Environmental research

The Royal Government of Bhutan approved the Alternative Renewable Energy Policy 2013. With this approval, the doors were open to a new world of opportunities for a more diversified and independent energy system through the development of alternative Renewable Energy solutions for provision of electricity especially in the remote areas of Bhutan. Among these alternative solutions for the provision of electricity, the concept of stand-alone Microgrid emerges as the enabling technology for reaching the isolated areas where the grid-based power has not yet arrived. Microgrids can be composed by a single source of energy or by a hybrid combination of a number of them (Solar photovoltaic, wind, bio-energy, pico/micro/mini and small hydro) which will cooperatively produce electricity enabled and controlled by the appropriate interface technologies such as power electronics and their digital control units. This project is about the deployment of a Prototype Microgrid based on 100% renewable energy (RE) within the premises of the College of Science and Technology (CST) of the Royal University of Bhutan (RUB). The purpose is education, training and research while locally producing autonomous electricity for the Phuentsholing General Hospital and saving money on energy costs. The deployment of this Microgrid is part of a larger endeavor between the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Columbia University and the Royal University of Bhutan for the development of an International Master Programme in Renewable Energy and Hydropower expected to run from 2015-2020. This Prototype Microgrid will serve as the back-bone for education, research and academic exchanges to be integrated in the on-going plan for establishing the International Master Programme. This project by addressing the need of institutionalized training in renewable energy technologies becomes a front runner in coping with the issue of environmental concerns caused by CO2 emissions produced by non-environmental friendly technologies. By building capacity in renewable energy technologies this project will in the long term contribute in gradually replacing technologies based on fossil fuel and in that way address the key environmental problem of air pollution. The project will address the thematic area of Climate Change Mitigation within Capacity Development, Policy and Innovation.

Bhutan