Shansa becomes the first village in Lunana to use solar lighting

Chencho Dema

Shansa, a remote village in Lunana, is the first of 13 un-electrified communities to be solar-electrified through the installation of a 33kWp solar PV microgrid system.

Shansa is located at an altitude of 3,400 meters and it takes about eight days to walk from Tonshina in Laya Gewog, Gasa.

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Earlier, people in Shansar relied on solar lighting for basic needs like lighting their houses and charging their mobile phones, while they had to use firewood and LPG for cooking and heating.

The new solar microgrid is expected to generate 40.70 MWh of electricity per year and will transform the lives of 11 families in this highland village.

The 33kWp solar microgrid plant is being implemented by the Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources with financial support from the Life Foundation of Bhutan and the Government. The total expenditure for the project is Nu 21.1 million.

Pema Druba, MP for the Kamed-Lunana constituency, said solar energy will improve the lives of the people of Shansar. “It will also have many positive impacts on the environment as people will use less yak dung and firewood for heating and cooking.”

He added that the current government plans to build a small hydropower plant in Lunana during the 13th Five-Year Plan period.

The successful implementation of this solar microgrid is part of a broader effort to provide more villages in Lunana with reliable solar electricity in the coming years.

Baima Drupa said that with the help of the Bhutan Trust Fund, Lunana village will be fully solar-powered within three years.

The Department of Energy is also exploring funding to complete the last mile connectivity of these off-grid villages.

In a collaborative effort, the local community was involved in every step of the project, from construction to commissioning. They were also trained in plant operations and maintenance, ensuring the sustainability of the plant through minimal monthly energy bills.

The solar power project in Lunana is funded by Life Bhutan.