Cambodia Investment Review
Cambodia’s renewable energy outlook was featured in Dialogue Earth’s Explainer: How mainland Southeast Asia is incorporating wind power, which charted the progress of five countries in their pursuit of more wind power capacity. The report highlights Cambodia’s cautious but growing steps toward integrating wind energy into its power mix.
According to the explainer, authorities approved six wind power projects in Mondulkiri province in May 2025, each with a 150-megawatt (MW) allocation. The first to move ahead is HK Oasis Power’s 150MW wind farm, expected to come online in 2026. Another key project is the 100MW wind farm developed by Singapore’s Blue Circle in partnership with Cambodia’s Royal Group, already known for its role in the Lower Sesan 2 hydropower project.
Read More: The Blue Circle $140M Pilot Wind Project Uncertain As Stalemate Continues With Edc
These projects are intended to strengthen Cambodia’s grid during the dry season when hydropower production falters. A 2023 World Bank survey cited in the explainer noted that 43% of Cambodian firms had experienced electricity outages, underscoring the urgency for diversified energy sources.
Community and environmental concerns
While these wind farms are seen as a boost to Cambodia’s non-hydro renewable capacity, Dialogue Earth noted they have raised questions about environmental and social impacts. Mondulkiri’s Indigenous Bunong residents have expressed concern over potential effects on livelihoods, while companies such as SchneiTec Co are constructing transmission lines through sensitive areas including the Prey Lang wildlife sanctuary.
Previous attempts to establish large-scale wind power in Cambodia have faced setbacks. A Blue Circle project in Kampot was cancelled in 2021 due to a tariff dispute with state-run Electricite du Cambodge, illustrating the challenges of pricing and integration into the national grid.
Limited role in Cambodia’s long-term energy plan
Despite these new project approvals, the explainer observes that Cambodia’s Power Development Plan up to 2040 still assigns only a marginal role to wind power compared with solar. The country’s wind potential is comparatively lower than its Southeast Asian neighbours, and hydropower remains the dominant renewable source.
The International Energy Agency reported that as of 2022, just 10.5% of Cambodia’s renewable energy came from solar, while the majority came from hydropower. With a 10-year moratorium on Mekong mainstream dam construction in place since 2020, the push for wind and solar projects is seen as increasingly critical for energy security.
