Kurichhu Hydro-electric Power Station Bhutan

Kurichhu Hydro-electric Power Station Bhutan is a 60 MW hydro power plant in Mongar, Bhutan. It is operated by Druk Green Power CORP LTD (DGPC). Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 60k homes (estimated). It ranks #4 of 5 Bhutan power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2001, it is around 25 years old — relatively modern. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, hydro supplies about 100.0% of Bhutan's electricity; the national grid averages 24 gCO₂/kWh (100.0% low-carbon) (2024).

Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id GEODB0003919.

Data provenance

Source of the capacity and fuel values:

capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100001022873; fuel: WRI GPPD

In context: how this plant compares

At 60 MW, Kurichhu Hydro-electric Power Station Bhutan is around the median hydro plant in Bhutan (64 MW). Technically it is described as run-of-river. Hydropower converts the energy of falling or flowing water into electricity; output depends on rainfall and reservoir level, and large dams also provide grid balancing and storage.

Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.

Key facts

Share of Bhutan hydro capacity

4.0% of 1,482 MW across 5 plants in this dataset

Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).

Capacity vs largest hydro plants in Bhutan

Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).

Owner

Operated by Druk Green Power CORP LTD (DGPC).

Local climate & thermal context

This hydro plant converts the energy of falling or flowing water through hydro turbines. It sits in a humid subtropical (dry winter) climate (Köppen Cwa) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 27.2°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.

Monthly mean temperature

Heating degree-days here run 83% below the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.

Climate heat-demand index: 19/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.

Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.

Site climate & environmental severity

This site sits in a moderately corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C3 — Medium), with humidity / wetness the leading environmental stress.

Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.

How it compares & nearby plants

The #4 largest hydro power plant of 5 in Bhutan by capacity.

Bhutan has 5 hydro power plants in this dataset, together about 1,482 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• Rangjung Small Hydroelectric Power Plant Bhutan · Hydro · 2.2 MW · Tashigang
• NURANANG · Hydro · 6 MW · Arunachal Pradesh
• BONGAIGAON TPP · Coal · 750 MW · Assam
• Bongaigaon power station · Coal · 750 MW · Assam
• Bongaigaon power station (Retired) · Coal · 1,000 MW · Assam
• Naitor power station · Coal · 1,320 MW · Assam

Location

Coordinates 27.2162, 91.2035 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

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