, driven by increasing renewable energy investment and rising expectations from international financiers.

At the same time, environmental and social requirements are becoming more sophisticated across the region, creating demand for specialized expertise and international experience.

Combining technical, environmental and social expertise

One of AFRY's key differentiators is its ability to combine environmental and social advisory services with technical consulting expertise.

Many renewable energy projects require both technical assessments. environmental and social evaluations. By bringing these capabilities together, AFRY can support project developers, sponsors, and lenders through multiple stages of project development.

"One of AFRY's biggest strengths is that we can provide both technical, environmental, and social services. Not many companies can offer both, and these services often go hand in hand on the same project."

This integrated approach also enables close collaboration between AFRY teams across regions.

Environmental and Social specialists in Asia regularly work together with colleagues in Europe, drawing on global expertise from AFRY’s 600+ environmental, social, safety and sustainability experts in areas such as offshore wind, where European teams contribute valuable project experience and references.

Building for the future

Having worked in environmental consulting since graduating in 2005, including assignments in the UK, the Middle East and Asia, Mark has witnessed how environmental and social requirements have evolved from a supplementary consideration to a central part of energy project development.

The demand is expected to continue growing as countries across Asia accelerate investments in renewable energy, grid infrastructure and sustainable development.

For AFRY, this creates opportunities not only to expand environmental and social services but also to strengthen collaboration across technical disciplines and regions.

"The market continues to grow, and environmental and social considerations are becoming increasingly important for project success. By combining local presence, international expertise and a multidisciplinary approach, we're well positioned to support clients throughout the project lifecycle."