VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN): The Lao government and shareholders in Nam Theun 2 hydropower plant have agreed to develop Nam Theun 2-Solar, which is claimed to be the world's largest hybrid floating solar project.
With an installed capacity of 240 megawatt peak (MWp), the solar project will be built on the reservoir of Nam Theun 2.
The Lao government and French energy supplier Electricite de France (EDF) signed a Project Development Agreement in Lao capital Vientiane on Monday (July 12) to kick off development of the project in Khammuan province, some 250km southeast of Lao capital Vientiane.
The project developers, led by EDF in partnership with the Lao Holding State Enterprise (LHSE) and the Electricity Generating Public Company (EGCO) of Thailand, are targeting the start of construction in 2022 and the operation to begin in 2024.
The solar-powered venture is expected to be the largest hybrid floating solar project in the world, covering an area of 3.2sq km, which is less than one pe rcent of the reservoir's area at full supply level, according to the Nam Theun 2 Power Company.
"The Nam Theun-2 Solar project will provide clean, safe, reliable and competitive electricity, with no major environmental or social impact, " said Jean-Philippe Buisson, EDF's Vice President for Asia.
"The water saver concept, which allows the transformation of variable solar energy into additional and stable hydroelectricity, is an innovation to generate renewable electricity in a more reliable manner, " he said.
The Project Development Agreement was signed by Deputy Minister for Planning and Investment Khamchan Vongsenboun and the Executive Director of EDF Group in charge of the International Division, Béatrice Buffon.
The signing ceremony, which took place both physically and online, was attended in Vientiane by senior government officials from relevant sectors, along with ambassadors and company representatives.
Beginning commercial operations in 2010, the Nam Theun 2 (1080 MW) hydropower project operates under a public-private partnership.
The Lao government holds a 25 per cent share through the Lao Holding State Enterprise (LHSE), Electricité de France (EDF) holds a 40 per cent share and Electricity Generating Public Company Limited (EGCO) holds a 35 per cent share, under a 25-year concession agreement.
The plant generates 6, 000 GWh annually, providing electricity to the Lao (5 per cent) and Thai (95 per cent) power grids. - Vientiane Times/Asia News Network
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