Solar power in Myanmar has the potential to generate 51,973.8 TWh/year, with an average of over 5 sun hours per day. Even though hydropower is responsible for most electricity production in Myanmar, the country has rich technical solar power potential that is the highest in the
Greater Mekong Subregion; however, in terms of installed capacity Myanmar lags largely behind Thailand and Vietnam. In 2023, solar power contributed 1.65% of the country's total energy mix.
In rural areas, photovoltaics are used for charging batteries and pumping water. 70% of the Myanmar population of live in rural areas.
Myanmar's opened its first
solar power plant
A photovoltaic power station, also known as a solar park, solar farm, or solar power plant, is a large-scale grid-connected photovoltaic power system (PV system) designed for the supply of merchant power. They are different from most building ...
in Minbu,
Magway Division
Magway Region (, ; formerly Magway Division) is an administrative division in central Myanmar. It is the second largest of Myanmar's seven divisions, with an area of . Pa-de Dam (ပဒဲဆည်) is one of the dams in Aunglan Township, Magway ...
, in November 2018.
It can produce as much as 170MW of electricity.
In 2019, the government announced plans to build two solar energy plants—in Myingyan and Wundwin in
Mandalay Division—each to have a generation capacity of 150 MW.
To accelerate the development of solar energy in the country, Myanmar needs to improve renewable energy governance, build an effective regulatory framework for renewable energy and simplify the business environment for investors. As of 2021, Myanmar is not yet a member of the International Renewable Energy Agency (
IRENA), an international organization that facilitates cooperation and promotes the adoption of renewable energy; joining IRENA could help Myanmar receive external support and attract more investment in renewables.
Gallery
File:Myanmar GHI mid-size-map 156x220mm-300dpi v20191015.png, Solar potential map of Myanmar
File:Myanmar Solar Power Project 2020.svg, Planned solar power projects in 2020
File:Myanmar share of electricity production from solar.png, Share of solar in total national electricity production
See also
*
Energy in Myanmar
References
{{Solar power by country
Energy in Myanmar
Myanmar
Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and has ...