An aerial view of Phase I of the CGN Laos Northern Clean Energy Base, a 1,000 MW photovoltaic project in Laos. The project's booster station main transformer area is shown in a separate photo. Driving out of Muang Xay, the capital of Oudomxay Province, Laos, and after about an hour on winding mountain roads, a deep blue "sea" appears: rows of neatly arranged solar panels rise and fall with the terrain, shimmering under the sun. This is the largest single-site mountain solar project in Southeast Asia and the first large-scale solar initiative in Laos—Phase I of the CGN Laos Northern Clean Energy Base (1000 MW). Covering approximately 2,100 hectares, it was completed and began operations in April of this year.
Laos' Minister of Industry and Commerce, Malaythong Kommasith, highly praised the project, stating: "It has not only promoted the practical implementation of Laos-China power interconnection but also created a significant number of jobs for Laos and driven the development of related industries."
Interconnection Enhancing Power Supply Capability
Inside the main transformer area of the solar plant's booster station, the main transformer emits a low, continuous hum, stepping up the voltage from the solar panels to transmit power to the grid. A large screen in the control room displays the day's cumulative power generation. "This is yesterday's generation, 5.28 million kWh, indicating a long sunny day yesterday," said Wang Yang, Head of Production Operations and Maintenance at CGN Laos, pointing to data on a whiteboard inside the control room around 4 PM. He noted that during Laos' dry season with consecutive sunny days, daily generation typically exceeds 5 million kWh. The project is expected to generate an average of 1.65 billion kWh annually, equivalent to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 1.3 million tons per year.
"As the core supporting power source for the China-Laos 500 kV interconnection project, it has significantly enhanced the power supply capacity in northern Laos, alleviating dependence on imported electricity, and can transmit clean power to southern China via cross-border lines. This provides critical support for optimizing the regional energy structure and helping Laos implement its 'Southeast Asia Battery' strategy," Wang Yang explained. The clean electricity generated by the solar plant is collected at the booster station, connected to the northern Laos grid via the China-Laos 500 kV interconnection project, and then transmitted to distant areas.
Thongphat Inthavong, former Deputy Minister of Energy and Mines of Laos, stated that the project has driven local green, low-carbon transformation and economic development while effectively improving the power interconnection level between northern Laos and southern China. In March of this year, the Laos Clean Energy Power Standards Research Institute, jointly supported by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Laos and Chinese partners, was established in Vientiane. The institute focuses on areas such as engineering management standards for clean energy projects, power plant operation and maintenance standards, electric power talent development systems, alignment of China-Laos electric power standards, and integration with regional and international energy standards. This marks a leap from "hard connectivity" of infrastructure to "soft connectivity" of rules and standards. "In the future, the institute's outcomes will be incorporated into the bilateral China-Laos electric power standards cooperation mechanism and promoted for alignment with regional and international standards, aiming to build a unified, forward-looking standards system for Lancang-Mekong regional power interconnection," Wang Yang added.
Nearby, Phase II, a wind-solar hybrid project, is scheduled to begin construction within the year. "In the future, a large area of wind turbines will appear on the distant ridge. Projects like biomass and multi-energy complementary clean energy bases will also be progressively advanced," said Chen Shaoyang, Project Manager of Phase I for CGN Laos.
Ecological Priority Protecting the Green Mountains and Clear Waters
The region is mountainous with limited flat land, featuring continuous forests and scattered rice paddies. "Northern Laos is predominantly mountainous, and local villagers mostly rely on rice farming, with very limited arable land. Therefore, during the early project planning phase, we optimized land use to minimize disruption to villagers' lives," Chen Shaoyang explained. "When acquiring land, we strictly adhered to the 'three no-occupation' principle: not occupying any villager's house, not occupying a single acre of basic farmland, and not occupying any virgin forest. Through design optimization, we successfully achieved 'zero occupation' of forest reserves, villages, and basic farmland."
By optimizing support heights and "slimming down" column structures, the foundation excavation area was reduced by 30%. Relocating the booster station cut the excavation volume from 600,000 cubic meters to 300,000 cubic meters. Power collection lines were fully buried underground, and transmission tower foundations utilized "unequal-height legs" for environmentally friendly construction. Ultimately, the project's actual land use was reduced by 1,565.52 hectares compared to the initial planning stage, equivalent to about 2,200 standard soccer fields, returning the land to nature.
Construction techniques were equally meticulous. The project used manual drilling to minimize disturbance to the original terrain. Optimized pile foundation pouring processes reduced interference with vegetation, and construction waste was promptly cleaned to prevent soil and water pollution. After project completion, a viewing platform was built, and cosmos and bougainvillea bloom along the roads. Sitting in a "garden-style station," nearby villagers gaze at the magnificent sight of the mountain solar project, their hearts filled with joy. Oudomxay Province Deputy Governor Souvanna Mahavong Sanan stated that the project has made outstanding contributions to local ecological protection, writing a warm chapter in the lives of the people through deepened Laos-China clean energy cooperation and the building of a shared future community.
Improving Livelihoods Benefiting Local People
In the project office, Somseng, a local from Muang Xay, fluently communicates in Chinese with his Chinese colleagues, coordinating recent work. In November 2023, he saw a recruitment notice and signed up without hesitation: "The high-speed rail is here, good companies are coming, and opportunities are right at my doorstep." Now, he is a key project translator and even went for training in Shenzhen last year. "Previously, young people from Muang Xay had to leave for work. Now, the project team has not only hardened roads and built schools in our hometown but also allowed me and my friends to participate in building our hometown. Seeing Muang Xay get better and better fills me with genuine joy," he said.
According to Chen Shaoyang, the project provided nearly 3,000 local jobs during peak construction. Through the "Egret Class" targeted training program, which uses a "Chinese + Vocational Skills" model, it has trained nearly 100 local Lao technical personnel, with 31 outstanding graduates selected as full-time employees of the company. In Muang Xay town, a striking three-story building painted red and white, with a roof fully covered by solar panels, stands out. This is the renovated Muang Xay High School, a supporting livelihood project that was officially handed over to the Lao side in March of this year. "Previously, the school's teaching equipment was damaged, and even the blackboards were cracked and aged," said Chomphan Panyasak, the school's principal. Now, not only have all facilities been renovated, but the solar panels on the roof have also effectively reduced the school's electricity costs and daily operating expenses. "Students can directly learn about green energy during their studies," he added.
The project team has also repaired and reinforced five roads and bridges in Muang Xay, constructed a new operating room and donated medical equipment to the hospital in Muang Sing District, Luang Namtha Province, and advanced the renovation and construction of the Kiaojao Primary School and the Matzu Village Office in Oudomxay Province. Summarizing the team's work, Souvanna Mahavong Sanan stated, "This deep level of cooperation between Laos and China not only promotes Laos' energy transition but also effectively improves the local industrial ecosystem, truly achieving mutual benefit and win-win outcomes for both countries."
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