Bhutan Energy Situation
Capital:
Thimphu
Region:
Coordinates:
27.4170° N, 90.4350° E
Total Area (km²): It includes a country's total area, including areas under inland bodies of water and some coastal waterways.
38,390
Population: It is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin.
786,385 (2023)
Rural Population (% of total population): It refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.
56 (2023)
GDP (current US$): It is the sum of gross value added by all resident producers in the economy plus any product taxes and minus any subsidies not included in the value of the products. It is calculated without making deductions for depreciation of fabricated assets or for depletion and degradation of natural resources.
2,898,227,743 (2022)
GDP Per Capita (current US$): It is gross domestic product divided by midyear population
3,711.33 (2022)
Access to Electricity (% of population): It is the percentage of population with access to electricity.
100.00 (2022)
Energy Imports Net (% of energy use): It is estimated as energy use less production, both measured in oil equivalents. A negative value indicates that the country is a net exporter. Energy use refers to use of primary energy before transformation to other end-use fuels, which is equal to indigenous production plus imports and stock changes, minus exports and fuels supplied to ships and aircraft engaged in international transport.
no data
Fossil Fuel Energy Consumption (% of total): It comprises coal, oil, petroleum, and natural gas products.
0.00 (2007)
Introduction
Bhutan is blessed with hydropower resources and have an estimated potential of 30,000 MW and 120 TWH mean annual energy generation indicating an average development potential of 781 kW in a square kilometer of area of land (catchment)(UN Studies). However so far, Bhutan has been able to harness only 1.6% of its total capacity.
Bhutan is working in close cooperation with its neighbouring country India to harness its hydropower.[1]
Energy Situation
Renewable Energy
Bhutan relies heavily on hydropower. Yet the country could diversify its energy mix with other renewable energy technologies (solar, wind and modern bioenergy).[2]
Key actions for Bhutan to scale up its use of renewables include:
- Strengthening existing policy and regulatory framework for renewables;
- Livelihood enhancement through a more diverse energy mix, including solar, wind and modern bioenergy solutions;
- Interventions to promote renewable based heat and transport;
- Capacity building, skills enhancement and awareness programmes.[2]
Fossil Fuels
Key Problems of the Energy Sector
Policy Framework, Laws and Regulations
Institutional Set up in the Energy Sector
Other Key Actors / Activities of Donors, Implementing Agencies, Civil Society Organisations
Further Information
- IRENA 2019: https://www.irena.org/publications/2019/Dec/Renewables-Readiness-Assessment-Kingdom-of-Bhutan
