About Energy Studies Institute
The Energy Studies Institute (ESI) seeks to advance the understanding of energy issues
by conducting independent research and analyses.
HIGHLIGHTS
Strengthening ASEAN’s Energy Security and Regional Economic Resilience
Powering the Energy Transition: Innovative Clean Energy Solutions for the Marine & Offshore Industry
Inaugural kick-off meeting of the NUS-Tsinghua-NRF NetZeroAsia project
Role of BEVs in achieving Net-Zero emissions and their impacts on energy and electricity systems
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UN ESCAP Inception Workshop on Energy Transition for Green Growth and Prosperity (ETGGP) in Indonesia
ESI Researchers Featured at International EEAP Webinar on Sustainable Cooling and Data Centre Resource Efficiency
Ms Lalitha Ravi and Mr Christian Allen E. Jimenez from the Energy Studies Institute (ESI), National University of Singapore, recently presented at the Energy Evaluation Asia Pacific (EEAP) Webinar #27, titled "Evaluating Resource Efficiency in Urban Energy Systems: Cooling Buildings and Data Centres".
The webinar brought together policymakers, researchers, and energy professionals from across the Asia-Pacific region to discuss emerging challenges and opportunities in sustainable cooling and resource-efficient urban infrastructure.
Lalitha Ravi, Research Associate at ESI, presented on "Water Implications of Energy-Efficient Data Centre Design". Her presentation explored the growing water footprint of data centres in the age of artificial intelligence (AI), highlighting the relationship between cooling technologies, energy efficiency, and water consumption. The session discussed emerging cooling technologies, data centre efficiency metrics, and strategies for reducing water use while maintaining operational reliability in rapidly expanding digital infrastructure.
Christian Allen E. Jimenez, Research Assistant at ESI, delivered a presentation on "Rethinking Cooling - Reducing Operational Carbon in Urban Buildings". His presentation examined how tropical cities can reduce cooling-related carbon emissions through a combination of passive design strategies, occupant-centric comfort approaches, district cooling systems, and intelligent building operations. The session highlighted the importance of reducing cooling demand before supplying cooling, while demonstrating how integrated cooling solutions can support low-carbon urban development.
Together, the presentations showcased ESI's ongoing research contributions in sustainable cooling, building energy performance, data centre sustainability, and the management of energy-water trade-offs in urban and digital infrastructure. The webinar highlighted the importance of adopting a systems-based approach that considers cooling demand, operational efficiency, water use, and infrastructure resilience in supporting the transition towards more sustainable and resource-conscious cities.
Four ESI Staff Ranked in Top Scientists 2026 by Research.Com
Visit by the VinUniversity, Vietnam
Representatives from VinUniversity, Vietnam, led by Assoc. Prof. Phan Thi Thuc Anh, Associate Vice Provost of VinUniversity and Executive Director of VinUniversity’s Smart Green Transformation Center (Green X), visited the Energy Studies Institute (ESI) on 28 April 2026. The visiting team included Dr. Dinh Van Dzung, former Deputy Director of the IT Research Institute, Vietnam National University. The visit aimed to explore potential research collaboration and to exchange knowledge on energy transition.
During the visit, ESI representatives provided an overview of the institute’s background and research areas. The VinUniversity representatives introduced their academic and research focus, including developments in energy sector innovation survey and Vietnam’s energy transition.
Both sides expressed interest in future collaboration, including joint research projects, as well as seminars or workshops.PUBLICATIONS
CHINA’S GROWING ROLE IN GLOBAL ENERGY GOVERNANCE
SEMINAR
China’s growing role in global energy governance
Dr Kaho Yu
Abstract
China’s increasing influence in global energy governance has become a prominent discussion topic in international relations and energy studies. How could China’s international energy cooperation and investments reshape global governance? What are the policy implications for other governments? What does it mean for global energy transition? And what are the broader geopolitical consequences? It is important to understand China’s energy policy and international cooperation strategy, particularly its growing role in global governance as a way to achieve its energy security and transition goals. This topic demands a multi-disciplinary lens to unpack the complex interlinkage of China’s energy security, climate agenda, economic policy and diplomacy. This seminar offers an empirical perspective of China’s energy strategies over the last three decades, highlighting its evolution from a bilateral going-out strategy to a more multilateral approach embodied in the Belt and Road Initiative.
About the Speaker
Dr. Kaho Yu is a Visiting Fellow at the London Asia-Pacific Centre for Social Science at King’s College London and the Chief Research Officer at the Asia Carbon Institute. His research focuses on energy transition, carbon policy and critical mineral security in the Asia Pacific and their implications for policymakers and businesses. He has worked in think tanks, multinational companies, and academia across China, the US, and the Asia-Pacific region.
Kaho also serves as the Head of Energy Research at the Singapore branch of a global risk consultancy. Prior to this, he was an associate of the Energy Geopolitics Program at the Harvard Kennedy School, a lecturer in global studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and a research fellow at Renmin University in Beijing. Kaho holds a PhD in International Political Economy from King’s College London.
