How many solar power plants are there in Laos?

However, by the end of last year, only eight solar power projects and four biomass power plants were in operation, with an installed generation capacity of 116 MW, representing just 1% of the country’s total electricity production. As of early 2023, Laos produced power from 76 hydropower dams, with another 43 still under construction.

How much does electricity cost in Laos?

To its credit, state-run electricity company Electricité du Laos (EDL) is trying to encourage more solar power development by offering a tariff rate of USD 0.08 per kilowatt-hour (kWh). That’s higher than the rate for hydropower-generated electricity, which ranges from USD 0.05 to 0.06 per kWh.

How much renewable electricity will Laos generate by 2035?

The Energy Market Authority has already attracted proposals for 1.2 GW of renewable electricity, to be generated in four southeast Asian nations, and wants to raise that figure to 4 GW by 2035. EDF is planning to build a 240 MW floating PV project at Laos’ largest hydropower dam.

Is renewable power gaining traction in Laos?

Renewable power generation is slowly gaining traction in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos). However, the country of only 8 million people doesn’t receive as much attention as its larger and more powerful fellow Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members, particularly Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Why does Laos suffer from energy instability?

However, Laos generally suffers from energy instability because most of its power plants are owned by international businesses and generate electricity for export. It even has two electricity grids, one for exporting power and one for domestic usage.

Should Laos rely on hydropower?

At first glance, it would appear that Laos’ overreliance on hydropower would be beneficial in terms of energy independence and a negligible carbon footprint, but challenges remain. On the one hand, hydropower is considered a clean energy source.