USAID SAREP Mission to Bhutan
A delegation comprising of members of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), India, South Asia Regional Energy Partnership (SAREP), and South Asia regional initiative for Energy Integration (SARI/EI) visited Thimphu, Bhutan from August 8 to August 13, 2022. USAID/India and SAREP introduced the SAREP program to Bhutanese energy stakeholders and carried out discussions on the potential interventions with key stakeholders of Bhutan.
A wide-ranging discussion and exchange took place covering diverse subjects such as utility management, modernization and digitization of utilities, Demand Side Management (DSM), transmission automation, use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies in demand forecasting, smart metering, drones application in transmission and distribution, cyber and IT security, Transmission Control Center (TCC) and Certification of planners, etc.
It was conveyed that while SARI/EI program is regional in nature and focused on regional cross-border energy trade, regional energy cooperation, and market development, SAREP has a broader mandate than SARI/EI. SAREP over a period of five years (2021-2026) aims to achieve regional energy cooperation and integration of markets, increase deployment of advanced energy solutions and systems, developing high-performing modern utilities.
USAID SAREP met six key energy stakeholders of royal government of Bhutan – Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC),Department of Hydropower and Power Systems (DHPS), Department of Renewable Energy (DRE), Bhutan Power Corporation (BPC), Bhutan Power System Operator (BPSO) and Bhutan Electricity Authority (BEA) to identify potential interventions and priorities of assistance. The meetings and engaging technical discussions with management has led USAID SAREP to develop clear well-defined assistance in following areas-
- Study on feasibility and value proposition of Hydropower (and/or alternatives to hydro) for CBET in the context of evolving regional electricity market scenarios in India and other South Asian countries through proper modeling/quantitative and qualitative assessment.
- Certification and training of energy auditors
- Enhancing institutional capacity of BPC in implementing Smart Grid, undertake cost benefit analysis of smart metering, enhancing reliability of power systems, improved demand forecasting and resource planning, and building capacity of trainers.
- Enhancement of system operators technical and institutional capacity in view of increasing cross-border electricity trade and regional market integration through technical assistance and system operators certification.
In addition to the continuation of activities of SARI/EI and regional intervention activities upon closure of the SARI/EI program (beyond Sept 2022) under SAREP, SAREP provides further opportunities for providing direct country-specific technical assistance to Bhutan in a bilateral manner such as improving system operation.
The delegations from USAID India and SAREP also participated in the inaugural session of the SARI/EI seminar ‘South Asia Think Tank Forum – Seminar on Cross Border Energy Trade’ organized by Institute of Happiness on August 10, 2022, at the Royal University of Bhutan, Thimphu. They also participated in the inaugural session of the SARI/EI Training Program for the officers of Bhutan on South Asia Energy Database held on August 12, 2022, at Hotel Le Meridien Thimphu, Bhutan.
