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Senior Specialist Renewable Energy Adapting and transforming livelihoods and economies (AAC) Resilient mountain economies and landscapes (SG2)
Mewang Gyeltshen is Senior Specialist – Renewable Energy at ICIMOD. His work focuses on transforming livelihoods and promoting green mountain economies by identifying renewable energy solutions across various value chains.
Mewang joined ICIMOD in October 2019 as the Regional Programme Coordinator for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Capability for the Hindu Kush Himalaya (REEECH). REEECH is part of the Global Network for Sustainable Energy Centers (GN-SEC), coordinated by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). In this role, he led the development of knowledge products, policy analyses, and initiatives for capacity and enterprise development, all aimed at enhancing the adoption of renewable energy solutions tailored to mountain environments and strengthening the resilience of mountain communities.
Before joining ICIMOD, Mewang spent over 25 years in Bhutan’s energy sector, culminating in his role as the Director for the Department of Renewable Energy under the Ministry of Economic Affairs. His contributions included mainstreaming programmes and processes for rural electrification across the country and diversifying Bhutan’s energy supply mix through the creation of enabling policies such as the National Renewable Energy Policy and the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Policy. He also conducted renewable energy resource assessments and developed a comprehensive Renewable Energy Master Plan, along with detailed feasibility reports for various renewable energy projects. His approach considers political, economic, social, and technological dimensions within a multi-actor context.
Mewang holds a Master of Science in Engineering and Policy Analysis from Delft University of Technology, Netherlands, and a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology-Roorkee, India.
Mewang Gyeltshen
How do you protect the pulse of the planet?
I protect the pulse of the planet by using access to renewable energy and energy efficiency services to help transform vulnerable communities into resilient mountain communities. Part of how I do this is by building ecosystems that foster and nurture energy-based sustainable enterprises backed up by evidence from the ground and innovations, and by supporting the incubation and scaling up of new ideas.
What is your favorite part of the work you do at ICIMOD?
What motivates me working at ICIMOD is the openness of the organisation to new ideas, the nurturing of collaborative efforts among professionals from diverse disciplines and the embracing of a shared vision towards transformation into resilient societies.
What are you passionate about?
I’m passionate about finding meaning in everything I do. I remain committed to do whatever I can, without any condition, if my being can be of any meaningful service to others.
My qualifications
I have worked for over 25 years in the renewable energy sector in Bhutan in various capacities including serving as the Director for the Department of Renewable Energy, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Royal Government of Bhutan and I am currently on a sabbatical leave to rejuvenate my thirst for international experience with diverse professionals and intellectuals at ICIMOD. I have a MSc in engineering and policy analysis and a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.
