A China-developed solar power project, the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia, has officially begun grid-connected operation in Laos on Tuesday, marking a major step forward in regional clean energy cooperation.

The project, developed by China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN), is part of the northern Laos interconnection clean energy base. With an installed capacity of 1 gigawatt in its first phase, it is also Laos' first large-scale mountainous photovoltaic project, according to China Media Group (CMG).

Once fully operational, the project is expected to generate about 1.65 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. This will help save approximately 500,000 tonnes of standard coal and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by around 1.3 million tonnes each year.

According to Wang Yang, head of the production and operations department of CGN Energy International's Laos unit, the station is equipped with about 2.23 million solar panels. Leveraging the China-Laos 500-kilovolt interconnection line, the project enables cross-border power connectivity, supplying stable and clean electricity to Laos while supporting regional energy complementarity.

The project has also boosted industrial cooperation, involving more than 40 Chinese enterprises across the new energy manufacturing and construction supply chain, as well as over 30 local Lao companies in construction, machinery supply and raw materials.

Looking ahead, CGN plans to accelerate additional clean energy projects across five northern provinces in Laos, while expanding into central and southern markets, further deepening China-Laos energy cooperation and connectivity.