Laos set to power up Southeast Asia's largest wind farm

United News of India

22-05-2025

Vientiane, May 22 (UNI) Laos is preparing to switch on Southeast Asia's largest wind farm by the end of the year, with all 133 turbines at the Monsoon Wind Project now fully installed, signalling a significant step in the country's renewable energy ambitions and wider economic strategy.
The 600-megawatt project, valued at $930 million, is located across 68,000 hectares in the southern provinces of Sekong and Attapeu.
Once operational, it will supply electricity to neighbouring Vietnam under a 25-year power purchase agreement with state utility Vietnam Electricity (EVN), transmitted via a dedicated 500-kilovolt cross-border line, reports Laotian Times.
As the region's first transnational wind power scheme, the project reflects a growing trend of cross-border energy cooperation in Southeast Asia.
For Laos, it also represents a diversification of its energy exports, which are currently dominated by hydropower — an industry increasingly vulnerable to seasonal variability and environmental concerns.
Developed by Impact Energy Asia Development Co., Ltd., the project has been over a decade in the making. An initial memorandum of understanding was signed with the Lao government in 2011, with development formally advancing in 2022 following the concession agreement. The project is now being delivered under the Monsoon Wind Power Company Limited joint venture.
Turbine installation was completed on May 19, according to ACEN, the renewables platform of the Philippines' Ayala Group, which holds a 25% economic stake in the venture. Construction began in March 2023, and the project's turbines — with tower heights of 110 and 140 metres — were positioned based on eight years of wind data gathered from 2015 to 2023.
The Monsoon Wind Project is expected to play a key role in Laos's strategy to become the "battery of Southeast Asia", a long-standing national policy aimed at turning the country's natural resources and geographical position into an energy export engine. However, the heavy focus on large-scale hydropower has drawn criticism for its environmental and social impact, particularly on river ecosystems and local communities.
Wind power offers a cleaner and more seasonally stable complement to Laos's hydro output. While the electricity will initially be exported, the expansion of such infrastructure could lay the groundwork for future domestic supply, particularly as demand grows and energy access becomes a greater priority.
For Laos, one of the region's least developed economies, the project brings not only foreign investment but also the potential for technology transfer, employment, and longer-term regional integration. Its success may shape how the country balances energy export revenue with domestic development, and whether wind can scale up to become a more prominent part of the nation's future energy mix.