Nam Ngum 2 is a 735 MW hydro power station in Vientiane, Laos. It is operated by Electricite Du Laos [25%]; South East Asia Energy [75%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 736k homes (estimated). It ranks #6 of 26 Laos power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2011, it is around 15 years old — relatively modern. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, hydro supplies about 76.5% 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 WRI1001059.
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
Capacity and fuel are the upstream open-dataset record, not yet matched to a 2026 registry or GEM entry.
capacity: WRI GPPD; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 735 MW, Nam Ngum 2 is well above the median hydro plant in Laos (44 MW). Technically it is described as conventional storage. Hydropower converts the energy of falling or flowing water into electricity; output depends on rainfall and reservoir level, and large dams also provide grid balancing and storage.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Share of Laos hydro capacity
- 23.6% of 3,109 MW across 19 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 6 of 11 dated hydro 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 hydro plants in Laos
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Electricite Du Laos [25%]; South East Asia Energy [75%].
Local climate & thermal context
This hydro plant converts the energy of falling or flowing water through hydro turbines. It sits in a humid subtropical (dry winter) climate (Köppen Cwa) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 19.3°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
Heating degree-days here run 94% below the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.
Climate heat-demand index: 16/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
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 hydro power plant of 19 in Laos by capacity.
Laos has 19 hydro power plants in this dataset, together about 3,109 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Nam Samoy · Hydro · 5 MW · Vientiane
- Nam Sana · Hydro · 14 MW · Vientiane
- Nam Pha Gnai · Hydro · 19.2 MW · Vientiane
- Nam Ngiep 3A · Hydro · 44 MW · Xiangkhoang
- Nam Lik 1-2 · Hydro · 100 MW · Vientiane
- Nam Phan power station · Coal · 660 MW · Xiangkhouang
Location
Coordinates 19.3394, 102.6107 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Nam Ngum 2?
Nam Ngum 2 is a 735 MW hydro power plant in Vientiane, Laos, commissioned in 2011.
Who operates Nam Ngum 2?
Nam Ngum 2 is operated by Electricite Du Laos [25%]; South East Asia Energy [75%].