Bhutan turns to solar as winter power shortfall grows

Bhutan is expanding solar power as rising winter electricity demand and lower river flows strain a power system long built around hydropower.

The Himalayan kingdom can currently produce about 3,700 MW from hydropower, but that capacity falls by around 80 percent in winter, Chhewang Rinzin, managing director of Druk Green Power Corporation, said. He said winter demand has risen to 1,500 MW from 400 MW, creating a shortfall now met by electricity imports from India.

Solar remains small compared with hydropower, but projects are increasing. The Dechencholing solar farm on former military land near Thimphu has an installed capacity of 4.45 MW, while Sephu, described as the country's first mega solar project, has more than 22 MW capacity.

Chhewang Rinzin said Bhutan plans to develop about 5,000 MW of solar power. The country now aims for 25,000 MW of generation capacity by 2040, with solar accounting for one fifth.

Bhutan faces practical limits on solar expansion, including mountainous terrain, land needs for ground-mounted projects, high-altitude routes and roads often damaged by landslides. Norion Renewable Energy says it has trained about 450 De-suung volunteers in solar work and aims to install 30 MW of solar by 2027, much of it on rooftops.

Rooftop solar is visible on government buildings and businesses in Thimphu, but home installation remains expensive. Former minister and ambassador Om Pradhan said his own system cost 600,000 ngultrums, or about $6,300, putting it beyond the reach of many Bhutanese households.