SN Power: “Vast untapped hydropower capacity in Asia”

Asia’s vast potential for hydropower will be a key source of renewable energy, according to Erik Knive, SN Power’s executive vice president in south east Asia. Bhutan and Nepal have 30GW of untapped hydro capacity each. India has about 37GW of installed capacity and can be expected to add 15GW over the next decade.

The regions demographic and economic growth trends indicate that it may well face an energy shortage in the medium-term. “For every 1% growth in a country’s gross domestic product, the country will need 1.3% more energy. … Asia’s energy capacity has been stretched as its population growth has outpaced its energy supply,” said SN’s senior official. “Very little new capacity has been added over the last seven to eight years,” Erik Knive added.

SN Power is actively involved in the region and entered into a joint venture with India’s Tata Power to build 1GW of hydro power plants in Nepal and India. It is also looking at an additional 1GW in various south Asian locations and entering the Laos and Vietnam markets.

Currently, the Statkraft and Norfund-owned company operates hydro plants in Chile, India, Nepal, Peru, Sri Lanka and The Philippines.