Eia battery storage Bhutan

Why is Bhutan not able to secure its energy requirement?

Despite availability of diverse source of clean energy resources in excess of national demand, both in terms of potential and installed capacity, Bhutan has not been able to secure its energy requirement, especially in lean season. Bhutan imports power every winter months, when the demand is at peak and generation is at lowest point.

Does Bhutan import electricity?

Bhutan has regularly imported electricity during the lean season with the import quantum progressing substantially in the recent years. Commencing 2022 (January to March), Bhutan has resorted to purchasing power from the neighboring energy exchange, and the import is likely to grow in the coming years.

Why do we need a renewable base in Bhutan?

Recently, the need to expand renewable base in Bhutan's energy system has felt strongly, firstly to diversify the energy sources for enhancing energy security, and secondly, because of an unequivocal consensus from the global climate scientists about the potential threat on the energy resources, particularly hydropower due to climate change.

Is biomass a source of electricity in Bhutan?

Traditional biomass – the burning of charcoal, crop waste, and other organic matter – is not included. This can be an important source in lower-income settings. Bhutan: How much of the country’s electricity comes from nuclear power? Nuclear power – alongside renewables – is a low-carbon source of electricity.

Which fuel is considered a mainstream fuel in Bhutan?

Contextualizing into Bhutan's energy context, four different types of fuels (renewable, coal, oil, gas in the form of LPG) have been considered as mainstream fuels as there is no nuclear and other renewable energy (geothermal, etc.) in the current institutional arrangement.

Does Bhutan have oil & gas reserves?

Fossil fuel (coal, oil, gas) reserves Bhutan has very modest amount of coal resource with an estimated reserve of 1.96 million tons, which is expected to last until 2028 with an average annual extraction rate of 4.6%, and Bhutan does not have any oil and gas reserves, nor does it have processing and refinery plant (Department of Energy, 2009).