Unlocking the power of finance to accelerate Asia's transition to 100% renewable energy
We provide capital market-driven solutions to retire a target of 1 GW of fossil fuel-fired plants and replace them with renewables
each year in South and Southeast Asia.
Ask us how.
WHAT WE DO
Climate Smart Ventures is a transition and transaction advisory firm with a track record for bringing together the region’s leading power asset owners, debt and equity providers, ESG investors and experts in accelerating South and Southeast Asia’s energy transition in a just, orderly, and competitive manner. To date, CSV has supported multilateral development banks, investors and corporates on developing robust and value creating transition strategies with the goal of delivering a just and managed energy transition suited to power hungry emerging market contexts.
Transition Advisory
Robust technical and strategic advice to integrate transition as a value-creating platform for growth
Transition Finance Readiness | ESG Advisory and Transformation
Transaction Advisory
Best-in-class financial advice and deal execution focused on transition goals and strategies
Transaction Execution | Buy-Side & Sell-Side M&A and Valuation | Fundraising & Financial Advisory
WHO WE ARE
With a combined experience of 40+ years at the intersection of energy and finance, Climate Smart Ventures brings together a sophisticated team of experts with strategic, operational and technical knowledge, on effectively delivering successful transactions, deal platforms, and know-how to advance Asia's energy transition
Lawrence Ang
Managing Partner
Lawrence completed his EMBA from the Asian Institute of Management, and has diplomas on Behavioral Finance from Yale University, and Experimental Design for Business Innovation from the Stockholm School of Economics. He finished his undergraduate studies with a specialization in natural resources management from the Australian National University.
Matt Carpio
Head, Transaction Advisory
Matt graduated from De La Salle University – Manila with a BSc in Management of Financial Institutions degree and an MBA from Ateneo Graduate School of Business.
Sara Ahmed
Principal Advisor
Sara holds an MS in Finance from the Simon Graduate School of Business, University of Rochester in New York, USA and BA in Economics and Development Finance & Energy from Knox College in Illinois, USA. She is currently completing an MS in Applied Economics from Johns Hopkins University.
Kanchuya Sukdheva
Principal Advisor
Kanchuya holds an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona, USA and a BA in international relations from Chulalongkorn University in Thailand.
Ivan Galura
Senior Associate
Ivan obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science as well as Juris Doctor degrees from the University of the Philippines. He is currently completing his LLM in Energy and Environmental Law from the University of Birmingham.
Joyce Almandrones
Senior Associate
After serving at DENR-EMB, she worked as a Sr. Environmental Permitting and Socio Specialist for various local and international projects. Projects involved environment, health, safety, and socio compliance with the local and International standards.
Joyce earned her bachelor’s degree in Environmental and Sanitary Engineering from Mapua University. She spent her internship in college in Chung Yuan Christian University under an exchange student program as a Water Quality Laboratory Assistant. She took her Master of Science in Innovation and Business (MSIB) Degree at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), focusing on business innovation and sustainability.
Kristian Macariola
Associate
Kristian earned his BS Electrical Engineering Degree from the University of the Philippines Los Baños and MBA units from the Ateneo Graduate School of Business.
Jessel Agno
Associate
Lily Gonzales
Associate
Lily graduated Cum Laude with a degree in Business Administration from University of the Philippines.
Nian Sayoc
Associate
Yesaya Mulia
Associate
Yesaya graduated from the University of Loyola Marymount with a BSc in Business Administration with a focus on Finance (Cum Laude).
Bhavya Puri
Associate
Bhavya graduated from Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai, India with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration. She has completed her Master of Science in International Business with a Distinction from the University of Birmingham and Singapore Institute of Management, focusing on research in the field of circular economy business models.
Kyle Constantino
Analyst
Julia Syyap
Analyst
Julia graduated Cum Laude with a degree in Business Administration & Accountancy from the University of the Philippines.
Saturnino Juan
Principal Advisor
Silver Navarro
Principal Advisor
Farzana Hoque
Principal Advisor
Farzana is a graduate of the Fletcher School at Tufts University, where she obtained an M.A. in International Relations with concentrations in Monetary Theory and Environmental Policy. She completed her B.A. in International Relations with a concentration in Economic Development at Tufts University.
Andre Barlian
Principal Advisor
Benhan Limketkai
Principal Advisor
Benhan has three Bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration, Economics, and East Asian Literature from the University of California, Berkeley. He also holds two Master’s degrees in Quantitative Economic Theory and International Relations from Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies; and an MBA from the London Business School.
OUR INSIGHTS & NEWS
Scenarios for financial modeling of China-funded coal retirement in Asia
Discussions about the early retirement of CFPPs have flourished over the past year. Driven by a global understanding of the need to urgently reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) to reduce the risk of catastrophic climate change, multiple ideas have emerged on how different tools of financing – from buy-outs to sustainability-linked debt, as well as ratepayer-backed securities to asset portfolio securitization – can be harnessed to ensure a just transition for affected stakeholders […]
Accelerated Retirement of China’s Overseas Coal-Fired Power Plants Can Unlock Massive Energy Transition Potentials for South & Southeast Asia
A foundational pillar of addressing climate change that was unthinkable only three years ago is now becoming reality: the early retirement of coal-fired power plants in emerging economies. During the G20, Indonesia launched its Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) – a breakthrough climate finance partnership designed to mobilize $20 billion in public and private financing over the next 3-5 years in support of Indonesia’s accelerated and equitable energy transition. […]
CATA’s coal transition journey
To limit global temperature rises to 1.5˚C, coal generation must be reduced by 80% of 2010 levels by 2030 and phased out by 2040. This can only happen with large-scale collaboration, new tools and methodologies, recognition of the social elements of the transition, and innovative financing mechanisms. At COP26 we announced the Coal Asset Transition Accelerator, or CATA, a philanthropically funded initiative designed to help meet these needs with a particular focus on the role of finance. […]
The Anthropocene Fixed Income Institute (AFII), a research organization that empowers fixed income investors to drive the climate transition, and Climate Smart Ventures (CSV), an advisory firm based in Singapore focused on corporate energy transition plans that shift coal assets to renewables, are excited to announce their Transition-Southeast Asia (T-SEA) partnership. […]
A new study by Climate Smart Ventures Pte. Ltd. (CSV) entitled “Mainstreaming Renewables Through Storage in the Philippines: Scenarios to Accelerate the Energy Transition” has found that the Philippines is already ready to “firm-up” variable output from renewable energy (RE) with use of battery energy storage systems (BESS) for all-day (baseload) or majority of working hours in a day (mid-merit). […]
A private coal retirement pilot in the Philippines just reached financial close: What this means for “transition finance” in emerging markets
Back in May, CSV released an article outlining the case for coal retirement pilots at the asset level. We argued that pilots offer a practical way of generating live, real-world experience for how such transactions can actually be designed and executed to fit emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs). We shared three principles that would be essential to get “coal retirement going”: […]
Climate Smart Ventures kicks off landmark storage study to leapfrog Philippine power sector
Climate Smart Ventures (CSV), a transaction advisory firm specializing in catalyzing capital for Asia’s energy transition, has commenced a comprehensive study to uncover technical, commercial and regulatory pathways for the mainstream adoption of storage and its accelerated deployment in the Philippines. […]
Since COP26, interest in coal retirement has grown tremendously with various reports, feasibility studies, and commentary now under circulation. The latest IPCC report makes it clear that this decade is the “now or never” timeline to establish a resilient future that safeguards the 1.5 Centigrade temperature threshold set by the Paris Agreement. […]
Climate Smart Ventures to co-lead global initiative to spur the transition from coal to renewables
On 4 November 2021, the European Climate Foundation (ECF), Climate Smart Ventures (CSV), Carbon Trust, RMI and International Network of Energy Transition Think Tanks (INETT), with the support of the IKEA Foundation and the Growald Climate Foundation launched a new global initiative called the Coal Asset Transition Accelerator (CATA) at the 26th United Nations Climate Conference (COP26). […]
Decarbonizing the energy sector requires urgent action at the global level and while a global energy transition is making progress, further action is needed to accelerate the reduction of carbon emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change. […]
Are we a decade away from a 100% renewable Asia?
Technological advances and lower capital costs have made renewable energy a mainstream energy market in Southeast Asia. The boom in green investment in Asia is unmistakable, and the continent has set its sights on dominating the global renewable energy stage in terms of new capacity additions, technology development, and energy demand. […]
What is the significance of COP26 to coal retirement?
The energy transition is well underway and has reached a stage where free markets are supporting its course. COP26 is an opportunity for a reboot, a redesign, and a chance to remove distortions that hinder an orderly energy transition. But why? […]