Laos, Australia: Deploying renewable energy and creating new connections

VIENTIANE – Laos, Australia: Deploying renewable energy – creating new connections

Renewable Energy Day in Laos and Australia discussed technological and economic opportunities, heard from the private sector on new ideas, discussed ways to increase investment and gathered diverse voices on the role of women and marginalized groups in the energy transition.

The event was addressed by Director General Chantho Milattanapheng from the Energy Efficiency and Promotion Department of the Ministry of Energy and Mines, who outlined Laos’ ambitious plans to unlock renewable energy such as wind and solar power, pumped hydro storage and green hydrogen.

This successful one-day event was convened by the Australian Embassy in Laos and delivered by EnergyLab, Partnerships for Infrastructure and AustCham.

The event included presentations from a range of experts, including Australia’s CSIRO and the Australian National University.

Local Laos companies presented opportunities and challenges for the private sector in clean energy, and international experts such as the International Finance Corporation and the Global Green Growth Initiative discussed opportunities to increase access to finance.

“Renewable energy is a great opportunity for Laos, providing new jobs, new investment and new export opportunities,” said Dan Heldon, Australia’s deputy ambassador to Lao PDR.

“Maximizing the potential of renewable energy in an equitable and rapid way requires deep collaboration between government, development partners, communities and the private sector, and that is what we wanted to achieve with this event.”

The day also highlighted that Laos is already pursuing an inclusive energy transition and discussed opportunities to increase this ambition.

“Renewable energy can help provide new sources of income, unlock new business opportunities and provide employment opportunities for young people and women, so it is critical that equity and resilience are at the heart of the energy transition,” said Dean Rizzetti, chief policy officer at Laboratorium Energy.

As part of the event, three leading Lao organizations were recognized for their leadership through clean energy awards.

“The winners of the Clean Energy Awards demonstrate how companies are already using renewable energy to improve outcomes for Lao businesses and Lao people,” said David Ormsby, executive director of AustCham Lao.

Local passenger transport app Loca received the Clean Energy Technology Award for its success in using its app to increase the use of electric vehicles in Laos and helping establish an electric vehicle charging network.

SNV received the Inclusive Energy Award for its clean cooking stove program.

The SNV program aims to support the adoption of clean cooking technologies in Laos, with the goal of reaching 600,000 people with sustainable, clean cooking solutions by December 2025.

MyBanLao was also recognized as runner-up in the Clean Energy Technology Award, highlighting its pioneering success in harnessing solar energy at its hotel in Luang Prabang.

We invite you to an interview with all winners of the Clean Energy awards.

More than 140 participants from government, academia, the private sector and civil society gathered on Monday to create a shared understanding of the significant and diverse ways in which renewable energy can move Laos towards achieving its economic, social and environmental goals.