According to a recent report, Together we have more power (2025), only 6.1% of the total primary energy supply in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) nations comes from clean energy, despite vast untapped reserves.

• The Report was released by ICIMOD during the Asia-Pacific Clean Energy Week, Bangkok, Thailand.

About the Hindu Kush Himalaya Mountain

• Geography & Extent: The HKH mountains stretch about 3,500 km across eight countries, covering roughly 4.2 million sq.km.
• Countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Myanmar, and Pakistan
• Orientation: Running northeast to southwest, the range separates the Amu Darya valley in the north from the Indus River valley in the south.
• Climate Significance: Known as the Third Pole, the HKH holds the largest area of permanent ice cover outside the North and South Poles and plays a crucial role in regional climate.
• River Systems: Known as the “Water Tower of Asia,” the HKH region is the source of ten major rivers—Amu Darya, Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra, Irrawaddy, Salween, Mekong, Yangtze, Yellow, and Tarim—whose basins provide water to 1.9 billion people, about one-fourth of the world’s population.
• Biodiversity: Home to four global biodiversity hotspots (the Himalaya, Indo-Burma, Mountains of Central Asia, and Mountains of Southwest China)  and diverse ecosystems, including glaciers, alpine meadows, forests, wetlands, and grasslands.

Status of Renewable Energy in HKH

• Current Share: Clean energy constitutes only 6.1% of the Total Primary Energy Supply (TPES) in the HKH countries.
• Hydropower Potential: Total identified hydropower potential is 882 GW, with 635 GW from transboundary rivers; only 49% is currently tapped.
• Non-Hydro Potential: Solar and wind potential in the region stands at 3 Terawatts, exceeding the combined renewable targets (1.7 TW) of HKH countries.
• Country-wise Electricity Mix: Bhutan and Nepal generate 100% electricity from renewables; fossil fuels dominate in Bangladesh (98%), India (77%), Pakistan (76%), China (67%), and Myanmar (51%).
• Biofuels & Waste: Rural reliance on traditional materials contributes substantially to TPES — two-thirds in Nepal, half in Myanmar, and one-quarter in Bhutan and Pakistan.

Climate Change Impact on the Energy Sector

• Hydrological Variability: Changing streamflows and seasonal shifts affect hydropower output.
• Extreme Events: Glacial lake outburst floods and mega-floods pose major risks to existing and planned hydropower projects.
• Infrastructure Vulnerability: Climate-induced damage underscores the need to integrate disaster risk mitigation strategies into renewable projects.

Barriers to Renewable Energy Development

• Financial Constraints: High capital costs and limited public finance restrict progress.
• Investment & Technology: Difficulty in attracting private investment; lack of technical expertise and R&D investment.
• Policy gaps: Need for new regulatory frameworks, land availability, operations knowledge, and consideration of health impacts.
• Social & ecological concerns: Large hydropower projects risk displacement, biodiversity loss, and water conflicts.

Regional Cooperation & Opportunities

• Infrastructure & Skills: Investment in infrastructure and south-south technology and skills exchange via the SAARC Energy Centre and the BIMSTEC energy ministers’ conference.
• Renewable Energy Trade: Cooperation enables energy trade, technology transfer, green growth, and job creation.
• Multisectoral Benefits: Supports disaster risk reduction, agricultural productivity, industrial development, improved water navigation, and strengthened agricultural trade.
• Strategic Advantage: Leverages India and China’s clean energy capabilities to turbocharge green economic growth and meet emissions-reduction targets.

DOWNLOAD PDF