| Abstract | In the recent years, the world has observed paradigm shift in the energy sector in its technological advancement due to sheer rise in demand, while adhering to climate change mitigation and to bring about transformation in economic and social development. The rapid transformation in terms of development has been seen in India and China, which has remained in constant race to emerge the next economic super powers. Thus, equitably leading to increase per-capita consumption of electricity and energy demand exponentially.
The fossil based energy has remained world’s primary source of electricity generation over the years. Its excessive exploitation has resulted in severe impact on the global climate, increasing the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere. With the global effort to mitigate the greenhouse gas emission to contain the global temperature to 1.50C, it is inevitable to embark a paradigm shift in electricity generation. The precarious effects of greenhouse gas emission on the climate, erratic weather pattern, depletion of fossil based resources has amplified sense of energy security leading to use of clean, renewable sources of energy. Thus solar plays vital role as an alternative due to its abundance availability.
Although, Bhutan’s environment policies are well-founded, the impacts of climate change are evident due to its geological location in the Himalayas; the fast-retreating of glaciers, erratic pattern of precipitation, seasonal changes and natural disaster, which is a direct threat to a thriving hydropower. Unless the alternative energy sources are sorted out and diversified, Bhutan is expected to face severe energy shortages especially during winter dry seasons in the long run.
The research intends to looks explore solar energy catchments and its potential for beautiful valleys of Bumthang in Bhutan as the region has immense prospect for economic growth. The identification of suitable sites for solar farm using GIS and Analytic Hierarchy Process would leap forward not only on country’s alternative energy policy to generate 25MW by 2025 but as well have tremendous impact on socio economic development of the valley.
For the study, seven broad conditions are taken into consideration for evaluation; Solar Irradiance, Elevation, Slope, land Use and land Cover, aspects, proximity from roads and proximity to towns. Exclusion criteria of Protected Areas & Biological Corridors (PA &BC) are as well taken into consideration in order to eliminate the protected area from developmental activities.
The result indicated optimistic prospect for solar power with an annual potential of more than 1000 GWh/year under all scenarios of PV technologies. The current consumption of the valley is only about 11,140,133.0 kWh in 2017 (Bhutan Power Corporation, 2017). Therefore, it establishes the possibilities of harvesting green renewable energy as an alternative means to unwind dependency on the hydropower and diversify energy portfolio.
The evaluation of simple payback period for installing solar PV with necessary assumptions indicated, the pay back duration of 5.66 years. |