To promote renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE), Bhutan Ecological Society (BES) and Department of Renewable Energy (DRE) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Thimphu yesterday.

BES and DRE will collaborate on various areas like implementation of RE projects especially in the communities where grid electricity is infeasible, promote RE and EE through research, and mobilise funds to support the activities, among others.

DRE will focus on overall administration and guidance related to policies and technical aspects for rural electrification, RE and EE. The department will also identify and manage the projects, seek statutory clearances, monitor and evaluate the implementation and performance of the projects, submit the project progress and completion reports.

On the other hand, BES will propose, promote and collaborate in carrying out relevant research on RE and EE activities, implement RE and EE projects in collaboration with the DRE, and actively source funding from non-traditional sources for the collaborative projects.

DRE’s Director Phuntsho Namgyal and the BES’s Executive Director Dr Nawang Norbu (PhD) signed the MoU.

Phuntsho Namgyal said that the importance of the RE sector is gaining popularity globally. He said that RE was intertwined with livelihood enhancement and that the collaboration with BES was timely. “RE sources help to maintain ecological balance,” he said.

Some of the alternative energy sources in the country besides electricity are solar, wind, and biomass.

https://kuenselonline.com/mou-to-widen-the-energy-supply/