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Clean Energy Potential of Himalayan Nations (HKH Region)
Himalayan nations tapping just 6% of vast clean energy potential: ICIMOD report
Context: The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region holds immense clean energy potential, yet only a fraction is being utilised. The latest ICIMOD report (2025) reveals a sobering reality: just 6% of the region’s total primary energy supply comes from clean sources.
What is the clean energy potential of Himalayan nations?
- The Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region spans 8 countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan. This region holds immense renewable energy potential, both in hydropower and non-hydro sources (solar and wind).
- The region holds vast clean energy potential: 880 GW hydropower (72% from transboundary rivers) and 3 TW (solar + wind), totalling >3.5 TW renewables. Yet, combined NDC targets of HKH countries commit to only 1.7 TW, far below the region’s potential.
To what extent are these sources being harnessed?
- Despite >3.5 TW clean energy potential in the HKH region, deployment remains low: only 50% of hydropower is tapped, with 6% of TPES from clean energy.
- Countries like Bhutan and Nepal rely entirely on hydropower, while others (e.g., Bangladesh-98% fossil fuels, India-77%, Pakistan-76%) remain fossil-dominant.
- Traditional biofuels still form a major energy share in Nepal (~66%), Myanmar (~50%), and Pakistan/Bhutan (~25%), reflecting the underutilisation of modern renewables. This indicates continued reliance on wood, dung, and crop residues for cooking and heating — with harmful health and environmental impacts.
What are the challenges in tapping these resources?
- Economic/Financial: High upfront capital costs of hydro, solar, and wind projects. Limited public finance and inadequate private investment.
- Geographical/Environmental: Hydropower at risk from climate change: glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), streamflow variation, extreme weather. Close to two-thirds of projects are vulnerable to glacier floods. Land availability and ecosystem disruption from dams.
- Technological & Institutional: Lack of technical know-how, R&D, and O&M expertise. Old/inefficient irrigation and water systems. Weak policy and regulatory frameworks → do not factor in air/water pollution and community safeguards.
- Social & Health: Heavy rural reliance on traditional biofuels (wood, dung, crop residues) → indoor air pollution, health hazards. Risk of displacement and livelihood loss due to mega hydro projects.
What measures can be taken to harness them?
- Policy & Governance: Update NDMA, ICAP, and national energy policies to integrate disaster risk into hydro/solar/wind planning. Regional frameworks via SAARC Energy Centre and BIMSTEC to promote cross-border power trade. Stronger regulatory norms ensuring environmental and community safeguards.
- Technology & Infrastructure: Expand modern cold chain, smart grids, and storage to balance variable solar/wind output. Invest in dams’ equivalents (urban water storage, efficient irrigation, distributed solar/wind) instead of only mega reservoirs. Promote micro-hydro, solar mini-grids, and off-grid renewables for remote communities.
- Finance & Investment: Attract international climate finance and multilateral development banks (World Bank, ADB, AIIB). Green bonds and public–private partnerships for large-scale solar/wind farms.
- Community & Social Measures: Promote clean cooking solutions (LPG, biogas, improved cookstoves) to reduce biomass reliance. Ensure livelihood safeguards, resettlement plans, and benefit-sharing in hydro projects.
- Regional & International Cooperation: Joint R&D, knowledge exchange, and capacity building with China and India (renewables leaders). Technology transfer via UNEP, FAO, WFP. South–South cooperation for skills and training.
