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Energy in Bhutan

Energy in Bhutan has been a primary focus of development in the kingdom under its Five-Year Plans. In cooperation with India, Bhutan has undertaken several hydroelectric projects whose output is traded between the countries. Though Bhutan's many hydroelectric plants provide energy far in excess of its needs in the summer, dry winters and increased fuel demand makes the kingdom a marginal net importer of energy from India.[1][2]

Bhutan electricity production

Bhutan’s installed power generation capacity is approximately 1.6 gigawatts (GW).[3] Over 99 percent of the country's installed capacity comes from hydropower plants, accounting for 1,614 megawatts (MW) of the country’s total capacity of 1,623 MW in 2018.[3]

More than 99.97 percent of households have access to electricity.[4] As of 2011, the Bhutanese government supplied electricity to 60 percent of rural households,[1] a significant increase from about 20 percent in 2003.[5][6] About 2,500 people use solar power throughout Bhutan.[1] Even where electricity was available for lighting, most rural households cooked by wood fire. Rural homes were often heated with firewood, kerosene, or liquefied petroleum gas.[7]

Bhutan has no natural petroleum or natural gas reserves.[8] The kingdom has some 1.3 million tonnes of coal reserves, but extracts only about 1,000 tonnes of coal yearly, entirely for domestic consumption. Bhutan also imports oil at some 1,000 barrels per day.[5] Most oil imports supplied fuel for automobiles.[9]

Bhutan remains overall carbon-neutral and a net sink for greenhouse gases.[10][11][12] As Bhutan develops and modernizes, however, its domestic demand for energy in household, commercial, and industrial sectors has been steadily increasing.[13]

Government agencies and operations edit

Until 2002, Bhutan's energy sector was overseen by the Department of Power under the Ministry of Trade and Industry. In 2002, reforms in the executive body, the Lhengye Zhungtshog, produced three new agencies under the Ministry of Economic Affairs: the Department of Energy, its subsidiary Bhutan Electricity Authority,[14] and the Bhutan Power Corporation. While the Department of Energy formulates policy, planning, and coordination, the Bhutan Electricity Authority is the main regulatory agency of the energy sector. Since 2006, the Electricity Authority has had the ability to impose differential tariff structures on low, medium, and high voltage consumers.[2]

Through 2011, the Bhutan Power Corporation remained a publicly held corporation, comprising about 9 percent of the nation's civil service, though its long-term goals included privatization.[15] In December, 2009, Bhutan Power Corporation had 91,770 customers across the country, out of which 47,846 were rural domestic users.[1] It planned and built hydroelectric plants under a licensure scheme regulating the size and output of projects.[16]

In January 2008, the government amalgamated its three wholly owned hydroelectric companies—Chukha Hydro Power Corporation, Basochhu Hydro Power Corporation, and Kurichhu Hydro Power Corporation—into Druk Green Power Corporation.[2] In addition to its first three plants, Druk Green assumed control of Tala Hydropower Plant in 2009.[17] Druk Green operates as a holding company to oversee and accelerate hydropower and alternative energy development.[2]

Both the Bhutan Power Corporation and Druk Green are owned by Druk Holding and Investments,[18][19] which exercises oversight in the investment and development activities of the energy companies.[20] Both companies faced decreased profit margins largely because of losses due to increased energy price on repurchase from India.[21][22]

Production and consumption edit

In the early 21st century, about 70 percent of all energy consumption in Bhutan was in the household sector.[5] Heating and cooking with firewood in particular accounted for between 70 and 90 percent of total energy consumption and virtually 100 percent of household energy consumption.[23] In contrast, commercial activities in Bhutan were fueled mostly by hydroelectricity (about 97 percent), some fossil-fuel based thermal power (about 3 percent), and a minimal amount of other fossil fuels.[2][9] As a result, Bhutan sold much of its hydroelectricity to India during summer months.

To date, the Bhutanese electric energy supply has been virtually entirely hydroelectric. Due to the vulnerability of the water supply amid climate change, the Bhutanese government began exploring alternative energies such as solar, wind, and biogas in the early 21st century.[24] Climate change also poses risks to Bhutan as the country could suffer weather extremes causing more floods, intense monsoons, and glacier dam bursts in the summer and drought in the winter.[25]

Hydropower plants edit

Bhutan's installed hydropower capacity stands at 1,615 megawatts as of 2016, out of an estimated hydropower potential of 30,000 megawatts (23,760 megawatts of which is considered technologically and economically feasible).[26][27] Hydropower generation drops significantly in the winter due to mountain streams freezing over.[28] On-grid hydropower is the country's main energy source.[29]

Bhutan operates four major hydroelectric facilities, several small and mini hydroelectric generators, and has a handful of further sites in development. Many of the small and mini hydropower plants in Bhutan serve remote villages that remain disconnected from the power grid. Almost all of hydroelectric plants in Bhutan generate power through run-of-the-river hydroelectricity.[30]

Earlier international aid efforts were mostly grants from India, though later projects became majority loan-based.[31] Other sovereign and multinational contributors, including the government of Austria and the Asian Development Bank, have also funded and developed Bhutan's hydroelectric projects. In the early 2010s, Bhutan began to shift its focus to public-private partnerships for future development,[32][33] however the process and requirements have operated to exclude many Bhutanese contracting firms.[34][35]

Chukha Hydropower Project edit

The Chukha Hydropower Project, or Chukha Hydel, was Bhutan's first mega power project. Construction started in the 1970s with commissioning in 1986 and the government assuming full control in 1991. During the summer, the plant generates 336 MW from four turbines off the flow of the Wangchhu river in central Chukha District, between Thimphu and Phuentsholing. The project cost Nu2.46 billion, wholly funded by the Government of India, 60 percent under grants and 40 percent under a fifteen-year loan at 5 percent interest.[36][37] In 2009, two diversion pipes from neighboring rivers were built to make up for the Wangchhu's decreased river flow during dry winter months.[38]

Most of Chukha's energy is exported to West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, and Sikkim. Chukha was the kingdom's greatest source of income until the Tala Hydropower Project was commissioned in 2007. Between 2005 and 2006, Chukha alone contributed over 30 percent to Bhutan's total revenue.[30][36] The plant is operated by Druk Green.

Tala Hydropower Project edit

Tala is a six-turbine conventional penstock hydroelectric facility located a few kilometers downstream from the Chukha plant in Chukha District. Tala has a generative capacity of 1,020 MW, sourced by some 40 kilometers of tunnel and a net drop of 860 meters in elevation. The facility also contains a 92 meter high concrete dam and underground power house. Since full operations began in 2007, it has surpassed Chukha as Bhutan's leading power site. Like Chukha, Tala was wholly financed by India, 60 percent by grant and 40 percent through loans.[30][37] Druk Green assumed control of Tala in April 2009.[39][40]

Kurichhu Hydropower Project edit

The Kurichhu Hydropower Project, located on the Kurichhu river in Mongar District, provides electricity to eight districts (Mongar, Lhuentse, Trashigang, Trashiyangtse, Pemagatshel, Samdrup Jongkhar, Sarpang, and Zhemgang) in eastern Bhutan. Like the Chukha project, Kurichhu was wholly financed by India, 60 percent in grants and 40 percent in loans.[30][37]

The Kurichhu facility consists of a dam, its 1 million cubic meter capacity cement reservoir, and four turbines. The plant became operational on a staggered basis between April 2001 and May 2002. It generates 60 MW of electricity, much of which is exported to India.[30][37] Druk Green operates the Kurichhu plant.

Basochhu Hydropower Project edit

The Basochhu power plants I and II, located near Wangdue Phodrang, were built with Austrian technical and financial assistance. Basochhu I has a capacity of 24 MW and Basochhu II has a capacity of 40MW. The plant is fully computerized. The plant's turbines are powered by water on a fall.[30] Basochhu is operated by Druk Green.

The construction for Basochhu II was started in 1997, and operation began in 2004

Punatsangchhu-I Hydroelectric Project edit

As of September 2014, the 1,200 MW (6 x 200 MW) Punatsangchhu-I project between 7 km and 18.5 km downstream from Wangdue Phodrang Bridge is under construction. It is funded wholly by India, 40 percent by grant and 60 percent by loan. Construction began in November 2009 and completion is expected in 2025.[41]

Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project edit

As of September 2014, the 1,020 MW (6 x 170 MW) Punatsangchhu-II project is under construction. Like other recent projects, it is funded wholly by India, 40 percent by grants and 60 percent by loans. Construction began in 2013 and completion was expected in 2022,[42][43] but it seems to be put on hold.

Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Project edit

The project was conceived and designed by NHPC Ltd. (A Govt. of India Enterprise) and the major works were executed by Indian contractors. The project was commissioned by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) in early August 2019, and was formally inaugurated by the Indian and Bhutanese Prime Ministers on 17 August 2019 from the capital city Thimpu, under the aegis of Bhutan-India Friendship Project.[44][45] Like other recent projects, it is funded wholly by India, 40 percent by grants and 60 percent by loans.[46] The power equipments and electro-mechanical machineries were supplied by BHEL from their various locations in India.

Dagachhu Hydropower Project edit

The 126 MW (CDM) Dagachhu project is located in Dagana District.[47] Construction began in 2009 and the first generator was commissioned in February 2015.[48][49] The Dagachhu plant is the first commercial power generation project in Bhutan.[50]

Other projects edit

Below is a table of other major hydroelectric projects in Bhutan:

Bhutan also operates several small hydroelectric projects, with output capacities ranging between 12 MW and 0.36 MW.[16]

In 2008, there were 24 even smaller mini-macro hydropower plants generating about 4 MW altogether. The largest of these were in Trashigang (Rangjung) and Bumthang (Chhumey).[6][16] Bhutan's first mini-hydroelectric facility was built in 1967 in Thimphu; it operated until 1988.[6] Until the 1970s, Bhutan constructed many other small hydroelectric plants. During the 1970s, Bhutan and India began to partner on larger projects aimed at electrifying larger regions of Bhutan and addressing transnational energy needs.[30]

Alternative energy edit

In the face of climate change and growing energy demands, Bhutan has sought additional energy security through developing its alternative energy sources.[24]

Solar Energy edit

As of 2015 there are approximately 4,600 solar power systems operating in Bhutan, with 2,750 on-grid systems and 1,848 off-grid systems. The development potential is estimated at around 12,000 megawatts.[27]

Solar energy in Bhutan has received direct investment from domestic and international sources. In 2010, Asian Development Bank provided a grant of over USD21 million for electrification of rural homes, aiming to provide power both on-grid and off-grid.[1][51] The Bhutan Power Corporation provided solar electrification training for villagers from rural eastern areas of Bumthang, Lhuentse, Mongar, Pemagatshel, Samdrup Jongkhar, Sarpang, and Wangdue Phodrang Districts[52] Solar powered lighting is also available to many nomads living within protected areas of Bhutan.[53]

Biomass and biogas edit

In order to shift household dependence on firewood, Bhutan began re-exploring biogas development from cow dung.[1] This included a five-year trial program in Chukha, Samtse, Sarpang, and Tsirang Districts from 2011 to 2015. Bhutan had previously explored generating biogas in an identical fashion in the 1980s, but the program was abandoned after failures in training of masons and users, after-sales service, and site follow-up.[7]

Wind energy edit

The theoretical development potential for wind power in Bhutan is an estimated 761 megawatts. Potential is highest at Wangdue Phodrang at 141.7 megawatts and Chukha at 91.8 megawatts.[27]

In 2010, pilot wind turbine programs were implemented to investigate the feasibility of using wind energy to alleviate hydropower drops during the dry winter seasons. It is located at Wangdue Phodrang in the western part of Bhutan.[1][51]

Bhutan launched its first wind turbines in 2016 in Rubesa gewog in Wangdue Phodrang. It consists of two wind turbines with an estimated production capacity of 600 kilowatts.[28]

History edit

Since the late twentieth century, hydroelectric power has been a very important aspect of Bhutan's economic development as a low-cost energy source supporting more capital-intensive industries, such as forestry, mining, and cement and calcium carbide production. Bhutan's steep mountains, deep gorges, and fast-flowing rivers create abundant hydroelectric potential, which the government began to develop in the early 1960s with India's assistance.[54]

During Bhutan's Third Five-Year Plan, public works, still primarily roads, continued to take a significant share of the Nu475.2 million development budget (17.8 percent). Despite amounts budgeted for planned development, there were additional capital expenditures outside the formal development plan, including road construction and hydroelectric plants.[54]

The Sixth Five Year Plan (1987–92) was the first to allot power generation projects a significant portion of the national budget (13.1 percent). At Nu9.5 billion, the sixth plan was considerably more expensive than its predecessors. The goals included strengthening Bhutan's self-reliance, as it was hoped that Bhutan would begin exploiting markets in neighboring countries with manufacturing, mining, and hydroelectric projects. Faced with rising costs, Bhutan postponed some projects requiring large inputs of capital until the Seventh Development Plan (1992–96), which presented no major changes in overall sectoral development.[54]

The first major expansion of hydroelectric facilities started in 1975 on the Wang Chhu between Thimphu and Phuntsholing. Known as the Chukha Hydel Project, it helped boost the nation's fledgling industrial development. The 336-megawatt Chukha Hydropower Station came on line in 1986 and was synchronized with the Indian grid that same year, and additional capacity became available in 1988. The Nu2.44 billion Chukha project was 60 percent paid for by India and budgeted outside the normal development plan process. It was planned that Bhutan would sell at low cost all excess power to West Bengal. At the same cost, Bhutan also hoped to reimport some of that power through the Indian power grid into southern districts. The Chukha project was important not only because it supplied electric power to western and southern districts but also because it provided a major source of income for the government. In 1981 Bhutan generated 22 million kilowatt-hours of energy from hydroelectric sources. The project's gross annual income was projected at Nu380 million in 1989. Another major plant in southwest Bhutan — the 18,000-kilowatt Jaldhaka hydroelectric plant — furnished electricity locally and exported the balance to India's West Bengal. In 1989 nearly 95 percent of Bhutan's government-installed power generation — a total of 355 megawatts — was supplied by Chukha, and a total of some 20 principal towns and 170 villages had been electrified. By 1990 Thimphu's commercial district had an underground cable system for its power supply.[54]

By 1991, besides the Chukha project, government installations included seven mini hydroelectric plants, each averaging 7,350 kilowatt capacity; 12 micro hydroelectric plants, each averaging 340 kilowatts capacity; and 8 diesel-powered generation stations, each averaging 6,000 kilowatts capacity. Because domestic consumption was low (just over 16 megawatts, more than 80 percent of which was consumed by industry), ample power was exported to India. The project not only halved domestic electricity costs, but also generated revenues from electricity sold to India nearly equal to the total government revenue from all domestic sources. Smaller enterprises, such as the 1.5-megawatt Gyetsha Mini-Hydel, which was inaugurated in 1989, brought badly needed power to Bumthang. Another major plant, a proposed 60-megawatt plant at Kurichu in eastern Bhutan, was included in the Sixth Development Plan (1987–92).[54]

Other sources of energy included biogas, used in some districts for lighting and cooking and primarily generated from cow dung. Solar energy was used for a variety of purposes, including heating dwellings and greenhouses and lighting hospitals. Despite the potential solar energy that might be produced, Bhutan's mountainous terrain prevents maximum use. The same mountains are funnels for powerful winds, however, providing another viable renewable energy source. High-technology windmills were installed in Wangude Phodrang in 1987 to produce electricity to run irrigation pumps.[54]

Still another source of fuel in the 1980s was firewood. Although Bhutan had greater access to electric power than they had previously, traditional methods of cooking and heating required readily available fuel. In the mid-1980s, Bhutan produced a coal equivalent of 982,000 tons of wood for fuel per year to meet domestic needs. Some 1.3 million tons of coal reserves are located in the country, but recovery was difficult and the quality was poor.[54]

See also edit

References edit

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  51. ^ a b . Bhutan Observer online. 2010-12-17. Archived from the original on 2012-10-04. Retrieved 2011-11-29.
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  54. ^ a b c d e f g   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Worden, Robert L (1991). Savada, Andrea Matles (ed.). Bhutan: A Country Study. Federal Research Division. Energy.

Further reading edit

  • Sherubtse College (1991). Bhutan and its Natural Resources. Vikas. ISBN 9780706957945.

External links edit

  • "Bhutan Power Corporation". Bhutan Power Corporation. Retrieved 2011-11-29.
  • "Druk Green". Druk Green Power Company Ltd. Retrieved 2011-11-29.
  • "Bhutan's Hydropower Sector: 12 Things to Know". Asian Development Bank. Retrieved 2014-03-19.

energy, bhutan, been, primary, focus, development, kingdom, under, five, year, plans, cooperation, with, india, bhutan, undertaken, several, hydroelectric, projects, whose, output, traded, between, countries, though, bhutan, many, hydroelectric, plants, provid. Energy in Bhutan has been a primary focus of development in the kingdom under its Five Year Plans In cooperation with India Bhutan has undertaken several hydroelectric projects whose output is traded between the countries Though Bhutan s many hydroelectric plants provide energy far in excess of its needs in the summer dry winters and increased fuel demand makes the kingdom a marginal net importer of energy from India 1 2 Bhutan electricity production Bhutan s installed power generation capacity is approximately 1 6 gigawatts GW 3 Over 99 percent of the country s installed capacity comes from hydropower plants accounting for 1 614 megawatts MW of the country s total capacity of 1 623 MW in 2018 3 More than 99 97 percent of households have access to electricity 4 As of 2011 the Bhutanese government supplied electricity to 60 percent of rural households 1 a significant increase from about 20 percent in 2003 5 6 About 2 500 people use solar power throughout Bhutan 1 Even where electricity was available for lighting most rural households cooked by wood fire Rural homes were often heated with firewood kerosene or liquefied petroleum gas 7 Bhutan has no natural petroleum or natural gas reserves 8 The kingdom has some 1 3 million tonnes of coal reserves but extracts only about 1 000 tonnes of coal yearly entirely for domestic consumption Bhutan also imports oil at some 1 000 barrels per day 5 Most oil imports supplied fuel for automobiles 9 Bhutan remains overall carbon neutral and a net sink for greenhouse gases 10 11 12 As Bhutan develops and modernizes however its domestic demand for energy in household commercial and industrial sectors has been steadily increasing 13 Contents 1 Government agencies and operations 2 Production and consumption 2 1 Hydropower plants 2 1 1 Chukha Hydropower Project 2 1 2 Tala Hydropower Project 2 1 3 Kurichhu Hydropower Project 2 1 4 Basochhu Hydropower Project 2 1 5 Punatsangchhu I Hydroelectric Project 2 1 6 Punatsangchhu II Hydroelectric Project 2 1 7 Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Project 2 1 8 Dagachhu Hydropower Project 2 1 9 Other projects 2 2 Alternative energy 2 2 1 Solar Energy 2 2 2 Biomass and biogas 2 2 3 Wind energy 3 History 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksGovernment agencies and operations editUntil 2002 Bhutan s energy sector was overseen by the Department of Power under the Ministry of Trade and Industry In 2002 reforms in the executive body the Lhengye Zhungtshog produced three new agencies under the Ministry of Economic Affairs the Department of Energy its subsidiary Bhutan Electricity Authority 14 and the Bhutan Power Corporation While the Department of Energy formulates policy planning and coordination the Bhutan Electricity Authority is the main regulatory agency of the energy sector Since 2006 the Electricity Authority has had the ability to impose differential tariff structures on low medium and high voltage consumers 2 Through 2011 the Bhutan Power Corporation remained a publicly held corporation comprising about 9 percent of the nation s civil service though its long term goals included privatization 15 In December 2009 Bhutan Power Corporation had 91 770 customers across the country out of which 47 846 were rural domestic users 1 It planned and built hydroelectric plants under a licensure scheme regulating the size and output of projects 16 In January 2008 the government amalgamated its three wholly owned hydroelectric companies Chukha Hydro Power Corporation Basochhu Hydro Power Corporation and Kurichhu Hydro Power Corporation into Druk Green Power Corporation 2 In addition to its first three plants Druk Green assumed control of Tala Hydropower Plant in 2009 17 Druk Green operates as a holding company to oversee and accelerate hydropower and alternative energy development 2 Both the Bhutan Power Corporation and Druk Green are owned by Druk Holding and Investments 18 19 which exercises oversight in the investment and development activities of the energy companies 20 Both companies faced decreased profit margins largely because of losses due to increased energy price on repurchase from India 21 22 Production and consumption editIn the early 21st century about 70 percent of all energy consumption in Bhutan was in the household sector 5 Heating and cooking with firewood in particular accounted for between 70 and 90 percent of total energy consumption and virtually 100 percent of household energy consumption 23 In contrast commercial activities in Bhutan were fueled mostly by hydroelectricity about 97 percent some fossil fuel based thermal power about 3 percent and a minimal amount of other fossil fuels 2 9 As a result Bhutan sold much of its hydroelectricity to India during summer months To date the Bhutanese electric energy supply has been virtually entirely hydroelectric Due to the vulnerability of the water supply amid climate change the Bhutanese government began exploring alternative energies such as solar wind and biogas in the early 21st century 24 Climate change also poses risks to Bhutan as the country could suffer weather extremes causing more floods intense monsoons and glacier dam bursts in the summer and drought in the winter 25 Hydropower plants edit Bhutan s installed hydropower capacity stands at 1 615 megawatts as of 2016 out of an estimated hydropower potential of 30 000 megawatts 23 760 megawatts of which is considered technologically and economically feasible 26 27 Hydropower generation drops significantly in the winter due to mountain streams freezing over 28 On grid hydropower is the country s main energy source 29 Bhutan operates four major hydroelectric facilities several small and mini hydroelectric generators and has a handful of further sites in development Many of the small and mini hydropower plants in Bhutan serve remote villages that remain disconnected from the power grid Almost all of hydroelectric plants in Bhutan generate power through run of the river hydroelectricity 30 Earlier international aid efforts were mostly grants from India though later projects became majority loan based 31 Other sovereign and multinational contributors including the government of Austria and the Asian Development Bank have also funded and developed Bhutan s hydroelectric projects In the early 2010s Bhutan began to shift its focus to public private partnerships for future development 32 33 however the process and requirements have operated to exclude many Bhutanese contracting firms 34 35 Chukha Hydropower Project edit The Chukha Hydropower Project or Chukha Hydel was Bhutan s first mega power project Construction started in the 1970s with commissioning in 1986 and the government assuming full control in 1991 During the summer the plant generates 336 MW from four turbines off the flow of the Wangchhu river in central Chukha District between Thimphu and Phuentsholing The project cost Nu2 46 billion wholly funded by the Government of India 60 percent under grants and 40 percent under a fifteen year loan at 5 percent interest 36 37 In 2009 two diversion pipes from neighboring rivers were built to make up for the Wangchhu s decreased river flow during dry winter months 38 Most of Chukha s energy is exported to West Bengal Bihar Jharkhand Orissa and Sikkim Chukha was the kingdom s greatest source of income until the Tala Hydropower Project was commissioned in 2007 Between 2005 and 2006 Chukha alone contributed over 30 percent to Bhutan s total revenue 30 36 The plant is operated by Druk Green Tala Hydropower Project edit Main article Tala Hydroelectric Power Station Tala is a six turbine conventional penstock hydroelectric facility located a few kilometers downstream from the Chukha plant in Chukha District Tala has a generative capacity of 1 020 MW sourced by some 40 kilometers of tunnel and a net drop of 860 meters in elevation The facility also contains a 92 meter high concrete dam and underground power house Since full operations began in 2007 it has surpassed Chukha as Bhutan s leading power site Like Chukha Tala was wholly financed by India 60 percent by grant and 40 percent through loans 30 37 Druk Green assumed control of Tala in April 2009 39 40 Kurichhu Hydropower Project edit The Kurichhu Hydropower Project located on the Kurichhu river in Mongar District provides electricity to eight districts Mongar Lhuentse Trashigang Trashiyangtse Pemagatshel Samdrup Jongkhar Sarpang and Zhemgang in eastern Bhutan Like the Chukha project Kurichhu was wholly financed by India 60 percent in grants and 40 percent in loans 30 37 The Kurichhu facility consists of a dam its 1 million cubic meter capacity cement reservoir and four turbines The plant became operational on a staggered basis between April 2001 and May 2002 It generates 60 MW of electricity much of which is exported to India 30 37 Druk Green operates the Kurichhu plant Basochhu Hydropower Project edit The Basochhu power plants I and II located near Wangdue Phodrang were built with Austrian technical and financial assistance Basochhu I has a capacity of 24 MW and Basochhu II has a capacity of 40MW The plant is fully computerized The plant s turbines are powered by water on a fall 30 Basochhu is operated by Druk Green The construction for Basochhu II was started in 1997 and operation began in 2004 Punatsangchhu I Hydroelectric Project edit As of September 2014 the 1 200 MW 6 x 200 MW Punatsangchhu I project between 7 km and 18 5 km downstream from Wangdue Phodrang Bridge is under construction It is funded wholly by India 40 percent by grant and 60 percent by loan Construction began in November 2009 and completion is expected in 2025 41 Punatsangchhu II Hydroelectric Project edit As of September 2014 the 1 020 MW 6 x 170 MW Punatsangchhu II project is under construction Like other recent projects it is funded wholly by India 40 percent by grants and 60 percent by loans Construction began in 2013 and completion was expected in 2022 42 43 but it seems to be put on hold Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Project edit The project was conceived and designed by NHPC Ltd A Govt of India Enterprise and the major works were executed by Indian contractors The project was commissioned by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited BHEL in early August 2019 and was formally inaugurated by the Indian and Bhutanese Prime Ministers on 17 August 2019 from the capital city Thimpu under the aegis of Bhutan India Friendship Project 44 45 Like other recent projects it is funded wholly by India 40 percent by grants and 60 percent by loans 46 The power equipments and electro mechanical machineries were supplied by BHEL from their various locations in India Dagachhu Hydropower Project edit The 126 MW CDM Dagachhu project is located in Dagana District 47 Construction began in 2009 and the first generator was commissioned in February 2015 48 49 The Dagachhu plant is the first commercial power generation project in Bhutan 50 Other projects edit Below is a table of other major hydroelectric projects in Bhutan District Site 2 Chukha District several sites in the south Lhuentse District Tangmachhu Mongar District Kilikhar Paro District Chumdo Paro District Waisa Pemagatshel District Nganglam Pemagatshel District Nangkor Samtse District Phuentsholing Samdrup Jongkhar District Deothang Sarpang District Gelephu Thimphu District Olakha two sites Thimphu District Gemina Trashigang District Kanglung Tsirang District Dhalay Wangdue Phodrang District Rurichu Zhemgang District Tingtibi two sites Bhutan also operates several small hydroelectric projects with output capacities ranging between 12 MW and 0 36 MW 16 In 2008 there were 24 even smaller mini macro hydropower plants generating about 4 MW altogether The largest of these were in Trashigang Rangjung and Bumthang Chhumey 6 16 Bhutan s first mini hydroelectric facility was built in 1967 in Thimphu it operated until 1988 6 Until the 1970s Bhutan constructed many other small hydroelectric plants During the 1970s Bhutan and India began to partner on larger projects aimed at electrifying larger regions of Bhutan and addressing transnational energy needs 30 Alternative energy edit See also Renewable energy in Bhutan In the face of climate change and growing energy demands Bhutan has sought additional energy security through developing its alternative energy sources 24 Solar Energy edit As of 2015 there are approximately 4 600 solar power systems operating in Bhutan with 2 750 on grid systems and 1 848 off grid systems The development potential is estimated at around 12 000 megawatts 27 Solar energy in Bhutan has received direct investment from domestic and international sources In 2010 Asian Development Bank provided a grant of over USD21 million for electrification of rural homes aiming to provide power both on grid and off grid 1 51 The Bhutan Power Corporation provided solar electrification training for villagers from rural eastern areas of Bumthang Lhuentse Mongar Pemagatshel Samdrup Jongkhar Sarpang and Wangdue Phodrang Districts 52 Solar powered lighting is also available to many nomads living within protected areas of Bhutan 53 Biomass and biogas edit In order to shift household dependence on firewood Bhutan began re exploring biogas development from cow dung 1 This included a five year trial program in Chukha Samtse Sarpang and Tsirang Districts from 2011 to 2015 Bhutan had previously explored generating biogas in an identical fashion in the 1980s but the program was abandoned after failures in training of masons and users after sales service and site follow up 7 Wind energy edit The theoretical development potential for wind power in Bhutan is an estimated 761 megawatts Potential is highest at Wangdue Phodrang at 141 7 megawatts and Chukha at 91 8 megawatts 27 In 2010 pilot wind turbine programs were implemented to investigate the feasibility of using wind energy to alleviate hydropower drops during the dry winter seasons It is located at Wangdue Phodrang in the western part of Bhutan 1 51 Bhutan launched its first wind turbines in 2016 in Rubesa gewog in Wangdue Phodrang It consists of two wind turbines with an estimated production capacity of 600 kilowatts 28 History editFurther information Five Year Plans of Bhutan Since the late twentieth century hydroelectric power has been a very important aspect of Bhutan s economic development as a low cost energy source supporting more capital intensive industries such as forestry mining and cement and calcium carbide production Bhutan s steep mountains deep gorges and fast flowing rivers create abundant hydroelectric potential which the government began to develop in the early 1960s with India s assistance 54 During Bhutan s Third Five Year Plan public works still primarily roads continued to take a significant share of the Nu475 2 million development budget 17 8 percent Despite amounts budgeted for planned development there were additional capital expenditures outside the formal development plan including road construction and hydroelectric plants 54 The Sixth Five Year Plan 1987 92 was the first to allot power generation projects a significant portion of the national budget 13 1 percent At Nu9 5 billion the sixth plan was considerably more expensive than its predecessors The goals included strengthening Bhutan s self reliance as it was hoped that Bhutan would begin exploiting markets in neighboring countries with manufacturing mining and hydroelectric projects Faced with rising costs Bhutan postponed some projects requiring large inputs of capital until the Seventh Development Plan 1992 96 which presented no major changes in overall sectoral development 54 The first major expansion of hydroelectric facilities started in 1975 on the Wang Chhu between Thimphu and Phuntsholing Known as the Chukha Hydel Project it helped boost the nation s fledgling industrial development The 336 megawatt Chukha Hydropower Station came on line in 1986 and was synchronized with the Indian grid that same year and additional capacity became available in 1988 The Nu2 44 billion Chukha project was 60 percent paid for by India and budgeted outside the normal development plan process It was planned that Bhutan would sell at low cost all excess power to West Bengal At the same cost Bhutan also hoped to reimport some of that power through the Indian power grid into southern districts The Chukha project was important not only because it supplied electric power to western and southern districts but also because it provided a major source of income for the government In 1981 Bhutan generated 22 million kilowatt hours of energy from hydroelectric sources The project s gross annual income was projected at Nu380 million in 1989 Another major plant in southwest Bhutan the 18 000 kilowatt Jaldhaka hydroelectric plant furnished electricity locally and exported the balance to India s West Bengal In 1989 nearly 95 percent of Bhutan s government installed power generation a total of 355 megawatts was supplied by Chukha and a total of some 20 principal towns and 170 villages had been electrified By 1990 Thimphu s commercial district had an underground cable system for its power supply 54 By 1991 besides the Chukha project government installations included seven mini hydroelectric plants each averaging 7 350 kilowatt capacity 12 micro hydroelectric plants each averaging 340 kilowatts capacity and 8 diesel powered generation stations each averaging 6 000 kilowatts capacity Because domestic consumption was low just over 16 megawatts more than 80 percent of which was consumed by industry ample power was exported to India The project not only halved domestic electricity costs but also generated revenues from electricity sold to India nearly equal to the total government revenue from all domestic sources Smaller enterprises such as the 1 5 megawatt Gyetsha Mini Hydel which was inaugurated in 1989 brought badly needed power to Bumthang Another major plant a proposed 60 megawatt plant at Kurichu in eastern Bhutan was included in the Sixth Development Plan 1987 92 54 Other sources of energy included biogas used in some districts for lighting and cooking and primarily generated from cow dung Solar energy was used for a variety of purposes including heating dwellings and greenhouses and lighting hospitals Despite the potential solar energy that might be produced Bhutan s mountainous terrain prevents maximum use The same mountains are funnels for powerful winds however providing another viable renewable energy source High technology windmills were installed in Wangude Phodrang in 1987 to produce electricity to run irrigation pumps 54 Still another source of fuel in the 1980s was firewood Although Bhutan had greater access to electric power than they had previously traditional methods of cooking and heating required readily available fuel In the mid 1980s Bhutan produced a coal equivalent of 982 000 tons of wood for fuel per year to meet domestic needs Some 1 3 million tons of coal reserves are located in the country but recovery was difficult and the quality was poor 54 See also edit nbsp Energy portal Economy of Bhutan Environmental issues in BhutanReferences edit a b c d e f g Chhetri Pushkar 2010 11 10 ADB Grants 21 6 M for Rural Electrification Bhutan Observer online Archived from the original on 2011 08 24 Retrieved 2011 11 29 a b c d e f Bhutan Green Power Development Project PDF Asian Development Bank October 2008 Retrieved 2011 11 29 permanent dead link a b Renewable Readiness Assessment Kingdom of Bhutan PDF December 2019 Gyelmo Dawa 2020 Bhutan Can progress in household electrification provide relief from expensive fossil fuel imports Firstpost First Post Retrieved 2020 05 22 a b c Page Kogan 2003 Asia amp Pacific Review 2003 04 The Economic and Business Report Asia and Pacific Review 21 ed Kogan Page Publishers 31 ISBN 0 7494 4063 5 Retrieved 2011 11 29 a b c Brown Lindsay Armington Stan 2007 Bhutan 3 ed Lonely Planet pp 24 151 167 198 ISBN 978 1 74059 529 2 Retrieved 2011 11 29 a b Pelden Sonam 2010 08 31 From Dung to Clean Energy Bhutan Observer online Archived from the original on 2011 12 01 Retrieved 2011 11 29 Overview of Energy Policies of Bhutan PDF Thimpu Bhutan Department of Energy Ministry of Economic Affairs Royal Government of Bhutan 2009 a b Shukla P R 2004 Climate Policy Assessment for India Applications of Asia Pacific Integrated Model AIM Universities Press p 146 ISBN 81 7371 484 3 Retrieved 2011 11 29 Bhutan Climate Action Tracker Climate Action Tracker Retrieved 29 July 2015 Pelden Sonam 2011 09 05 Report Underlines Climate Threats Bhutan Observer online Archived from the original on 2011 11 26 Retrieved 2011 11 27 Pelden Sonam 2011 10 11 Bhutan to Submit its Climate Issues to UNFCCC in Durban Bhutan Observer online Archived from the original on 2011 11 27 Retrieved 2011 11 27 Pelden Sonam 2010 10 03 Challenge of Powering Growth Bhutan Observer online Archived from the original on 2015 06 10 Retrieved 2011 11 29 About Us Bhutan Electricity Authority 2011 11 29 Archived from the original on 2011 09 10 About Us Bhutan Power Corporation Retrieved 2011 11 29 a b c Rinchen Sonam 2008 11 28 BPCL s First Small Hydropower Plant Bhutan Observer online Archived from the original on 2012 06 16 Retrieved 2011 11 29 Druk Green at Work Druk Green Archived from the original on 2012 04 26 Retrieved 2011 11 29 Pelden Sonam 2010 06 15 DHI Companies Exceed Targets Bhutan Observer online Archived from the original on 2012 06 16 Retrieved 2011 11 29 DHI Companies Sign Compact for 2010 Bhutan Observer online 2010 07 31 Archived from the original on 2011 12 03 Retrieved 2011 11 29 Dahal Rabi C 2010 04 09 Hydropower Spirituality Ecology Nexus Bhutan Observer online Archived from the original on 2012 10 04 Retrieved 2011 11 29 Pelden Sonam 2010 07 14 All is not Aplenty with BPC Bhutan Observer online Archived from the original on 2012 07 09 Retrieved 2011 11 29 Pelden Sonam 2010 05 29 Cheap Domestic Power Not Viable Bhutan Observer online Archived from the original on 2011 11 26 Retrieved 2011 11 29 Regional Hydro power Resources Status of Development and Barriers PDF USAID September 2002 p 1 2 Retrieved 2011 11 29 a b Pelden Sonam 2010 04 02 Looking beyond Hydropower Bhutan Observer online Archived from the original on 2011 10 03 Retrieved 2011 11 29 Johnson Emma 2019 10 28 Unstoppable Rivers Bhutan s Quest for Energy Security and Development in a Changing Climate Pulitzer Center Retrieved 2020 05 22 Bhutan International Hydropower Association May 2016 Retrieved 2019 02 14 a b c Bhutan Energy Data Directory 2015 PDF Thimphu Bhutan Department of Renewable Energy Ministry of Economic Affairs 2016 ISBN 978 99936 703 2 2 a b Gyelmo Dawa 2016 02 16 Bhutan diversifies its renewables with wind turbines The Third Pole Retrieved 2019 02 14 Mackres Eric Mentis Dimitrios Qehaja Anila 15 February 2019 Bhutan has achieved 100 electricity access Here s how World Economic Forum Retrieved 2020 03 12 a b c d e f g Hydro Electricity Power Bhutan 2008 Government of Bhutan 2011 11 20 Archived from the original on 2011 08 25 Retrieved 2011 11 30 Gyeltshen Kuenga 2010 01 28 Bhutan Water and Hydropower Bhutan Observer online Archived from the original on 2011 11 24 Retrieved 2011 11 29 Chhetri Pushkar 2011 11 19 More PPP Projects Expected in 11th Plan Bhutan Observer online Archived from the original on 2011 11 28 Retrieved 2011 11 29 Pelden Sonam 2010 11 12 DCPG Draws Up 10 Year Investment Plans Bhutan Observer online Archived from the original on 2012 10 04 Retrieved 2011 11 29 Pelden Sonam 2011 08 13 Bhutanese Contractors at PHPA Cry Foul Bhutan Observer online Archived from the original on 2011 11 29 Retrieved 2011 11 29 Chhetri Pushkar 2011 10 01 Local Contractors Still Left Out Bhutan Observer online Archived from the original on 2011 11 28 Retrieved 2011 11 29 a b 1986 Chhukha Hydropower Project Commissioned Bhutan 2008 Government of Bhutan 2011 11 21 Archived from the original on 2011 11 15 Retrieved 2011 11 30 a b c d Mega Projects Indian Embassy in Thimphu 2010 07 20 Archived from the original on 2012 02 15 Retrieved 2011 11 29 CHP Generates More Power Bhutan Observer online 2009 11 25 Archived from the original on 2012 10 04 Retrieved 2011 11 29 Pelden Sonam 2009 11 17 Dipping Business in Gedu Bhutan Observer online Archived from the original on 2012 10 04 Retrieved 2011 11 29 Tala Hydroelectric Project Power Technology online Retrieved 2011 11 30 https www nsenergybusiness com projects punatsangchhu i hydroelectric power project Status of Hydro Electric Projects in Bhutan page 16 PDF Archived from the original PDF on 15 July 2014 Retrieved 22 September 2014 https www nsenergybusiness com projects punatsangchhu ii hydroelectric power project PM Modi inaugurates Mangdechhu hydroelectric power plant in Bhutan Money control August 17 2019 Retrieved 2019 10 25 Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi inaugurates Mangdechhu HEP Bhutan commissioned by BHEL PSU Connect August 21 2019 Retrieved 2019 10 25 Dorji Tshering August 16 2019 PM Modi s visit marks five decades of hydropower cooperation Kuensel Online Retrieved 2019 10 25 Himalayan quest for alternate energy Eco Business March 30 2016 Retrieved 2019 10 25 Gyelmo Dawa 2011 11 21 Geological Glitches Delay Dagachu Dagana Kuensel online Retrieved 2011 11 30 permanent dead link Bhutan s 126 MW Dagachhu hydroelectric project begins generating power HydroWorld 11 March 2015 Retrieved 13 March 2015 One Way to Achieve 100 Percent Rural Electrification Development Asia 2016 05 18 Retrieved 2020 03 12 a b ADB Grant for Lighting Homes Bhutan Observer online 2010 12 17 Archived from the original on 2012 10 04 Retrieved 2011 11 29 Pelden Sonam 2010 01 02 21 Villagers Trained to Light Homes Bhutan Observer online Archived from the original on 2012 05 12 Retrieved 2011 11 29 Pelden Sonam 2010 01 19 Nomads Parks Coexistence Vital Bhutan Observer online Archived from the original on 2012 10 05 Retrieved 2011 11 29 a b c d e f g nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Worden Robert L 1991 Savada Andrea Matles ed Bhutan A Country Study Federal Research Division Energy Further reading editSherubtse College 1991 Bhutan and its Natural Resources Vikas ISBN 9780706957945 External links edit Bhutan Power Corporation Bhutan Power Corporation Retrieved 2011 11 29 Druk Green Druk Green Power Company Ltd Retrieved 2011 11 29 Bhutan s Hydropower Sector 12 Things to Know Asian Development Bank Retrieved 2014 03 19 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Energy in Bhutan amp oldid 1219682366, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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