Solar and wind energy transition towards a net-zero energy future in Asia: Key factors, drivers, challenges, and future pathways

The decarbonization of energy systems across Asia represents a pivotal component of global climate commitments. This review systematically analyzes the transition towards solar and wind energy within the diverse economic and institutional landscapes of Asia. The central problem addressed concerns the persistent gap between the region's substantial renewable energy potential and the systemic barriers hindering its full realization, specifically investigating how infrastructural limitations, grid integration challenges, and institutional discordance impede progress despite significant policy ambition and technological advancement. The novel contribution of this work lies in its reframing of the core constraint from technical potential to institutional discordance, demonstrating that the misalignment between twentieth century governance structures and the operational demands of variable renewable energy constitutes the primary impediment to transition. By synthesizing evidence across disparate Asian economies, this study provides a holistic assessment of regional disparities and introduces an integrated framework that prioritizes regulatory coherence, grid modernization, and socio-environmental equity as foundational prerequisites for accelerated deployment. Future pathways emphasize adaptive specialization through context-specific strategies, including cross-border energy trade and agro photovoltaic systems to achieve a sustainable net-zero energy future. • Institutional discordance is introduced as a primary structural barrier to renewable energy transitions in Asia. • Asian solar market are categorized between state-driven, technology-import and frontier-market transitions. • Cost reductions, policy support, and innovation are conceptualised as a self-reinforcing feedback loop for renewable energy adoption. • Grid integration failures & investment gaps are reconceptualised as systemic governance deficits, not technical faults. • An integrated net-zero framework is proposed, centred on institutional reform & regional policy harmonisation.