Energy In Nepal: Microhydropower 🇳🇵

Question 1

What are the energy opportunities in Nepal?

Answer 1

• hydroelectric power
• solar
• biogas
• small-scale wind turbines
• solar cookers
• MICRO-HYDRO POWER

Question 2

How does Nepal generate energy currently?

Answer 2

Coal, electricity, renewables, fuel wood, agricultural residue, animal waste

Question 3

What is the location of Nepal?

Answer 3

Southern Asia
Landlocked between: China, (Tibet), and India
Himalayas
Sits on a tectonic plate boundary

Question 4

What landscape is needed for micro-hydro power (MHP)?

Answer 4

Hilly, trees, river/stream, vegetation, channel, mountains
Water comes from snowmelt from said mountains

Question 5

Climate of Nepal?

Answer 5

Seasonal climate (very extreme)
Very snowy, rainy season, hot in summer
Solar power is used often

Question 6

What is MHP?

Answer 6

type of hydroelectric power that typically produces from 5 kW to 100 kW of electricity using the natural flow of water

Question 7

Who finances MHP plants in Nepal?

Answer 7

Government (of Nepal) and the World Bank
400 built which provide energy to 500,000 people in Nepal

Question 8

What is the evidence for Nepal’s development?

Answer 8

LIC
HDI-0.55 (fairly low)
Low energy use - 100kW/h per person annually
Majority of jobs are in primary sector (farming, mining, etc.)

Question 9

What are some benefits of MHP in Nepal?

Answer 9

• small-scale so no one is displaced or moved from the area
• clean energy source
• water used in plants can be used for other things - not polluted or changed
• produces no pollution
• costs $1,000-$20,000 which is relatively cheap; maintenance fees are small
• small-scale means there are fewer problems with turbines silting up
• minimal impact on environment
• connects very rural, mountainous areas with electricity
• if excess energy is produced, companies will buy it which generates income for villages

Question 10

What are the problems with MHP in Nepal?

Answer 10

• only people living very close to plant can benefit from electricity
• energy cannot be saved -used straight away
• if streamflow falls, electricity can’t be generated (dry seasons)
• size and flow of small streams may restrict future expansion of site as demand increases
• size of stream fluctuates seasonally (summer=dry)
• stream water is diverted away from portion of stream- could damage local ecology
• maximum capacity and if flow is faster it doesn’t mean more electricity will be produced
• pipe could get covered with vegetation and access is difficult