Renewable energy perspective plan of nepal 200-2020 an ... - SNV

At the moment, the involvement and commitment of the government is minimal in
terms of infrastructure support in the solar PV development in Nepal. Government has
been providing a subsidy of 50 % and 75% on, solar PV home system and PV
irrigation system, respectively, through the ADB/N. It is also learnt that the subsidy
for irrigation has not been released so far. The global technological advancement in
solar PV resulting in reduced cost of solar panel, solar potentiality of the country and
the absence of other new and renewable sources of energy provide very conducive
environment for the promotion of solar energy in Nepal. Solar energy could make
significant contribution in meeting the rural as welt as urban energy needs for
decentralized rural electrification, communication/information, preservation and
storage of vital medicines in rural clinics and health posts and solar PV based drip
irrigation. Similarly, PV integrated building designs, which is gaining popularity in
developed countries, could be promoted in urban areas to augment/substitute grid
electricity.
Some of the problems in this sector are related to lack of standardization of products,
high initial cost, lack of sufficient funds for subsidy. lengthy procedures of acquiring
loans, and lack of trained human resource in remote areas.
4.4 Wind Power
A potential of about 200 VIW wind power in the 12 km corridor from Kagbeni to
Chhusang generating about 500 GWh electricity annually has been identified so far in
Nepal (Dangrid. 1992). Similarly, another study undertaken in Solukhumbu district in
19 C )7 reveals that the average wind speed in the Khumbu region is 5m/z and is
suitable for electricity generation. The potential, however, was not estimated. A
preliminary survey of Department of Meteorology and Hydrology indicates that wind
energy can be harvested in Nepal for generating electricity in the hills and pumping
water in the Terai during dry season for irrigation.
The average installation cost per k\V for wind energy has come down in the past two
decades. The average cost in Europe is about US S 1000 per installed kilowatt, and
US$ 800 in India. The ex-factor y price for Chinese made wind turbines generators
(WTG) is about US S 890 per kilowatt. With proper site selection. Nepal could also
economically harness its wind potential.
Nepal's efforts to harness wind energy have resulted in series of failures. The first
recorded failure to exploit wind energy in Nepal was made with the USAID support in
the Agriculture Farm in Rampur, Chitwan in the early seventies. Similarly, an
individual's effort to install a wind turbine for pumping water in Ramechap district in
the late seventies also failed. RECAST bought two wind pumps from India for
demonstration of this technology. Though both of these turbines functioned for
sometime, the efforts fizzled out in the absence of continuity. Recently. Krishna Grill
and Engineering Works (KGEW) in Biratnagar has fabricated and installed three wind
pumps in the eastern Terai also met with similar destiny.
The most significant and systematic effort to harness wind energy in Nepal was
undertaken by Nepal Electricity Authority in 1989. Two 10 kilowatts (kW) WTG
were installed and operated in Kagbeni of Mustang district. The electricity generated
from WTG was distributed to 60 houses in the village. These turbines broke down
after two months of operation for technical reasons resulted from incomplete wind
data.