On the map of Southeast Asia, Laos, although not adjacent to the sea, carries the ambitious goal of energy transformation. As the only landlocked country in the region, Laos is making every effort to promote a far-reaching energy revolution with its unique resource endowment and policy determination, taking big strides from traditional coal-fired power generation to clean energy, attempting to find its own coordinates in the wave of global energy transformation.

The proportion of clean energy has significantly increased

The Laotian government has outlined a clear blueprint for the future power structure: by 2030, 75% of the country's electricity will be provided by hydropower, and 11% will come from renewable energy, mainly wind and solar energy. To achieve this goal, Laos has proposed a conditional target of a total installed capacity of 1GW for wind and solar power, laying the foundation for large-scale development of renewable energy. The GlobalData chart shows that the installed capacity of photovoltaic and wind power in Laos will experience explosive growth in the next decade. The installed capacity of solar energy is expected to reach 300MW in 2025 and 4GW in 2035, with a growth rate of over 13 times in ten years; Onshore wind power will reach 1.5GW in 2025 and surge to 5.1GW in 2035. Among all renewable energy sources, onshore wind power will dominate, with a compound annual growth rate of 17.1% from 2025 to 2035, and the total scale of wind and solar power is expected to reach 9.8GW.

Key to breaking through the situation of surface photovoltaics

Laos has abundant solar energy resources, with a daily average total horizontal radiation of about 4.4 kWh/m ². However, the mountainous and inland geographical conditions limit the deployment of large-scale ground power stations, and the land space suitable for building ground photovoltaics is limited. In this context, surface photovoltaics have become a breakthrough. The GlobalData report emphasizes that surface photovoltaics on reservoirs are an important strategic opportunity for the future expansion of photovoltaics in Laos. According to data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in the United States, the total potential of surface photovoltaics in 10 Southeast Asian countries is approximately 825GW, with Laos and Malaysia ranking first in terms of potential due to their abundant reservoir resources. Keywords: Southeast Asian news, Laos' energy development, photovoltaics

It is worth noting that the internal pattern of renewable energy in Laos is undergoing changes. By 2025, wind power will account for approximately 74.3% of renewable energy, while photovoltaics will only account for 12.8%. This means that there is huge room for improvement in the future of photovoltaics. With technological progress and policy support, Laos is expected to fully leverage its advantages, make breakthroughs in the field of surface photovoltaics, further optimize its energy structure, and achieve a magnificent transformation from traditional energy to clean energy.Editor/Cheng Liting