The Government of Laos promotes the development of renewable energies as an important component of the national economic development to ensure energy security, sustain socio-economic development, and enhance environmental and social sustainability. The Renewable Energy Development Strategy in Laos was issued in 2011 and it aims to increase the share of renewable energies to 30% of the total energy consumption in 2025. The Theun Hinboun power plant was the first privately developed hydropower project in Laos and has served as a model for how Laos can utilise its hydropower potential in a sustainable way.

The Theun Hinboun power plant (THPC) is situated 200 km east of Vientiane on the Nam Theun river, has been running for more than 20 years. The project was developed in two phases. Production from the first 210 MW project started in 1998. The project was expanded with an additional 290 MW hydropower plant that started operations in 2012. In 2016/2017 the turbines in the original TH Units were replaced with a new and more efficient turbines, bringing the total combined generating capacity of THPC to 525 MW, with much of the water from the new reservoir being used to generate power twice. Partners: EdL Generation Public Company in Laos 60%, GMS Power Public Company Limited in Thailand 20%.