Improving Power Sector Planning in Lower Mekong Countries

This includes technical and economic potential, RE zones, and grid integration studies. The initiative focuses on collecting and documenting data, identifying tools, supporting RE analysis and planning, and increasing stakeholders' understanding of planning for higher levels of renewable energy. Key areas of focus for the initiative include solar, wind, biomass, and hydro energy. Renewable energy data is collected and documented, and tools are identified to support RE analysis and planning. The initiative also supports the development of energy sector and climate change strategic plans, as well as the analysis of policy questions related to energy access, rural electrification, and energy security. For project developers, the initiative provides support for project feasibility studies, site selection for utility-scale solar, wind, and other RE technologies, and a no-cost, web-based decision-making tool. The initiative has several expected outcomes, including the development of energy sector and climate change strategic plans, the analysis of policy questions related to energy access, rural electrification, and energy security, and the support of project feasibility studies and site selection for utility-scale solar, wind, and other RE technologies. The initiative also aims to build capacity to plan for increased renewable energy, including the evaluation of readiness to plan for generation and transmission requirements to integrate higher levels of renewable energy. Country-specific initiatives are also underway, with a focus on Thailand, Lao PDR, Cambodia, and Vietnam. In these countries, the initiative is working to conduct grid integration studies, designate or establish RE zones, and improve understanding of RE data and tools for planning. The initiative is also assessing how countries set RE targets and develop power development plans, including data, tools, processes, and resources used.