Sustainability of Bhutan's Hydropower

Authors

  • Gongsar Karma Chhopel Chief Executive Officer

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/hn.v14i0.11272

Keywords:

Hydropower, GLOF, Dams, Biodiversity, Climate change, Glaciers, IWRM, Bhutan

Abstract

Bhutan’s river potential for hydropower has been estimated at ~30,000 MW, the majority of which is concentrated in the Wangchhu, Punatsangchhu, Mangdechhu and Drangmechhu river basins. Hydropower forms the backbone of Bhutan’s socio-economic strength: Ninety nine percentage of its electricity supply comes from hydropower generation and hydropower alone contributes of national revenue. Bhutan has been cast as a model in South Asia for its environmental conservation policy. However, the impacts of climate change are becoming evident in the form of fast-retreating glaciers and erratic precipitation patterns that will prove to be costly for the hydropower sector as the country continues to bank on this renewable natural resource.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hn.v14i0.11272

 HYDRO Nepal Journal
Journal of Water, Energy and Environment

Volume: 14, 2014, January
Page: 73-76

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Author Biography

Gongsar Karma Chhopel, Chief Executive Officer

Bhutan Statistical Services and Environmental Consultancy based in Thimphu Bhutan

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Published

2014-10-17

How to Cite

Chhopel, G. K. (2014). Sustainability of Bhutan’s Hydropower. Hydro Nepal: Journal of Water, Energy and Environment, 14, 73–76. https://doi.org/10.3126/hn.v14i0.11272

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