Underutilized Renewable Energy in the Hindu Kush Himalaya

Context

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) released a new study during the Asia-Pacific Clean Energy Week in Bangkok, emphasizing the huge but the Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH) have underutilized renewable energy resources.

Key Highlights

• The proportion of clean energy in the total primary energy supply (TPES) in HKH nations is only 6.1%.
• Hydropower is recognized as being severely underutilized, with just 49% of its potential of 882 GW now being utilized.
• Transboundary rivers in the HKH region have the potential to produce 635 GW of hydropower.
• Regional renewable goals amount to 1.7 Terawatts, whereas non-hydro potential (solar and wind) is at 3 Terawatts.
• Country wise data :
  • • Nepal and Bhutan produce all of their electricity from renewable sources.
    • In comparison to other HKH nations, which are heavily dependent on fossil fuels, Bangladesh gets 98% of its energy from fossil fuels, India gets 77%, Pakistan gets 76%, China gets 67%, and Myanmar gets 51%.
• Waste and biofuels: In rural regions, biofuels and waste continue to be the main sources of energy, making up two-thirds of Nepal’s TPES, half of Myanmar’s, and Pakistan and Bhutan each have a quarter. These conventional fuels are responsible for air pollution and negative health consequences.
• Climate change is posing significant threats to the energy industry, especially hydropower, through increased water variability, severe weather occurrences, and shifting streamflows.
  • • Notably, two-thirds of existing and future hydroelectric projects are susceptible to climate-related catastrophes, such as glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).
• The area’s development of renewable energy is being hampered by a number of obstacles.
  • • These include inadequate R&D, a lack of technical expertise, land restrictions, restricted public funding, low private investment, high capital costs, and obsolete or missing regulatory structures.

Hindu Kush Himalaya

• It encompasses a 3500 km stretch spanning Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan.
• Ten major river systems in Asia have their origins here, including the Amu Darya, Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra (Yarlungtsanpo), Irrawaddy, Salween (Nu), Mekong (Lancang), and Yangtse (Jinsha). Tarim (Dayan) and the Yellow River (Huanghe).
• It serves as the foundation for the way of life for a community of about 240 million people in the area by providing water and ecosystem services.

Recommendations

• The report recommends regional collaboration that goes beyond commerce, focusing on infrastructure investment, south-south technology transfer, and support from international financial organizations.
• For encouraging collaboration, organizations like the Bay of Bengal Initiative and SAARC’s Energy Center are considered essential.
• The HKH area, particularly India and China, is also described in the report as a world leader in clean energy, with a recommendation that they utilize their competitive advantage to promote poverty reduction, emissions reductions, and green economic growth, while maintaining equity and resilience for coming generations.
• Additionally, the social and environmental consequences for nearby communities must be handled with care.

Source: The DTE

Prelims PYQ

Q. With reference to the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA), which of the following statements is/are correct? (2015)

1. It is a Public Limited Government Company. 
2. It is a Non-Banking Financial Company. 

Select the correct answer using the code given below: 

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

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