BHUTAN: National Environment Strategy 2020

Meta Data
Draft: 
No
Revision of previous policy?: 
No
Effective Start Year: 
2020
Scope: 
National
Document Type: 
Plan/Strategy
Economic Sector: 
Power, Multi-Sector
Energy Types: 
Power, Renewable, Hydropower, Solar, Other
Issued by: 
National Environment Commission, Royal Government of Bhutan 
Source: 
National Environment Commission, Royal Government of Bhutan (DZ & EN)
File: 
National Environment Strategy 2020 (DZ)
National Environment Strategy 2020 (EN)
Overall Summary: 
The National Environment Strategy 2020
Access
Energy access action plan: 
A key ongoing action is to develop Decentralised Distributed Generation (DDG) projects for provision of energy-based services to remote and dispersed villages, which are not electrified or not connected to the grid, through solar thermal, solar photovoltaic and other stand-alone systems.
Clean cooking solutions: 
Through an international partnership, the Departments of Renewable Energy and Forests and Park Services are implementing a sustainable rural biomass program to roll out energy-efficient cookstoves. Dzongkhag and Gewog level awareness efforts are using networks of non-formal educators and women entrepreneurs to train households – who construct their own stoves, with the government subsidizing the metal components. Improved stoves produce less smoke and have proper chimneys, reducing levels of indoor pollution significantly. Actions are being taken to replicate these and similar technologies across Bhutan.
Efficiency
EE priorities: 
Strategic Objective #14: Improve energy efficiency.
EE action plans: 
Actions include carrying out energy audits of energy-intensive industries, to examine where and how energy consumption can be reduced with marginal or moderate financial investments; and an Energy Endowment to provide low interest loans for energy-efficient construction and industry.
EE building standards: 
To achieve a future where a majority of buildings, towns, and cities in Bhutan are energy-efficient, the Royal Government of Bhutan aims to kickstart a Sustainable Building Initiative, bringing stakeholders together in a centre for innovation,advocacy and capacity building. An energy audit will be carried out on all major public buildings, followed by a retrofitting plan, and the National Housing Development Corporation and Ministries will be encouraged to use green designs and insulation materials for the new towns. Actions include the development of capacity, networks and knowledge-sharing mechanisms, and, innovation and technology. Enhancement will be encouraged throughout the construction supply chain, with updated information on construction and insulation technologies, best practices, materials, and suppliers.
Renewable Energy
RE priorities: 
Strategic Objective #13: Develop renewable energy sector. --- With rising demand for electricity and Bhutan’s reliance on hydropower generation, the Department of Renewable Energy aims to broaden the energy supply mix by exploring other forms of clean and renewable energy sources. This will supplement hydropower generation, which is vulnerable to climate change impacts, and address the electricity shortage regularly faced during the dry season. Bhutan’s Alternative Renewable Energy Policy, 2013 aims to promote alternative sources including solar power plants (photovoltaic and thermal), small-scale hydropower geothermal plants, wind turbines and windmills, biomass and biogas plants.
RE targets: 
Bhutan has established a preliminary minimum goal of 20 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy product by 2025, through a mix of renewable energy technologies.
RE action plans: 
A key ongoing action is to develop Decentralised Distributed Generation (DDG) projects for provision of energy-based services to remote and dispersed villages, which are not electrified or not connected to the grid, through solar thermal, solar photovoltaic and other stand-alone systems.
Environment
Energy environmental priorities: 
Actions also include the Royal Government of Bhutan subsidy for liquid petroleum gas (LPG), and actions to promote LPG as a cleaner option than firewood and other solid fuels.