Sonam Dema | Intern 

Commemorating the birth anniversary of Her Majesty the Gyaltsuen, a solar rooftop plant was launched on June 4 at the Centenary Farmer’s Market in Thimphu.

The plant is expected to generate more than 365,000 units of energy per annum which will be fed to the Bhutan Power Corporation low voltage grid.  

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Loknath Sharma said, “Both from the energy efficiency point of view as well as for our own energy security, solar is the solution.” 

The minister said that most industries, hotels and institutions have the capacity to go with solar rooftops. “So we must encourage them as much as possible,” he said.  

“We will not have a better day than today to inaugurate this solar project since it is the birth anniversary of Her Majesty the Gyaltsuen, who is also the patron for the conservation of environment,” the minister said.  

Royal Society for Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (RSSTEM), in collaboration with Bhutan Solar Initiative Project, completed the project – from design to completion – in six months. Thirteen de-suups, who had the basic techniques relevant to solar insulation that were relevant to the project, built the plant.

An expert from the USA helped maintain the quality assurance of the Solar Photovoltaic installed under the Royal command of His Majesty The King. Of the Nu 16.5 million grant received from Bhutan Trust Fund for Environment Conservation for the project, the plant was built at a cost of Nu 13.25 million. 

“The country is now looking forward to a better and greener future,” the minister said. “This project is the backbone of hope.”