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Energy use pattern in Nepal |
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by Prayash Pathak (Chalise) | 20-07-2017 16:48
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The energy use pattern of Nepal is very diverse. The use of both renewable and non-renewable energy is wide spread throughout the country. While Nepal mainly relies on hydro electricity for its energy needs, solar and wind power is being seen as an important supplement to solve its energy crisis. Alternative energy or renewable energy is only one viable mean in Nepal to increase access of energy to its population. Nepal has diversified land structure from plain to high Himalayas and also settlement pattern is scattered and sparse. National grid extension in some places is not economically feasible. Big hydro projects need a huge investment and all the petroleum products consumed in Nepal are imported from India or overseas in the refined form for direct consumption which is causing the economic burden for the country. The high potentiality of the renewable energy resources available in the country is the most appropriate option for Nepal. It also helps to reduce the dependency on the traditional biomass energy resources and fossil fuels and to manage the energy crisis of the nation and ultimately helps to minimize the degradation of the environment. Nepal is a country blessed with high potential for renewable energy resources like hydro, solar, wind, biomass etc. The country has abundant potential for hydroelectricity generation. The theoretical hydroelectric potential has been estimated to be as high as 83,000 MW of which 42,000 MW are considered to be technically and economically feasible. But the sad fact is that the average production of hydro electricity in Nepal is barely reaching 1000 KW. Similarly, Nepal also has huge potential for solar energy. The country is located at favorable latitude that receives sufficient amounts of solar radiation. From solar energy alone, around 2,920 GWh of energy per year can be harnessed with utilization of just 0.01% of the total land area of Nepal. This is rising as an alternative to hydro-electricity due to its easy and long term availability. Other renewable energy sources abundantly available in the country are biomass and wind. The sustainable supply of fuel wood from reachable area of all land resources is around 12 million tons. Likewise total production of animal dung is about 15 million tons. Energy production from bio-gas plants is slowly replacing the use of wood and LPG gas in the rural areas. Wind mills have not been used so extensively but still few of them are running in the high hills of Manang and Mustang. In spite of being so rich in energy sources the utilization of the available alternative sources of energy is minimum in Nepal. Presently, around 12 % of population is electrified by alternative energy sources like micro hydro plant and solar home system. Around 900 thousand households are using clean energy solutions like improved cook stoves, biogas etc. for cooking. Although, the share of alternative energy sources is still small, it has increased by more than 50% since 2005. Most places of the country are still power cuts that are lasting 5-6 hours a day. So to conclude the richness of energy sources in Nepal is very high and the adoption of appropriate measures can ensure that Nepal will not only sustain its energy need but will also be able to export excess of the energy produced. |
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4 Comments
Hello prayash
I hope you are doing well
Thank you so much for this report
Green cheers
Regards
Asmita Gaire
Posted 12-05-2020 18:52
Thanks Prayash for your report. As your Pie Chart indicates, nearly three fourth of Nepal's energy needs are met by Fuelwood inspite of abundance of opportunities to produce renewable energy. High initial costs required for setting up of renewable energy infrastructure and lack of finance are often the major causes of such opportunities not being harnessed in many areas.
Posted 28-07-2017 15:16
Thanks for the kind word Arushi.
Posted 22-07-2017 14:18
Nepal occupies the most diverse ecosystem in the world and is indeed rich in natural resources which can be tapped to produce renewable energy. Although still a long way to go yet it's good to note that share of renewable energy has increased by more than 50% in last few years.Thanks for sharing.
Posted 21-07-2017 00:18