A Renewable Energy Roundtable on the theme “Securing Sustainable Future: India-Bhutan Renewable Energy Partnership” was held on 28 October 2024 in Thimphu, Bhutan.
2. The Roundtable was organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in partnership with Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC), Bhutan, and was supported by Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India; Ministry of Energy & Natural Resources (MoENR), Royal Government of Bhutan; and the Embassy of India, Thimphu.
3. Over sixty persons participated in five thematic sessions in the Roundtable, including representatives from the two governments, regulatory bodies, financial institutions, business leaders from both public and private sectors, and research institutions.
4. India and Bhutan enjoy long-standing partnership in the development of clean energy, particularly hydropower. During the State visit of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to Bhutan in March 2024, both countries had agreed on a Joint Vision Statement on India-Bhutan Energy Partnership. It was agreed that there are unprecedented opportunities to further strengthening this mutually beneficial bilateral clean energy partnership, including through development of new energy projects in the fields of solar and green hydrogen. The Roundtable was organized with the
objective of bringing together stakeholders in both countries and provide them a platform to share experiences, and explore opportunities for collaboration in the development and deployment of renewable energy technologies by leveraging respective strengths, resources, and expertise of both countries.
5. The Roundtable commenced with an inaugural session during which Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Royal Government of Bhutan, Lyonpo Gem Tshering; Ambassador of India to Bhutan Shri Sudhakar Dalela; and Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India, Shri Prashant Singh delivered keynote address. The Managing Director, DGPC, Dasho Chhewang Rinzin and Deputy Director General, CII, Ms. Soma Bannerjee addressed the participants, laying out the objective and expectations from the discussions at the Roundtable.
6. The inaugural session was followed by an enriching panel discussion around five thematic panels covering areas such as: Renewable Energy Scenario and Policy in Bhutan and India; Role of Solar Energy in the Energy Mix; Access to Financing for Renewable Energy Projects; Hydropower Sector Development; and Accelerating E-mobility Uptake.
7. Discussions on the ‘Renewable Energy Scenario and Policy in Bhutan and India’ focused on collaborative strategies to harness untapped renewable potential, with policy alignment to meet sustainable energy goals. The panel on ‘Role of Solar Energy in the Energy Mix’ emphasized increasing solar integration to diversify energy sources, while the session on ‘Access to Financing for Renewable Energy Projects’ explored innovative financial instruments to drive investments in clean energy. In the session on ‘Hydropower Sector Development’, participants underscored the
importance of expanding bilateral cooperation through new projects and fostering electricity trade, and the panel on ‘Accelerating E-mobility Uptake’ highlighted the need for supportive infrastructure, policy, and incentives to boost electric vehicle adoption.
8. Building on the positive deliberations at the Roundtable, it was agreed to work together to foster stronger cooperation between India and Bhutan, harnessing new technologies and business models in the renewable energy development, towards enhancing energy security and sustainability, and fostering accelerated renewable energy adoption, hydro-power development, and e-mobility uptake.
