Bhutan promotes solar water pump transformation

Does Bhutan have a solar energy project?

The project was executed by the Bhutanese government’s Department of Renewable Energy in collaboration with the Bhutan Power Corporation, a public utility. It received funding support from the Japanese government and was supported by the United Nations Development Programme in Bhutan. Is this the start of a solar energy rollout in Bhutan?

What are the hydropower projects in Bhutan?

The Punatsangchhu I (1,200MW), Punatsangchhu II (1,020MW), and Nikachhu (118MW) hydropower projects are currently being constructed in Bhutan. Of the total potential of 30,000MW, Bhutan government plans to harness 18,380MW of hydropower, which is estimated to affect 39,760 hectares of forest.

Why is Bhutan building a solar plant in Rubesa?

Phuntsho Namgyal said that the solar plant in Rubesa is part of the country’s plan to diversify its energy sources and enhance energy security. In 2019, the International Renewable Energy Agency carried out a Renewable Readiness Assessment of Bhutan.

Why is solar energy a problem in Bhutan?

The pilot solar plant at Rubesa, Wangduephodrang, revealed a need for skilled workers and expertise in Bhutan (Image: Bhutan Power Corporation) An additional problem is that the current low cost of power means people are not incentivised to explore solar energy, according to Adhikari.

Can a solar power plant power a household in Bhutan?

Households could be powered for a year by the solar plant at Rubesa, given the average household in Bhutan uses 1,567 kWh of electricity per year The pilot project, a 180-kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) plant was built at Rubesa village, in the western district of Wangduephodrang.

How many kilowatt-hours a year does Bhutan generate?

It has the capacity to generate about 269,000 kilowatt-hours of energy per year, said Rozal Adhikari, an engineer in Bhutan Power Corporation Ltd’s renewable energy division. The project has been integrated with a 600kW wind farm on the same site.