Micro hydropower in Nepal
Micro hydropower to generate electricity in Nepal started with Pharping plant with an installed capacity of 500 kW in 1911 followed by Sundarijal and Panauti, in 1936 and 1965 respectively. Up to 1980, the focus was laid primarily on large-scale power generation through large hydro and thermal means, the micro-hydro potential remained untapped. In the first four years , the government started subsidising the micro-hydro plants. The number of plants has been increasing thereafter. Most of these plants are off-grid isolated plants serving for local villages. In 2000, Alternative Energy Promotion Centre was formed to look after the micro-hydropower in Nepal. It defined the plants in the range of 10-100 kW as micro hydropower. As of 2018, about 3000 microhydro projects have been installed contributing about 35 MW.
History
Micro hydro plants were installed in Nepal since the 1960s with locally developed turbines to replace diesel engines mainly for agro-processing. First installation of micro hydro power was done ad Godavari in 1962. Agriculture Development Bank of Nepal started to provide loan facility to village entrepreneurs to set paddy mill, oil expeller or grinder. By the 1980s, a number of turbine mills were fitted with small dynamo to generate electricity to power few nearby houses.In the 90s, Nepal government started providing a subsidy of NPR 70,000 per kw for scheme above 3 kW and NPR 55,000 for peltric set up to 3 kW. A transport subsidy of NPR 21000 per kw is also provided depending on the location of the plant. The maximum subsidy is set at NPR 150,000 per kw. The subsidy is reimbursed by the Alternative Energy Promotion Center. The construction cost is around $2860 per kW of electricity. Besides Alternative Energy Promotion Center, various institutes are involved in the development of micro-hydro. Major ones are:
- Alternative Energy Promotion Center: the apex body of the government to promote and formulate policies related to micro hydro. Any subsidy should be applied via this body.
- Energy Sector Assistance Programme: a partnership between the Alternative Energy Promotion Center and the Government of Denmark via DANIDA.
- Rural Energy Development Programme: a UNDP supported program started since 1996. It works in various districts though the District Energy Offices. About 1100 kW has been installed via 80 micro-hydro plants by the 2000s.
- Annapurna Conservation Area Project: supports micro hydro mainly inside the Annapurna Conservation Area to displace fuelwood by electric cooking. About 460 kW has been installed via 11 projects by this project.
- Remote Area Development Committee: a government body which has installed about 300 kW via 22 micro-hydro plants in various districts.
Technology
The micro hydropower plants are mostly primitive types using locally manufactured turbines.Turbines
The mostly used turbines are Pelton and Cross-flow types. Most of the MHP turbines are manufactured locally.The first turbine manufactured at the Balaju Yantra Shala Pvt. Ltd. was a 5 kW propeller turbine for the first MHP of Nepal in 1962. Kathmandu Metal Industries Pvt. Ltd., Nepal YantraShala Energy, Nepal Hydro & Electric Pvt. Ltd., Nepal Machine and Steel Structure, and Thapa Engineering Industries Pvt. Ltd. followed in the manufacturing of turbines in Nepal. They even started manufacturing and providing installation and maintenance services to foreign clients.