A National Market Assessment For Wind/Solar Hybrid Systems In Nepal

One of our SEPS exchange activities resulted in a comprehensive market assessment for wind/solar hybrid systems in Nepal, intended to directly address the existing uncertainties surrounding the technology and reach a consensus among stakeholders.

Being one of the world’s most mountainous countries, grid extension in Nepal is economically unfeasible in many locations. As a result, off-grid electrification solutions will be required to provide or upgrade access to electricity in the most inaccessible regions of Nepal.

In cooperation with Wind Empowerment, our project partner KAPEG (the Kathmandu Alternative Power and Energy Group) intended to assess the potential of wind/solar hybrid mini-grids for off-grid electrification in Nepal. Their activities resulted in a comprehensive analysis of the existing market for solar/wind hybrid systems in Nepal, including an analysis of the market size, the current regulatory environment, technical issues and the common delivery/business models used to establish and maintain off-grid solar/wind projects in Nepal.

The final assessment includes data collected from six wind/solar hybrid mini-grid sites, with an analysis of failure modes and frequency, along with a summary of a series of expert interviews and techno-economic and mapping efforts. Taken together, these sections are intended to provide actionable information and recommendations for the off-grid small-wind and solar sector in Nepal. The assessment details the current status of small wind in the country, wherein the country is most viable for the technology, what issues need to be addressed to optimize the enabling environment for the technology and what the estimated market size is in Nepal. Through this, our project partners might improve the utilisation of the indigenous wind resource and effectively employ small wind turbines as a solution for off-grid electrification in the rural regions of Nepal in the future.

Find more general information on this SEPS exchange activity here: A Country Level Market Assessment for Small Wind Turbines

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