Laos Launched Commercial Operations of Southeast Asia’s Largest Wind Farm

Laos marked a major milestone in clean energy development with the official launch of its first wind power project on August 22. The Monsoon Wind Power Project, with  a capacity of 600-megawatt and  a projected operational lifespan of over 25 years, is now the largest onshore wind farm in Southeast Asia and Asia’s first cross-border renewable energy venture.  

Covering two southern provinces, located near the Laos-Vietnam border, the 133 turbines are positioned along mountain ridgelines at elevations between 1,100 and 1,700 meters above sea level. Each turbine generates 4.51 megawatts of electricity that has the capacity to power roughly 3,000- 4,000 households. Electricity is being transmitted along a 27-kilometer-high-voltage line to the Lao-Vietnam Border, where it connects  to the EVN Thanh My substation in Vietnam, serving as the main supply hub. 

With an estimated total investment of $USD 950 million, the project is financed by a consortium of major financial institutions, including the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Asian Infrastructure Investment bank (AIIB), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), among others. This showcases the regional cooperation to promote clean energy development. 

The Monsoon Wind Power Project positions Laos as an emerging leader in clean energy supply. It complements the country’s existing hydropower resources and enhances its capacity to export renewable electricity across the region. Beyond economic benefits for Laos, the project plays a crucial role in supporting the “ASEAN Power Grid Initiative”, a collective effort to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, securing regional energy, and advancing the regional energy transition.