IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v45y2012icp51-58.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Options for off-grid electrification in the Kingdom of Bhutan

Author

Listed:
  • Dorji, Tshering
  • Urmee, Tania
  • Jennings, Philip

Abstract

Bhutan sells electricity across the border to India. However large sections of its population do not have access to electricity. The harsh mountainous terrain coupled with sparse and dispersed settlements in Bhutan makes grid extension difficult, costly and economically unviable. Therefore, it is worth looking at renewable energy options to meet electricity demand in remote locations. This study aims to identify the least-cost technologies that could be used in the rural areas of Bhutan. The study analyses the energy needs of rural households, the resources available, and current policies and programs on rural electrification. The Hybrid Optimization Model HOMER for designing distributed generation (DG) systems both on and off-grid was used to find the least-cost technologies for different potential resources and to compare the cost of deploying these technologies with conventional electrification through grid extension. This paper identifies possible rural electrification options for Bhutan and compares them with extending the grid to the remote areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Dorji, Tshering & Urmee, Tania & Jennings, Philip, 2012. "Options for off-grid electrification in the Kingdom of Bhutan," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 51-58.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:45:y:2012:i:c:p:51-58
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2012.02.012
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148112001504
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2012.02.012?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Urmee, Tania & Harries, David & Schlapfer, August, 2009. "Issues related to rural electrification using renewable energy in developing countries of Asia and Pacific," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 34(2), pages 354-357.
    2. Nouni, M.R. & Mullick, S.C. & Kandpal, T.C., 2007. "Techno-economics of small wind electric generator projects for decentralized power supply in India," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(4), pages 2491-2506, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Umar, Mohd Shaharin & Jennings, Philip & Urmee, Tania, 2014. "Sustainable electricity generation from oil palm biomass wastes in Malaysia: An industry survey," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 496-505.
    2. Chmiel, Zbigniew & Bhattacharyya, Subhes C., 2015. "Analysis of off-grid electricity system at Isle of Eigg (Scotland): Lessons for developing countries," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 578-588.
    3. Nyong-Bassey, Bassey Etim & Giaouris, Damian & Patsios, Charalampos & Papadopoulou, Simira & Papadopoulos, Athanasios I. & Walker, Sara & Voutetakis, Spyros & Seferlis, Panos & Gadoue, Shady, 2020. "Reinforcement learning based adaptive power pinch analysis for energy management of stand-alone hybrid energy storage systems considering uncertainty," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    4. Park, Eunil & Kwon, Sang Jib, 2016. "Solutions for optimizing renewable power generation systems at Kyung-Hee University׳s Global Campus, South Korea," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 439-449.
    5. Sharma, Naveen Kumar & Tiwari, Prashant Kumar & Sood, Yog Raj, 2013. "A comprehensive analysis of strategies, policies and development of hydropower in India: Special emphasis on small hydro power," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 18(C), pages 460-470.
    6. Heetae Kim & Jinwoo Bae & Seoin Baek & Donggyun Nam & Hyunsung Cho & Hyun Joon Chang, 2017. "Comparative Analysis between the Government Micro-Grid Plan and Computer Simulation Results Based on Real Data: The Practical Case for a South Korean Island," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-18, January.
    7. Brooks, Chris & Urmee, Tania, 2014. "Importance of individual capacity building for successful solar program implementation: A case study in the Philippines," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 176-184.
    8. Seoin Baek & Heetae Kim & Hyun Joon Chang, 2016. "Optimal Hybrid Renewable Airport Power System: Empirical Study on Incheon International Airport, South Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(6), pages 1-13, June.
    9. Yilmaz, Saban & Dincer, Furkan, 2017. "Optimal design of hybrid PV-Diesel-Battery systems for isolated lands: A case study for Kilis, Turkey," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 344-352.
    10. Lahimer, A.A. & Alghoul, M.A. & Yousif, Fadhil & Razykov, T.M. & Amin, N. & Sopian, K., 2013. "Research and development aspects on decentralized electrification options for rural household," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 314-324.
    11. Pérez-Sánchez, Modesto & Sánchez-Romero, Francisco-Javier & Zapata, Francisco A. & López-Jiménez, P. Amparo & Ramos, Helena M., 2024. "Zero discharge: An optimized strategy to improve the hydric deficit in the Mediterranean area by pumped hydro storage. Case study of Alicante, Spain," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    12. Norbu, Sonam & Bandyopadhyay, Santanu, 2017. "Power Pinch Analysis for optimal sizing of renewable-based isolated system with uncertainties," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 466-475.
    13. Mandelli, Stefano & Barbieri, Jacopo & Mereu, Riccardo & Colombo, Emanuela, 2016. "Off-grid systems for rural electrification in developing countries: Definitions, classification and a comprehensive literature review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 1621-1646.
    14. Onu, Uchenna Godswill & Zambroni de Souza, Antonio Carlos & Bonatto, Benedito Donizeti, 2023. "Drivers of microgrid projects in developed and developing economies," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    15. Bahrami, Arian & Teimourian, Amir & Okoye, Chiemeka Onyeka & Khosravi, Nima, 2019. "Assessing the feasibility of wind energy as a power source in Turkmenistan; a major opportunity for Central Asia's energy market," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 415-427.
    16. Seoin Baek & Heetae Kim & Hyun Joon Chang, 2015. "Optimal Hybrid Renewable Power System for an Emerging Island of South Korea: The Case of Yeongjong Island," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(10), pages 1-17, October.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mandelli, Stefano & Barbieri, Jacopo & Mereu, Riccardo & Colombo, Emanuela, 2016. "Off-grid systems for rural electrification in developing countries: Definitions, classification and a comprehensive literature review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 1621-1646.
    2. Mollik, Sazib & Rashid, M.M. & Hasanuzzaman, M. & Karim, M.E. & Hosenuzzaman, M., 2016. "Prospects, progress, policies, and effects of rural electrification in Bangladesh," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 553-567.
    3. Oyedepo, Sunday Olayinka, 2014. "Towards achieving energy for sustainable development in Nigeria," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 255-272.
    4. Ahlborg, Helene & Hammar, Linus, 2014. "Drivers and barriers to rural electrification in Tanzania and Mozambique – Grid-extension, off-grid, and renewable energy technologies," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 117-124.
    5. Fortier, Marie-Odile P. & Teron, Lemir & Reames, Tony G. & Munardy, Dynta Trishana & Sullivan, Breck M., 2019. "Introduction to evaluating energy justice across the life cycle: A social life cycle assessment approach," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 236(C), pages 211-219.
    6. Xia, Wanjun & Murshed, Muntasir & Khan, Zeeshan & Chen, Zhenling & Ferraz, Diogo, 2022. "Exploring the nexus between fiscal decentralization and energy poverty for China: Does country risk matter for energy poverty reduction?," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    7. Saeed, Muhammad Abid & Ahmed, Zahoor & Zhang, Weidong, 2020. "Wind energy potential and economic analysis with a comparison of different methods for determining the optimal distribution parameters," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 1092-1109.
    8. Field, John L. & Tanger, Paul & Shackley, Simon J. & Haefele, Stephan M., 2016. "Agricultural residue gasification for low-cost, low-carbon decentralized power: An empirical case study in Cambodia," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 612-624.
    9. Komatsu, Satoru & Kaneko, Shinji & Ghosh, Partha Pratim & Morinaga, Akane, 2013. "Determinants of user satisfaction with solar home systems in rural Bangladesh," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 52-58.
    10. Hernández-Escobedo, Q. & Fernández-García, A. & Manzano-Agugliaro, F., 2017. "Solar resource assessment for rural electrification and industrial development in the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico)," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 1550-1561.
    11. Ahmed, Shamsuddin & Islam, Md Tasbirul & Karim, Mohd Aminul & Karim, Nissar Mohammad, 2014. "Exploitation of renewable energy for sustainable development and overcoming power crisis in Bangladesh," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 223-235.
    12. Neeraj Sharma & Rajat Agrawal, 2017. "Locating a Wind Energy Project: A Case of a Leading Oil and Gas Producer in India," Vision, , vol. 21(2), pages 172-194, June.
    13. Halkos, George E. & Tzeremes, Nickolaos G., 2014. "The effect of electricity consumption from renewable sources on countries׳ economic growth levels: Evidence from advanced, emerging and developing economies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 166-173.
    14. Mertzanis, Charilaos, 2018. "Institutions, development and energy constraints," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 962-982.
    15. Jha, Sunil Kr. & Bilalovic, Jasmin & Jha, Anju & Patel, Nilesh & Zhang, Han, 2017. "Renewable energy: Present research and future scope of Artificial Intelligence," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 297-317.
    16. Murshed, Muntasir & Tanha, Muntaha Masud, 2020. "Oil Price Shocks and Renewable Energy Transition: Empirical evidence from net oil-importing South Asian economies," MPRA Paper 100162, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    17. Shyu, Chian-Woei, 2012. "Rural electrification program with renewable energy sources: An analysis of China’s Township Electrification Program," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 842-853.
    18. Holtorf, Hans & Urmee, Tania & Calais, Martina & Pryor, Trevor, 2015. "A model to evaluate the success of Solar Home Systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 245-255.
    19. Pascale, Andrew & Urmee, Tania & Whale, Jonathan & Kumar, S., 2016. "Examining the potential for developing women-led solar PV enterprises in rural Myanmar," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 576-583.
    20. Khahro, Shahnawaz Farhan & Tabbassum, Kavita & Mahmood Soomro, Amir & Liao, Xiaozhong & Alvi, Muhammad Bux & Dong, Lei & Manzoor, M. Farhan, 2014. "Techno-economical evaluation of wind energy potential and analysis of power generation from wind at Gharo, Sindh Pakistan," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 460-474.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:45:y:2012:i:c:p:51-58. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.