Superhot Rock Geothermal in Bhutan

The document highlights the significant potential of superhot rock geothermal energy in Bhutan, noting that just 1% of its resources could provide 26 GW of energy capacity. It argues that this technology offers a land-efficient, firm power source that could reduce energy poverty, create jobs, and support the production of low-carbon hydrogen.

• Preliminary modeling by the Clean Air Task Force and the University of Twente indicates that Bhutan possesses substantial superhot rock resources; specifically, 1% of these resources could provide 26 GW of energy capacity and generate more than 217,232 GWh of electricity.
• Superhot rock geothermal is characterized as an energy-dense resource with significantly lower land requirements than other energy sources. Producing 1 GW of this energy is estimated to require approximately 12 km² of land, whereas solar requires 180 km², natural gas 160 km², offshore wind 520 km², and biomass 14,000 km².
• The technology provides 'firm power' available 24/7, which improves grid efficiency by reducing the need for expensive backup generation and excess transmission capacity. The document cites a California study suggesting that clean firm power could reduce new transmission requirements by one-third.
• Beyond electricity, superhot rock geothermal could support Bhutan's low-carbon strategy by producing low-carbon hydrogen for heavy industry and improving public health by reducing pollutants like sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter.

APA

Clean Air Task Force (n.d.). Superhot Rock Geothermal in Bhutan. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/22144549/Bhutan-SHR-Regional-Assessment.pdf

Chicago

Clean Air Task Force. Superhot Rock Geothermal in Bhutan. n.d. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/22144549/Bhutan-SHR-Regional-Assessment.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Clean Air Task Force |title=Superhot Rock Geothermal in Bhutan |url=https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/22144549/Bhutan-SHR-Regional-Assessment.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cleanairtaskforcendsuperhot, author = {{Clean Air Task Force}}, title = {{Superhot Rock Geothermal in Bhutan}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, url = {https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/22144549/Bhutan-SHR-Regional-Assessment.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }