The Minister for Energy and Natural Resources inaugurated a 33-kilowatt peak solar mini-grid plant at Shangsa village in Gasa’s Lunana Gewog on 7th September. A kilowatt peak measures the maximum power output of a solar photovoltaic system. This is the first solar mini-grid project in Lunana, which will benefit the 11 households in Shangsa.
The introduction of this mini-grid plant eliminates the need for firewood collection, significantly improving the health and hygiene of the Shangsa people.
To ensure the system’s efficient operation, it has been handed over to the community, with a nominal monthly electricity bill.
“The electricity provided by solar power will benefit them. They are relieved that they can now carry out any work that requires electricity. We are planning on getting funds to bring electricity to other remote places that do not have electricity,” said Gem Tshering, Energy and Natural Resources Minister.
The minister said that the hardest part of the project was transporting the materials for the solar mini-grid, which had to be transported by helicopter.
Similarly, it was also difficult to bring skilled manpower to the village as they suffered from altitude sickness.
The system was constructed at a total cost of over Nu 20 M by the Department of Energy with financial support from Bhutan for Life and the government.
The plant is expected to generate over 40 megawatt hour of electricity annually.
“The reason we opted for solar power is that installing transmission lines over 97 kilometres would be too costly. That is why we have implemented a solar off-grid or mini-grid system instead,” said Karma Namgyel, project manager.
On a national scale, this project supports Bhutan’s carbon neutrality goals by reducing reliance on firewood and aligns with various Sustainable Development Goals.
Tenzin Loday Gyeltshen
Edited by Sherub Dorji
