Bhutan energy mix & electricity
Electricity generation in Bhutan reached 11 TWh in 2024. Hydropower provides 100% of it. Few countries depend so heavily on a single source.
Electricity generation by source in 2024
Share of electricity generation by source, with the change in percentage points over the last ten years.
| Source | TWh | Share | 10-yr Δ pp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 11 | 100% | 0 |
| Total | 11 | 100% |
Bhutan: electricity in context
Electricity generation in Bhutan reached 11 TWh in 2024. That is similar to Nepal. Hydropower provides 100% of it. Few countries depend so heavily on a single source.
100% of the country’s power came from renewable sources: 1st of 158 countries (among the very top). This puts it 66 points above the world average of 33.8%. It is also above the average for Asia (27.3%). Each kilowatt-hour emitted on average 24 g CO₂e, against a world average of 458 g. Few grids anywhere are this clean. On carbon intensity, Bhutan ranks 2nd of 158 from the cleanest.
The decade’s big winner is hydropower, up 3.9 TWh between 2014 and 2024 (plus 0 percentage points of the mix). Overall, the renewable share has barely moved over ten years (a change of under one percentage point).
Coal has never been part of the power mix in Bhutan in any meaningful way.
Wind and solar remain marginal in Bhutan, together supplying under 1% of electricity.
Bhutan generates 13,897 kWh of electricity per resident each year, 3.6 times the global average. Imports cover around 12% of demand: Bhutan bought 1.5 TWh more electricity than it exported.
How the power mix has changed
Electricity generation by source since 2000. Switch to shares to see the structural shift independent of demand growth.
Renewables and carbon intensity
Bhutan against the world and Asia averages.
Total energy: beyond electricity
Primary energy covers transport, heating and industry too. Per person, that is 18,781 kWh a year (world: 21,654).
Domestic extraction of coal, gas and oil, in energy terms.
Power plants in Bhutan
The WRI Global Power Plant Database lists 5 utility-scale plants in Bhutan with a combined capacity of 1.5 GW. Hydro plants account for the largest slice (100% of listed capacity). The biggest single plant is Tala Hydroelectric Power Plant Bhutan (1,020 MW, Hydro). The database was last updated in 2021, so newer wind and solar farms and rooftop PV are under-represented.
Largest power plants
| # | Plant | Fuel | Capacity MW | Commissioned | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tala Hydroelectric Power Plant Bhutan | Hydro | 1,020 | — | — |
| 2 | Chhukha Hydroelectric Power Plant Bhutan | Hydro | 336 | — | — |
| 3 | Basochhu Hydroelectric Power Plant Bhutan | Hydro | 64 | — | — |
| 4 | Kurichhu Hydro-electric Power Station Bhutan | Hydro | 60 | — | — |
| 5 | Rangjung Small Hydroelectric Power Plant Bhutan | Hydro | 2 | — | — |
Source: WRI Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0). Explore all 5 plants on the interactive power plant map.
Solar & wind farms: Bhutan
10 utility-scale facilities tracked by Global Energy Monitor (2026): 17 MW of solar and 0 MW of wind operating, plus 685 MW under construction or planned.
How does Bhutan compare?
Bhutan next to 6 neighbouring countries, plus regional and world averages. Click a column to sort; use “Compare” for full side-by-side charts.
| Country | Renewable % | Low-carbon % | Fossil % | gCO₂/kWh | kWh / person | Generation TWh | Mix | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bhutan | 100% | 100% | 0% | 24 | 13,897 | 11 | — | |
| China | 37% | 41.7% | 58.3% | 525 | 7,474 | 10,583 | Compare | |
| India | 24.1% | 26.7% | 73.3% | 670 | 1,422 | 2,082 | Compare | |
| Bangladesh | 2.1% | 2.1% | 97.9% | 696 | 589 | 103 | Compare | |
| Nepal | 100% | 100% | 0% | 24 | 375 | 11.1 | Compare | |
| Myanmar | 47.9% | 47.9% | 52.1% | 503 | 398 | 21.7 | Compare | |
| Thailand | 16.6% | 16.6% | 83.4% | 546 | 2,628 | 188 | Compare | |
| Asia average | 27.3% | 32.1% | 67.9% | 573 | 3,749 | 18,015 | Compare | |
| World average | 33.8% | 42.6% | 57.4% | 458 | 3,860 | 31,772 | Compare |
Calculators for Bhutan
Bhutan energy: frequently asked questions
What percentage of electricity in Bhutan is renewable?
What is the main source of electricity in Bhutan?
How clean is the electricity in Bhutan?
Does Bhutan have nuclear power?
How much electricity does Bhutan use per person?
Does Bhutan import electricity?
More countries in Asia
Sources & references
- Our World in Data: Energy dataset (CC BY 4.0) — compiled from the sources below
- Ember: Yearly Electricity Data — generation, shares, carbon intensity
- Energy Institute: Statistical Review of World Energy — primary energy, fossil production
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: International Energy Data — gap-filling for smaller countries
- World Resources Institute: Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0) — power plant locations and capacity
Electricity data: Ember and Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0); latest year 2024. Power plants: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). Rankings exclude systems under 1 TWh and values older than 2020. Figures may be revised by the original publishers.