His Excellency the Minister for Energy and Natural Resources has inaugurated the 33 kWp Solar Mini-grid plant at Shangsa village under Lunana Gewog on 7th September 2024. The project is a first of its kind in Lunana and marks a significant achievement for the Ministry and the country as a whole.
The system was constructed at a project cost of Nu. 21.185 million by the Department of Energy, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources through the funding support of Bhutan for Life (BFL) and the Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB). The system is expected to generate approximately 40.70 MWh of energy annually and will provide clean and reliable electricity to the existing 11 households with a population of 31 in Shangsa village.
With this mini grid plant, the burden of gathering firewood and relying on it has been now lifted. Additionally, the health and hygiene of women and children, who spend much of their time indoors, will be significantly improved. To ensure the seamless operation of the system, the plant is handed over to the community, for which a minimal monthly energy bill is collected.
At a national level, this project contributes to Bhutan’s carbon neutrality goals by reducing firewood usage and it also aligns with various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
