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WERELIS Regional Forum - Private sector engagement
Strategic Group: Resilient Economies and Landscapes & Action Area: Economics
Norkhil Boutique Hotel, Thimphu, Bhutan
01 October 2026
Organisers: Department of Energy, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Royal Government of Bhutan, ICIMOD and IDRC
The Department of Energy, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Royal Government of Bhutan in collaboration with ICIMOD is organising a regional form focused on private sector engagement as part of the Women’s Empowerment through Renewable Energy-Powered Lift Irrigation Systems in Bhutan (WERELIS – Bhutan) project funded by International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada.
Bhutan is entering a new phase in its renewable energy transition. While hydropower remains central, rising electricity demand, seasonal energy-security concerns and economic diversification are driving expansion into solar and other renewable-energy technologies. The National Energy Policy 2025 sets a target of 25,000 MW installed capacity by 2040, including 5,000 MW from solar, while opening greater space for private-sector investment through public-private partnerships (PPPs), independent power producers (IPPs), and other investment models.
Emerging opportunities include utility-scale and rooftop solar, solar pumping, Agri-PV and other productive-use applications. The scale of opportunity is significant. The WERELIS PURE platform estimates that around 62,000 acres could be suitable for river-lift irrigation, requiring approximately 118 MW of power and US$435 million in investment.
Realising this potential will require addressing barriers related to finance, technical skills, private-sector capacity, technology and standards, project development, operation and maintenance, procurement and regional supply chains. Regional countries already offer valuable experience in renewable energy deployment, finance and enterprise development. The proposed dialogue will therefore connect Bhutanese businesses and institutions with regional developers, investors, technology providers and industry associations to promote knowledge exchange, business partnerships, investment and skills transfer – supporting a more inclusive and resilient renewable energy transition.
The objective of the dialogue is to catalyse private-sector and regional partnerships that can accelerate an inclusive renewable-energy transition in Bhutan and other mountain regions, by bringing together renewable-energy developers, investors, financiers, businesses and industry associations from regional member countries.
Specifically, the dialogue will seek to: • Showcase emerging renewable-energy market opportunities in Bhutan, • Connect Bhutanese private-sector actors with regional developers, technology providers, investors and industry associations to explore concrete business and investment partnerships; • Facilitate exchange of practical experience on technologies, financing models, project development, standards, supply chains and business models that have enabled renewable energy to reach scale in other countries; • Strengthen regional trade and market linkages for renewable-energy technologies, services and expertise.
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