Nepal and small-scale renewable energy
Nepal, a country characterized by its dramatic Himalayan landscape, is rich in hydropower potential, which plays a critical role in its energy generation. As of 2022, around 98.5 percent of the country's electricity capacity comes from hydroelectric plants, reflecting significant progress in electrification—down from 80 percent of the population lacking electricity in 2000 to only 8 percent in 2022. Despite its vast potential, with an estimated 84,000 megawatts of hydropower available, the equitable distribution of energy remains a challenge.
Small-scale renewable energy initiatives, particularly microhydropower systems, are crucial for electrifying remote communities that are difficult to connect to a national grid dominated by large hydropower projects. With over 3,000 microhydropower projects currently operational, these systems are essential for providing electricity and supporting agricultural processes for more than 300,000 households. Furthermore, the government promotes other renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind. More than 220,000 solar home systems have been installed, contributing to the energy mix, though solar and wind collectively account for only a small portion of total energy generation.
Overall, Nepal's efforts in small-scale renewable energy highlight the country's commitment to sustainable development and addressing the energy needs of its diverse population.
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Nepal and small-scale renewable energy
Official Name: Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.
Summary: Almost all the energy generated in Nepal comes from hydropower. The country's government has made great strides in electrification. In 2000, 80 percent of the population did not have electricity, but in 2022, only about 8 percent of the population was without it. Nepal’s dramatic Himalayan topography and its wealth of water resources leave Nepal paradoxically wealthy in potential hydropower and yet poor in equitable distribution potential.
Hydropower
According to the US Central Intelligence Agency’s World Factbook, in fiscal year 2022, an estimated 98.5 percent of Nepal’s installed capacity for electricity generation was from hydroelectric plants. In 2021 the country generated more than 1,200 megawatt-hours of hydroelectric power. However, with Nepal’s abundant water resources coursing through the Himalayan range, a projected 84,000 megawatts of hydropower is available, with 43,000 megawatts estimated to be economically and technically accessible. Of this, 620 megawatts is utilized through both large dams that power faraway cities and microhydropower systems that electrify small, remote communities. If Nepal harnessed the hydropower available, energy needs for private and commercial consumption could be met with excess energy to export. The country has set a goal to generate 28,000 megawatts by 2025. With Nepal’s harsh typography and remote communities, microhydropower has the potential to electrify rural communities that are logistically, technically, and financially prohibitive to link to a national grid powered by a few large hydropower dams. Microhydropower systems are typically less than 100 kilowatts, have a small environmental footprint, and provide both electrification and agricultural processing services (milling, grinding, and so forth) to small, often remote, communities. A 2023 article in Wisions of Sustainability, stated that the country had more than 3,000 microhydropower projects that were generating power for more than 300,000 households. However, these systems faced challenges because of low household incomes and the expansion of the national grid.
Solar and Other Schemes
With the difficulty in extending a national grid to remote villages, the Nepalese government actively promotes a variety of small-scale, place-appropriate alternative energies. More than 220,000 solar home systems are installed in Nepal’s remote communities. Solar cookers and solar dryers for agricultural processing are also used. Wind is another sustainable energy. According to the World Factbook in 2022, solar accounted for 1.4 percent of Nepal's generated electricity, while wind accounted for 0.1 percent. The country still produced or used a small amount of fossil fuels, including it production of 15,000 metric tons of coal and use of 62,000 barrels per day of refined petroleum.
Bibliography
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Gurung, A., A. Kumar Ghimeray, and S. H. A. Hassan. “The Prospects of Renewable Energy Technologies for Rural Electrification: A Review From Nepal.” Energy Policy 40 (January 2012).
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“Nepal.” International Hydropower Association, May 2016, www.hydropower.org/country-profiles/nepal. Accessed 5 Aug. 2024.
“Nepal.” The World Factbook, US Central Intelligence Agency, 30 July 2024, www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/nepal/. Accessed 5 Aug. 2024.
Rai, Om Astha. “Nepal Wins Hearts and Minds with Biogas Boom.” Climate News Network, 2 July 2014, climatenewsnetwork.net/nepal-wins-hearts-and-minds-with-biogas-boom/. Accessed 5 Aug. 2024.
"Nepal." US Energy Information Administration, 2022, www.eia.gov/international/overview/country/NPL. Accessed 5 Aug. 2024.