Despite having immense renewable energy potential, clean energy makes up only a small share—around 6.1%—of the total primary energy supply (TPES) in the countries of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH). According to a report compiled by the eight-nation regional intergovernmental body, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), hydropower remains largely underexploited.

The report, launched on September 5 during the Asia-Pacific Clean Energy Week in Bangkok, highlighted that of the 882 gigawatts of total hydropower potential identified in Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan, a major share (635 GW) comes from the transboundary rivers of the HKH region. However, only 49% of this potential is currently being tapped. The region’s total non-hydro renewable energy potential, including solar and wind, stands at around 3 terawatts.

According to the nationally determined contributions (NDCs), the combined renewable energy targets of HKH countries amount to 1.7 terawatts—less than half of the renewable energy potential (3.5 terawatts) within the HKH region alone.

Currently, only Bhutan and Nepal generate 100% of their electricity from renewable sources, while fossil fuels overwhelmingly dominate electricity generation in the rest of the region. Fossil fuels account for 98% of Bangladesh’s power generation, 77% in India, 76% in Pakistan, 67% in China, and 51% in Myanmar. In addition, biofuels and waste make up an alarmingly high proportion of TPES in four HKH countries—contributing two-thirds of Nepal’s, half of Myanmar’s, and a quarter of Bhutan’s and Pakistan’s energy supply. This indicates that rural communities remain heavily dependent on traditional fuels such as firewood, crop residues, and livestock dung for cooking and heating, despite their negative impacts on air quality and human health.

The new study, titled “Together We Have More Power: Status, Challenges, and the Potential for Regional Renewable Energy Cooperation in the Hindu Kush Himalaya”, examines the current energy mix, the role of renewables, and the risks posed to the sector. It warns that climate change is already impacting the energy sector at an alarming rate—particularly hydropower production. Increased water variability, extreme weather events, infrastructure damage, and shifting hydrological regimes are altering stream flows and seasonal patterns.

In addition, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) and other extreme natural hazards pose major risks to both existing and planned hydropower projects. Nearly two-thirds of such projects in the HKH are vulnerable to potential glacial floods. The report stresses the urgent need to integrate disaster risk reduction strategies into renewable energy projects. Multipurpose dams play an important role in flood moderation and water management, but alone cannot address the growing risks of mega floods, water wastage, or mismanagement. The report emphasizes exploring “dam equivalents”—a suite of technological, structural, and institutional solutions that can deliver similar benefits without the downsides of large reservoirs.

What are Dam Equivalents

“Dam equivalents” may include modernizing irrigation systems to reduce farm water losses, promoting water-efficient and climate-resilient agricultural practices, building urban water storage systems, and scaling up solar and wind energy adoption.

The report also identifies barriers to renewable energy expansion in the region. These include high capital costs, limited public financing, challenges in attracting private investment, and the social, ecological, and health consequences of energy projects. Other challenges involve technology gaps, lack of expertise in operations and maintenance, limited land availability, insufficient R&D investment, and outdated policy and regulatory frameworks that fail to fully account for air and water pollution.

Regional Coorperation Important

“We have extraordinary renewable potential within our region, especially in India and China—two global pioneers in clean energy. Building on this competitive advantage presents a tremendous opportunity to turbocharge green economic growth, lift people out of poverty, and meet ambitious emission-reduction targets,” said Avishek Malla, coordinating lead author, during the launch of the report in Bangkok.

“It is crucial that we think beyond trade to seize the true potential of renewables in our region. We need investment in infrastructure and a massive scale-up of South-South skills and technology exchange, leveraging platforms such as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Energy Centre and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation Energy Ministers’ Conference. International finance institutions must also play a catalytic role in building infrastructure that meets present needs while safeguarding the well-being of future generations,” Malla added.

Regional cooperation in energy is key to capturing the full spectrum of renewable benefits—from disaster risk reduction and enhanced agricultural productivity to industrial development, improved water navigation, and strengthened rural livelihoods. Such cooperation will also accelerate the transfer of renewable energy technology and knowledge, ultimately fostering green growth and job creation across South and Southeast Asia, while helping countries achieve their national and global climate commitments.