Renewable energy in Afghanistan

Renewable energy in Afghanistan includes biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar, and wind power.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5] Afghanistan is a landlocked country surrounded by five other countries. With a population of less than 35 million people, it is one of the lowest energy consuming countries in relation to a global standing.^[6] It holds a spot as one of the countries with a smaller ecological footprint. Hydropower is currently the main source of renewable energy due to Afghanistan's geographical location. Its large mountainous environment facilitates the siting of hydroelectric dams (see also list of dams and reservoirs in Afghanistan) and other facets of hydro energy.^[2]

The renewable energy resource potential of Afghanistan is estimated at over 300,000 MW according to the state's Ministry of Energy and Water.^[7]^[2] The country currently spends around $280 million on importing 670 MW of electricity from neighboring Iran, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.^[8]^[1]

Another form of renewable energy in Afghanistan is biogas.^[9] With the start of biogas, communities have begun to feel the benefits beyond that of the environment through capacity building as well.^[9]

^ ^a ^b "Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat" (PDF). United States Energy Association (USEA). 2014. Retrieved 2019-04-17.
^ ^a ^b ^c "The Power of Nature: How Renewable Energy is Changing Lives in Afghanistan". United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). September 13, 2017. Retrieved 2019-04-20.
^ Cite error: The named reference NACE was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference First-ever solar-wind power plant goes functional in Herat was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference First-ever Kabul solar energy plant goes functional was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference mainalisilveira was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference ADB to provide $44.76m for construction of solar power plant was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ "Afghanistan Annually Pays $280M for Imported Power". TOLOnews. September 1, 2020. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
^ ^a ^b Cite error: The named reference biogas was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[USEA-1] "Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat" (PDF). United States Energy Association (USEA). 2014. Retrieved 2019-04-17.

[UNDP-2] "The Power of Nature: How Renewable Energy is Changing Lives in Afghanistan". United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). September 13, 2017. Retrieved 2019-04-20.

[NACE-3] Cite error: The named reference NACE was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[First-ever_solar-wind_power_plant_goes_functional_in_Herat-4] Cite error: The named reference First-ever solar-wind power plant goes functional in Herat was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[First-ever_Kabul_solar_energy_plant_goes_functional-5] Cite error: The named reference First-ever Kabul solar energy plant goes functional was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[mainalisilveira-6] Cite error: The named reference mainalisilveira was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[ADB_to_provide_$44.76m_for_construction_of_solar_power_plant-7] Cite error: The named reference ADB to provide $44.76m for construction of solar power plant was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[8] "Afghanistan Annually Pays $280M for Imported Power". TOLOnews. September 1, 2020. Retrieved 2020-10-10.

[biogas-9] Cite error: The named reference biogas was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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