Large-capacity wind and solar power projects are being urgently implemented in Laos, realizing the ambition of turning the country into a green energy supplier of Southeast Asia. Many of the "best" in renewable energy projects are gathering in Laos. ot only serving domestic demand, but electricity from these projects will also radiate to surrounding countries, including Vietnam and Thailand.

Foreign currency income

On July 12, the Lao Government and shareholders of Nam Theun 2 Hydropower Plant agreed to develop the Nam Theun 2 floating solar power plant project. With a capacity of up to 240 MW, this is the largest floating solar power plant in the world.

Nam Theun 1, Nam Kading River

Utilizing the sea or lake to install solar panels is no longer a new idea and already exists in some Southeast Asian countries such as Singapore and Thailand. The biggest benefit of this approach is to make the most of the water surface area and limit evaporation in freshwater reservoirs in the dry season.

The floating solar power project in Laos is special in that it combines with the water reservoir for Nam Theun 2 Hydropower Plant. The solar panels will be installed floating on the water, covering an area of ​​about 320ha of reservoir.

Hydropower plant Xayaburi

"Nam Theun 2 solar power project will provide electricity safely, reliably and without impact on the environment," said Jean-Philippe Buisson, vice president of France's Electricite de France (EDF) group. Xinhua News Agency. EDF is one of the three major shareholders of the Nam Theun 2 project.

Construction of Nam Theun 2 Floating Solar Power Plant will begin in 2022 and come into operation from 2024, at the same time as the operation of a Mitsubishi wind power plant in Laos.

In a statement in June 2021, Mitsubishi confirmed that it would work with two Thai companies to build the largest onshore wind power plant in Southeast Asia with a capacity of 600 MW. Most of the electricity will be supplied to Vietnam, contributing to solving the problem of power shortage in the dry season, according to the Japanese weekly Nikkei Asia.

Electricity exports are one of Laos' sources of foreign currency earnings, but it will be the country's first time exporting wind power. According to Vientiane Times, since its exploitation in 2010, 95% of electricity from Nam Theun 2 Hydropower Plant has been supplied to Thailand.

Universalization of solar power

"Light is not simply light but also life, a better life for the people here," said Mr. Teung, head of Thai Phai Bai village which is located along the Nam Theun river in Laos, spoke to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) mission in May 12, 2020. Having a stable power source is the dream of many people in Thai Phai Bai when hydropower projects on the Nam Theun River are deployed.

However, due to the dangerous location, the national electricity grid cannot reach Thai Phai Bai, forcing people to use generators - which cause pollution and are only available for those with conditions.

Life in Thai Phai Bai has changed since a private solar power project appeared. Called the "mini" grid, the electricity system in Thai Phai Bai village is separate from the national grid. People are given the right to manage and will negotiate electricity prices they think are reasonable with investors, according to UNDP.

Mr. Koun, an elder in the village, was very emotional when the electricity came on. The memory of him and his contemporaries is of the days of hard work scraping the trees in the forest for fuel at night.

On rainy and windy days, if you can't scrape the pus, you will have to suffer darkness that night. "Now just sit in one place and turn on the light switch to have light at night. Life has changed completely" - Mr. Koun shared.