Bhutan: 100%
Bhutan, the South Asian country in the Eastern Himalayas between China and India, is known as the “Kingdom of Happiness.”
It is also the world’s only carbon negative country, which means it absorbs more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through its forests and sustainable practices than it emits. Since the 1980s, Bhutan has constructed five separate hydroelectric plants across the country, which accounts for 42% of the country’s renewable energy output. In recent years, environmental concerns over its damage to snowfall and glaciers, which have been reduced as a result of methane emissions from submerged vegetation, led to a pause of hydropower development, and these plants are currently operating at a level much lower than its full capacity. As a result, Bhutan has recognized the need for a diversified renewable energy mix through exploring solar and biomass energy to meet the demands.
Bhutan’s “Alternative Renewable Energy Policy”, which was published in 2013, sets targets for solar, wind, and biomass, aiming to develop 20 MW of capacity by 2025. For biomass, Bhutan has been utilizing it through the production of biogas, which is generated from agricultural waste such as crop residue and animal manure. These biogas have been replacing traditional fuels, especially firewood and charcoal, to reduce the impact of climate change in rural areas.
Meanwhile, Bhutan has also begun building its first utility scale solar plant with a capacity of 17.38 megawatts with the help of the Asia Development Bank, which is expected to finish construction in 2024.