Archive · 5 Sep 2025
Clean Energy Lagging in Himalayan Nations Despite High Potential
Imagine a region with huge potential for clean energy, like solar and wind.
This region is the Hindu Kush Himalayas, including countries like India.
A new report says that they are not using much clean energy, only about 6%.
They could use the rivers for power, but they're not using much of that either.
Although they have a lot of options, they have not been fully using it.
Some countries get all their electricity from clean sources, but others use mostly dirty fuels.
Also, climate change is a threat to what little clean energy they have.
They need to find ways to make more clean energy to help the environment.
Clean energy accounts for only 6.1% of the total primary energy supply in the HKH region.
The region has a hydropower potential of 635 gigawatts, with only 49% tapped.
Non-hydro clean energy potential (solar and wind) in the region stands at 3 terawatts.
Fossil fuels dominate energy supply in several HKH countries, including India.
Climate change poses risks to hydropower projects due to extreme weather.
- Who
- ICIMOD (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development)
- What
- Report on clean energy in the Hindu Kush Himalayas.
- When
- Report launched on Friday, September 5, 2025.
- Where
- Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH) region, including India.
- Why
- To assess the current state and potential of clean energy in the region.
- Clean Energy Share
- 6.1% of total primary energy supply
- Hydropower Potential
- 635 GW identified in HKH rivers
- Tapped Hydropower
- 49% of identified potential
- Non-Hydro Potential
- 3 terawatts (solar & wind)
- Renewable Energy Targets
- 1.7 terawatts