Asia's Initial Cross-Border Wind Energy Project Boosts Capacity to 600 Megawatts
The Duke Energy Wind Power Project, developed and operated by Duke Energy Wind Power Company Limited, has officially commenced commercial operation on August 22, 2025, four months ahead of schedule. This significant milestone, located in southern Laos, marks the first wind farm in the country and the first renewable energy project in Asia to transmit power internationally.
The project, with a capacity of 600 MW, is the largest onshore wind installation in Southeast Asia and reshapes expectations for the region's power sector by moving beyond single-country, single-technology reliance. Nat Hutanuwatr, Managing Director of Duke Energy Wind Power, hailed this as a proud and historic moment for the company, partners, and the windy region.
Construction of the Duke Energy Wind Power Project was completed without resettlement, adhering to international environmental and social safeguard standards. The developers have committed $1.1 million annually for community development, including scholarships, mobile health services, and coffee-based livelihood programs.
The consortium behind the project includes Impact Electrons Siam, ACEN from the Philippines, BCPG and STP&I from Thailand, Mitsubishi Corporation and its subsidiary Diamond Generating Asia, and Lao-based SMP Consultation. Financing was secured from a coalition of regional and global lenders including the Asian Development Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Export-Import Bank of Thailand, Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Kasikornbank, and Siam Commercial Bank.
The Duke Energy Wind Power Project took 14 years to be completed, as noted by Chairwoman Paradai Suebma. The project's construction was handled by PowerChina, while Envision Energy supplied the turbines.
The Duke Energy Wind Power Project is significant for global ESG and climate finance leaders as it shows that shared infrastructure can anchor the energy transition in Asia's fast-growing economies. It strengthens the case for cross-border renewables as bankable assets for investors and diversifies Laos' energy mix beyond hydropower, providing Vietnam with a stable inflow of clean power at a time of surging demand.
Moreover, the project is expected to avoid 1.3 million tonnes of CO2 annually, contributing directly to climate commitments under the Paris Agreement. The broad alignment of private developers and public lenders reflects rising confidence in cross-border clean energy infrastructure and its role in delivering stable returns alongside climate benefits.
The Duke Energy Wind Power Project provides a replicable template for future ASEAN initiatives in renewable energy, attracting investment, balancing grids, and accelerating decarbonization in Southeast Asia's power sector. However, there is no information in the search results about which international financing institutions supported Duke Energy Wind Power Company Limited in realizing its wind power project.
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