Laos Solar Power Projects Info - by HoboMaps.com - - - HOME
Solar power development in Lao PDR has been slower than that of its neighbors in ASEAN, while being ahead of most countries in hydropower development. At the end of 2025 there was only one large scale 1,000 megawatt solar power project operating in Laos. See our separate web page for details and images of this completed project at - CGN Solar Power Project Oudom Xay.
New solar power projects in Laos may now qualify for carbon credit development under the Laos Carbon Credit Decree adopted in May 2025. This decree establishes a legal framework for registering and managing carbon credit projects through the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment which enables Lao-based new-energy project owners to participate in international carbon markets.
These new projects can be called hybrid when solar power output from floating panels or land-based panels is combined with hydropower output and when shared substations and transmission lines are used.
Much of the current solar power devlopment in Laos is related to already-operating hydropower projects owned in whole or in part by either Electricite du Laos (EDL) or Electricite du Laos Generation Public Company (EDL-Gen) where there are existing transmission lines and substations nearby that can be used to transmit additional power output.
EDL is a state-owned non-public entity while EDL-Gen is a publicly-owned entity listed on the Lao stock exchange.
EDL-Gen Projects
Electricite du Laos Generation Public Company (EDL-Gen) entered into agreements in 2025 with two companies to develop solar power facilities on or near its hydropower projects and expand its renewable energy capacity.
In August 2025, EDL-Gen signed agreements with South Korean company ASFC Co., Ltd. to develop solar projects near its Xeset 1-3, Xelabam and Nam Mang 3 hydropower projects.
On November 10, 2025, EDL-Gen signed an agreement with South Korean firm CS Tech Co., Ltd. to develop floating solar installations on its hydropower reservoirs and advance carbon credit initiatives.
Souksavath Sosoupanh, Managing Director of EDL-Gen, stated that the company hopes to install floating solar panels across EDL-Gen’s hydropower reservoirs and create hybrid hydro-solar generation systems.
EDL Projects
Akhomdeth Vongsay, Vice Chairman of EDL, reported on August 8, 2025 that EDL is advancing twelve large-scale solar power projects across the country with a combined capacity of 680 megawatts.
Among these twelve projects is the 50 megawatt Sino-Agripotas area solar power project under construction in Khammouane Province developed by Sino-Agri Potash Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China-based Asia-Potash International.
Not sure how EDL is connected with this solar project, maybe as minority owner, as issuer of concession agreement or as offtaker for some of the output.
EDL versus EDL-Gen Confusion
We need to be cautious when reading news reports regarding EDL and EDL-Gen solar power projects as reporters seem to be confused or careless when reporting news about the two companies with similar names. One example is the Laotian Times article on Nov. 13, 2025 that reports the CS Tech solar power project sponsor as being EDL-Gen while a Dec. 15, 2025 Laotian Times article reports the project sponsor as being EDL.
Other solar power projects in Laos under development:
On 11 February 2026 a Memorandum of Agreement was signed that allows South Korean-based CTE Consortium to conduct a feasibility study for a new 100 MW solar photovoltaic power project near Nam Kon reservoir in Oudomxay Province of northern Lao PDR. CTE Consortium began negotiations for the solar power project with Oudom Xay province in January 2025 and signed a Memorandum of Cooperation for the power plant site in June 2025. A Pre-Feasibility Study began in August 2025, followed by an Initiative Environmental Evaluation study in December 2025.
On 28 October 2025 in southern Laos, the provincial government of Attapeu approved a 5 megawatt solar power project to be developed by South Korean firm SBIN Corporation. The project would cover 10 hectares near Sanongmai-Piandong village, Sanamxay district of Attapeu Province.
U.S.-based Convalt Energy has been studying a large-scale 1,200-megawatt solar farm in Attapeu that would have an investment of US$ 1.3 billion. The facility would span approximately 1,800 hectares, making it one of the largest solar projects in the country. This project had a connection with USA Energy Reduction Act credits that are no longer available and continuing development seems to have halted.
Laos-China 500 kV Transmission Line Project:
Image below is Namor 3 Substation in Namor district, Oudomxay province for new 500 kV transmission line to Jinghong City in Yunnan China. As of February 2026, this 500 kV interconnection project has reached 100 percent construction completion and is expected to begin transmitting power in April 2026.
Electricite du Laos Transmission Company Limited (EDL-T) is developing the section of this new 500 kV transmission line inside Lao PDR.
Also see our web page for more info on the new Laos-China 500 kV Transmission Line that may transfer most output from the CGN project to China.
One has to wonder why Laos is so far behind its neighboring countries when it comes to commercial solar power develoment. Part of the reason would be a lack of transmission line capacity for export of output to Vietnam and China. There also seems to be a shortage of financially-stable offtake entities in Laos who might use the output for domestic consumption. Without reliable offtakers, construction financing arrangements become a choke point for new development.