A green energy project that aims to increase access to electricity in rural households in Bhutan (pictured) and boost renewable power in India has won the US Treasury’s Development Impact Honours.

Called the Green Power Development Project, it is believed to be the first certified cross-border clean development project run by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Using a public-private partnership, a 126MW Dagachhu hydropower facility was constructed to deliver carbon free clean energy to India, replacing electricity produced by fossil fuel generators. The project is expected to bring power to around 9,000 households in remote communities where mountainous terrain and small populations make construction and maintenance of grids too costly.

Accepting the award during a ceremony in Washington D.C., Xiaoyu Zhao, ADB Vice President of Operations said: “As this project in Bhutan has shown, sharing of hydropower resources is a win-win solution, which is anchored on mutual trust and shared interest.”