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Monsoon Wind is Laos’ first wind project and the region’s first cross-border wind power plant. It is Southeast Asia’s largest onshore wind farm.
The 600-MW Monsoon Wind project, owned by Thailand-based Impact Energy Asia Development, has just begun construction. The location is in southeastern Laos, in the provinces of Sekong and Attapeu, at a height of 1,200-1,600 metres (3,937-5,249 ft) above sea level.
For the next 25 years, the 133-turbine wind farm will sell its power to state-owned Vietnam Electricity. It will transmit the renewable energy generated to central Vietnam through a 500kV transmission line.
Mitsubishi Corp of Japan said this month that it and other owners had obtained $692 million in funding for Monsoon Wind. The overall project cost, according to Monsoon’s website, is $950 million.
Southeast Asia’s largest onshore wind farm is scheduled to come online in 2025.
Hydroelectricity now accounts for 70% of total power generation in Laos, while at least ten onshore wind projects totaling 3.6 gigatonnes are in the development stages.
Laos, a landlocked country with an export-oriented energy strategy, is eager to position itself as the “battery of Southeast Asia.” It is one of the major hydroelectricity suppliers in Asia. Nikkei Asia notes that “Around 80% of the power generated in Laos is sold to neighbouring Thailand and Vietnam, accounting for 30% of the country’s total exports. Laos began power exports to Singapore in 2022 and began developing transmission facilities in January to supply electricity to Cambodia.”
