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Cool and Solar
The project aims to contribute towards addressing the challenge of increasing energy demand, associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by promoting uptake of renewable energy and enhancing energy efficiency. About 67 percent of the energy needs in the country are supplied from thermal sources and only about 30 percent are met from hydropower. While the country exports hydroelectricity during the peak production season, Bhutan import electricity in the lean winter months. The GHG emissions from the energy sector have also been increasing over the years. Given Bhutan’s commitment to remain carbon neutral for all times, there is a need to diversify the energy sources to reduce emission and enhance the energy security of the country. The project will contribute toward enhancing the technical capacity for promoting uptake of renewable energy and enhancing the efficiency of the energy intensive sectors. Primarily the project focuses on strengthening technical capacity for design and installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and energy audit. Capacity strengthening programs under the project will target public institutions, academia, and private and corporate sectors.
Objectives
- The primary objective of the project is to ensure adequate technical capacity in the country for solar installations and energy auditing of energy intensive sectors by 2025
Project Approach
Outcome 1: Enhancing technical capacity for solar installation
Towards enhancing technical capacity for uptake of solar PV, two in-person trainings and an online training will be conducted. About 100 participants will be trained in solar electric design and installation for both grid-connected and battery-based systems. To ensure wider reach and impacts on the ground, participants from various sectors representing policy making, academia and sectors responsible for on-ground installation, and operation and maintenance will be provided trainings. A wide range of sectors covered by the training is expected to ensure availability of sustained technical capacity in the country. It is expected that the academic institutions and those engaged in installation and operation on the ground will be instrumental in building wider capacity across the sectors and the country at large.
Outcome 2: 20 Engineers trained as certified energy auditors
Energy auditing is essential to identify areas of high energy consumption and provide vital information and recommendations to conserve energy and improve energy efficiency. However, there are no certified energy auditors in the country. Therefore, as a first step towards training the first cohort of certified energy auditors, 20 engineers will be provided capacity building on energy audits and technical capacity for enhancing energy efficiency will be enhanced through training of certified energy auditors. Availability of certified energy auditors in the country would greatly contribute towards improving the energy efficiency of the energy intensive sectors. Enhanced technical capability on energy efficiency is expected to result in implementation of relevant policies and impactful projects.
Outcome 3: 4 kW Solar installed at Royal Academy
Most off-grid communities in Bhutan are at high-altitude areas like Lunana. The project will install a state-of-the-art solar installation at Royal Academy, Pangbisa located at an elevation of over 2,900 masl. It will serve as a demonstration site for hands-on training for high-altitude solar =and hybrid solar installations. Hybrid installations are grid-connected with battery storage solar electric systems.
Outcome 4: Increased understanding and awareness on solar and energy efficiency
There are comprehensive policies and plans for promoting renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE) in the country. However, due to low level of awareness on the long term environmental, social and economic benefits of RE and EE, there is limited uptake of RE and adoption of EE measures. Therefore, coupled with the technical capacity building, the project will raise awareness to increase uptake of RE and adoption of EE measures."
Geographic Coverage
Capacity building: Capacity building programs under the project will target all the key stakeholders across all levels of government, private and corporate sectors. The project aims to provide training opportunities a wide range of stakeholders including those involved in design, installation, operation and maintenance of solar electric systems, and promotion and adoption of energy efficiency measures.
Solar installations: Solar installation will be done at Royal Academy in Pangbisa, Paro. This will serve as a demonstration site for high-altitude and hybrid solar electric system installation.Solar installation will be done at Royal Academy, Pangbisa, Paro. This will serve as a demonstration site for high altitude and hybrid solar electric system installation.
Partners
• Department of Energy, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources.
