Hongsa is a 1,878 MW coal power station in Nan, Laos. It is operated by Hongsa Power Company Limited. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 2.4 million homes (estimated). It ranks #2 of 26 Laos power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2016, it is around 10 years old — relatively modern. In context, coal supplies about 23.3% of Laos's electricity; the national grid averages 232 gCO₂/kWh (76.7% low-carbon) (2024).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1022391.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000103007; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 1,878 MW, Hongsa is well above the median coal plant in Laos (1,000 MW). Technically it is described as subcritical. Coal plants burn pulverised coal to raise high-pressure steam for a turbine; they run as baseload but are the most carbon-intensive mainstream source and the first targeted for retirement or efficiency retrofits.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Share of Laos coal capacity
- 21.9% of 8,588 MW across 7 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 0 of 7 dated coal plants in Laos are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Capacity vs largest coal plants in Laos
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Hongsa Power Company Limited.
Local climate & thermal context
This coal plant burns coal to raise high-pressure steam that spins a turbine-generator. It sits in a humid subtropical (dry winter) climate (Köppen Cwa) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 19.7°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
This site has effectively no heating season (tropical/equatorial climate), so winter heat loss is not the driver here. The thermal concern shifts to year-round process heat and humidity/heat-driven corrosion of hot equipment.
Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.
Site climate & environmental severity
This site sits in a moderately corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C3 — Medium), with humidity / wetness the leading environmental stress.
Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.
How it compares & nearby plants
The #2 largest coal power plant of 7 in Laos by capacity.
Laos has 7 coal power plants in this dataset, together about 8,588 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Nam Nga · Hydro · 14.5 MW · Louangphabang
- Nam Samoy · Hydro · 5 MW · Vientiane
- Nam Sana · Hydro · 14 MW · Vientiane
- Nam Lik 1-2 · Hydro · 100 MW · Vientiane
- Chiang Rai Solar Power Plant · Solar · 9.5 MW · Chiang Rai
- Nam Long · Hydro · 5 MW · Loungnamtha
Location
Coordinates 19.691, 101.28 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Hongsa?
Hongsa is a 1,878 MW coal power plant in Nan, Laos, commissioned in 2016.
Who operates Hongsa?
Hongsa is operated by Hongsa Power Company Limited.