Lam Takong Pumped Storage Hydropower Plant

Open Days: Tuesday - Sunday

Opening Hours: 09:00 - 17:00, Closed On Mondays And Public Holidays

 

Lam Takong Pumped Storage Hydropower Plant in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, officially known by its royally granted name Lam Takong Jolabha Vadhana Power Plant, is one of Thailand’s most important energy-learning destinations. Located in the Lam Takong Dam area of Khlong Phai Subdistrict, Sikhio District, the power plant is closely connected with Lam Takong Reservoir, the upper reservoir on Khao Yai Thiang, EGAT Learning Center Lam Takong and the Khao Yai Thiang wind turbine area. This site is not merely a power-generation facility. It is a place where visitors can understand how modern electricity systems work, especially the pumped-storage hydropower concept, which acts like a large-scale water battery for the national power system.

 

The core idea of Lam Takong Pumped Storage Hydropower Plant is simple to understand but technically sophisticated. During periods of low electricity demand, usually from night to morning, surplus electricity in the power system is used to pump water from the existing Lam Takong Reservoir, operated by the Royal Irrigation Department, up to the upper reservoir on Khao Yai Thiang. When electricity demand rises, particularly during daytime and evening peak periods, the same volume of water is released back down through turbines and generators to produce electricity before returning to Lam Takong Reservoir. This cycle helps strengthen grid stability because the plant can support the system when demand is high.

 

A pumped-storage power plant is especially important in an era of increasing renewable energy. Wind and solar power are clean but naturally variable. When the sun is not shining or wind speed changes, the electricity system needs flexible support. Lam Takong Jolabha Vadhana Power Plant stores energy in the form of elevated water and converts it back into electricity when needed. This makes it a major asset for balancing electricity supply and demand, particularly in northeastern Thailand, where electricity use has grown along with population, industry and regional development.

 

The project’s background reflects the growing need for electricity in Thailand’s Northeast. The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, or EGAT, selected pumped-storage hydropower technology for the region as the first project of its kind in the country. The Cabinet approved the Lam Takong pumped-storage project for Units 1 - 4 on 15 February 1994. The project was built to generate supplemental power during peak demand periods and was completed with electricity supplied to the system in 2004. Later, the plant received the royally granted name “Lam Takong Jolabha Vadhana,” meaning that Lam Takong is a place where light is developed through water.

 

The most remarkable engineering feature of the plant is that it is Thailand’s first and only underground pumped-storage hydropower plant. The underground powerhouse is located approximately 350 meters below the ground surface. Placing the powerhouse underground increases the effective head between the upper reservoir and the generating units, allowing the descending water to drive the turbines efficiently. Visitors do not see the entire power plant from the surface, because its most important machinery is hidden deep underground. What can be clearly seen above ground are the upper reservoir, the learning center, the wind turbines and the surrounding mountain landscape.

 

The upper reservoir on Khao Yai Thiang is a key component of the pumped-storage system. It stores water pumped up from Lam Takong Reservoir during low-demand periods. When electricity demand rises, the stored water is released downward through high-pressure waterways to the underground powerhouse. From the viewpoint near Khao Yai Thiang, visitors can see a large reservoir on high ground surrounded by mountains and white wind turbines. This view makes the system easier to understand: water is stored high above the lower reservoir and used when the power system needs additional electricity.

 

Lam Takong Jolabha Vadhana Power Plant has a contracted generating capacity of 1,000 megawatts, with four units of 250 megawatts each. This scale allows the plant to support the electricity system during important demand periods. The plant is not designed to operate exactly like a baseload power plant that runs continuously all day. Instead, it is used strategically to provide flexible generation when the grid needs support. This is what makes pumped-storage hydropower different from conventional hydropower. It is not only about flowing water, but about the deliberate management of energy, timing and water storage.

 

For visitors, it is important to understand that the power plant’s operating areas are not ordinary walk-in tourist areas. The underground powerhouse, machinery zones, waterway systems and control areas are part of critical electricity infrastructure and require strict safety measures. Those who wish to visit the technical areas must contact EGAT in advance and obtain permission. General visitors should begin at EGAT Learning Center Lam Takong, located at 301 Moo 6, Khlong Phai Subdistrict, Sikhio District. The learning center is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00 to 17:00, and is closed on Mondays and public holidays.

 

EGAT Learning Center Lam Takong serves as the main public gateway to understanding the power plant. The center presents exhibitions about electricity generation, renewable energy, pumped-storage hydropower, wind power and advanced energy-storage systems. Through interactive displays, games, special theater experiences and educational activities, visitors can learn how electricity is produced, transmitted and managed. The center is suitable for students, families, energy professionals, tourists and anyone interested in clean energy and the future of Thailand’s power system.

 

The exhibition route is designed to guide visitors from basic electricity concepts to modern energy technologies. Visitors can learn about the Lam Takong energy landscape, the underground pumped-storage plant, wind turbines, solar energy, hydrogen-hybrid storage systems, fuel management and the relationship between local communities and the Lam Takong watershed. This makes a complex subject more accessible. Instead of seeing electricity as something abstract, visitors can connect it with water, wind, mountains, machines and people.

 

Khao Yai Thiang, located near the learning center, is one of the most popular viewpoints connected with the plant. Visitors often go there to see the large wind turbines, the upper reservoir and the panoramic view of Lam Takong Reservoir below. The area offers wide views of mountains, roads, water and wind-energy infrastructure. Popular activities include photography, cycling around the reservoir, visiting community shops and relaxing at local cafés. Seeing the upper reservoir in person helps visitors understand the physical scale of the pumped-storage system.

 

The Khao Yai Thiang wind turbines are major landmarks in the area. These large white turbines are visible from the Mittraphap Road area and have become one of the best-known symbols of clean energy in Nakhon Ratchasima. When visitors stand near the turbines, they can appreciate the size of wind-power technology and the strength of the wind on the ridge. The turbines also help visitors understand how wind power can be integrated with hydropower and energy-storage systems in a modern electricity network.

 

The Lam Takong area is also associated with hydrogen-hybrid energy-storage technology. Energy from wind turbines can be used to produce hydrogen, which can then be paired with fuel cells to produce electricity when needed. This demonstrates how renewable energy can be stored and used more reliably. As a result, Lam Takong is not only a pumped-storage hydropower site, but also a learning landscape for future energy systems, where water, wind and storage technologies can be seen as part of one larger idea.

 

From a travel perspective, the power plant and the learning center can be visited as a half-day or full-day educational route. A typical visit can begin at EGAT Learning Center Lam Takong, continue to the upper reservoir and the Khao Yai Thiang wind turbines, and end with a meal at a local restaurant near Lam Takong Reservoir or a café with mountain views. This route combines knowledge, engineering, scenery and local tourism. It is particularly suitable for families, school groups, study tours and travelers who prefer meaningful destinations.

 

The site is highly suitable for children and students because it shows that electricity is not produced magically. It requires planning, generation systems, transmission systems, control systems and careful resource management. Students can understand terms such as peak demand, energy storage, renewable energy and pumped-storage hydropower through a real example of water being pumped uphill and released downhill to generate electricity. Learning on-site makes the subject clearer and more memorable than reading from a textbook alone.

 

For adults and industry visitors, Lam Takong Jolabha Vadhana Power Plant is an important example of energy infrastructure that supports regional economic development. A plant that can provide supplemental electricity during peak demand helps improve electricity security for industries, businesses and households. This is especially relevant to northeastern Thailand, where cities, transport routes, production activities and services have continued to expand. The plant therefore contributes not only to energy supply but also to the region’s long-term development.

 

The surrounding landscape also makes the destination memorable. From Khao Yai Thiang, visitors can see Lam Takong Reservoir below, the Mittraphap Road corridor, the highland edge, white wind turbines and the upper reservoir. This combination of infrastructure and nature creates a rare landscape where technology and scenery are visible together. The destination is therefore suitable for both science-based travel and scenic tourism.

 

The best time to visit the learning center is during its opening hours from morning to afternoon. Visitors should allow at least one to two hours for the exhibitions. Additional time is recommended for the wind turbine area, the upper reservoir and nearby viewpoints. Late afternoon is especially pleasant for photography on Khao Yai Thiang because the light is softer and the view over Lam Takong Reservoir becomes more atmospheric. Groups should make reservations in advance so that the visit can be arranged properly.

 

Getting There is most convenient by private car. From Nakhon Ratchasima city, take Mittraphap Road toward Sikhio and Pak Chong, then enter Khlong Phai Subdistrict and follow signs to EGAT Learning Center Lam Takong or Khao Yai Thiang wind turbines. From Bangkok, travel through Saraburi, Muak Lek and Pak Chong before reaching the Lam Takong area. The road up to Khao Yai Thiang is paved but has curves and slopes, so careful driving is necessary, especially on weekends and holidays.

 

Travelers using public transport should first reach Sikhio, Pak Chong or a nearby point on Mittraphap Road, then continue by local vehicle or hired transport to the learning center and Khao Yai Thiang. Private transport is more practical because the attractions, restaurants and accommodations are spread across the hill and reservoir area. Travelers planning to stay overnight can choose accommodations in Khao Yai Thiang, Sikhio, Pak Chong or Khao Yai, depending on their travel route.

 

Visitors should clearly distinguish public learning areas from operational power plant areas. EGAT Learning Center Lam Takong is open to the public according to its operating schedule, while the underground powerhouse, machinery areas, waterways and control zones are restricted areas. Visitors should follow staff instructions, dress appropriately, avoid photographing restricted areas and never enter operational zones without permission.

 

For photography, good public areas include the front of EGAT Learning Center Lam Takong, the wind turbine viewpoints, the upper reservoir area, community shops and approved viewpoints overlooking Lam Takong Reservoir. Popular photo angles include wind turbines against the sky, the upper reservoir with mountains behind it, Lam Takong Reservoir from above and the modern architecture of the learning center. Visitors should avoid climbing barriers, standing near unsafe edges or using drones without permission.

 

Overall, Lam Takong Pumped Storage Hydropower Plant is one of Nakhon Ratchasima’s most valuable educational attractions. It helps visitors understand the relationship between water, mountains, electricity, renewable energy, underground engineering and national development. Together with EGAT Learning Center Lam Takong, Khao Yai Thiang wind turbines, the upper reservoir and Lam Takong Reservoir viewpoints, the destination offers both knowledge and scenery. It is an excellent place to understand the future of Thailand’s energy system through a real site where technology and landscape work together.

 

 

A: It is located in the Lam Takong Dam area of Khlong Phai Subdistrict, Sikhio District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. The main public visitor point is EGAT Learning Center Lam Takong.

 

A: General visitors can visit EGAT Learning Center Lam Takong during its operating hours. Access to the underground powerhouse and operational zones requires advance permission from EGAT.

 

A: The learning center is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00 to 17:00, and is closed on Mondays and public holidays.

 

A: Admission to the learning center is free. Group visits and restricted technical areas require advance reservation or permission.

 

A: During low-demand periods, electricity is used to pump water from Lam Takong Reservoir to the upper reservoir on Khao Yai Thiang. During high-demand periods, the water is released back down through turbines to generate electricity.

 

A: It is Thailand’s first and only underground pumped-storage hydropower plant, located about 350 meters below the ground surface, with a contracted generating capacity of 1,000 MW.

 

A: Nearby places include EGAT Learning Center Lam Takong, the upper reservoir on Khao Yai Thiang, Khao Yai Thiang wind turbines, Khao Yai Thiang viewpoint, Lam Takong Dam and Wat Khao Yai Thiang Tai.

 

A: Visitors should follow staff instructions, avoid restricted power plant areas, drive carefully on the hill road, avoid unsafe viewpoints and not use drones in controlled areas without permission.