Nepal has significant hydropower potential due to its geography but has developed only 600 MW of its estimated 40,000 MW potential. Hydropower currently provides most of Nepal's electricity but demand is growing and only 40% of the population has access. Nepal relies heavily on biomass like fuelwood, agricultural waste, and animal dung to meet its energy needs since electricity accounts for just 1% of total consumption. Expanding hydropower development could increase electricity access and dependency while reducing environmental impacts from other energy sources.

1. Submitted To: Khagendra Timilsina
Presented By: Leopards
The electric bill won‟t give you a fright if you remember to
turn off the light
Electricity In Nepal

2. Nepal has a huge hydropower potential. In fact, the
perennial nature of Nepali rivers and the steep
gradient of the country's topography provide ideal
conditions for the development of some of the
world's largest hydroelectric projects in Nepal.
Current estimates are that
Nepal has approximately 40,000 MW of
economically feasible hydropower potential.
However, the present situation is that Nepal has
developed only approximately 600 MW of
hydropower. Therefore, bulk of the economically
feasible generation has not been realized yet.
Besides, the multipurpose, secondary and tertiary
benefits have not been realized from the
development of its rivers.
Hydropower In Nepal Although bestowed with tremendous hydropower
resources, only about 40% of Nepal's population has access to
electricity. Most of the power plants in Nepal are run-of-river
type with energy available in excess of the in-country demand
during the monsoon season and deficit during the dry season.
Nepal's electricity generation is dominated by hydropower,
though in the entire scenario of energy use of the country, the
electricity is a tiny fraction, only 1% energy need is fulfilled by
electricity. The bulk of the energy need is dominated by fuel
wood (68%), agricultural waste (15%), animal dung (8%)
and imported fossil fuel (8%). The other fact is that only about
40% of Nepal's population has access to electricity. With this
scenario and having immense potential of hydropower
development, it is important for Nepal to increase its energy
dependency on electricity with hydropower development. This
contributes to deforestation, soil erosion and depletion, and
increased flooding downstream in the Ganges plain

3. 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
HydroPower
Imported Fossil Fuel
Animal Dung
Fuel Wood
Agricultural Waste
1
8
8
68
15
Uses Of Fuels
HydroPower
Imported Fossil Fuel
Animal Dung
Fuel Wood
Agricultural Waste
Uses Of Fuels

4. Energy Consumption in Nepal
The electricity demand in Nepal is increasing by about 7-9% per year. About 40 % of
population in Nepal has access to electricity through the grid and off grid system. Nepal's
Tenth Five Year Plan (2002– 2007) aims to extend the electrification within country and
export to India for mutual benefit. The new Hydropower Policy 2001 seeks to promote
private sector investment in the sector of hydropower development and aims to expand the
electrification within the country and export.
The hydropower system in Nepal is dominated by run-of-river Projects. There is only one
seasonal storage project in the system. There is shortage of power during winter and spill
during wet season. The load factor is quite low as the majority of the consumption is
dominated by household use. This imbalance has clearly shown the need for storage
projects, and hence, cooperation between the two neighbouring countries is essential for the
best use of the hydro resource for mutual benefit.
The system loss is one of the major issues to be addressed to improve the power system
which accounts to be 25 % including technical and non-technical losses like pilferage.

5. STATUS OF POWER GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION
Nepal has 600 MW of installed capacity in its Integrated Nepal Power System (INPS). The
power system is dominated by the hydropower which contributes about 90 % of the
system and the balance is met by multi fuel plant. The hydropower development in Nepal
began with the development of 500 kW Pharping power plant in 1911. The most recent
significant power plant commissioned is the 144-MW Kali Gandaki “A” Hydroelectric Plant.
Until 1990, hydropower development was under the domain of government utility, Nepal
Electricity Authority (NEA) only. However, with the enactment of new Hydropower
Development Policy 1992, the sector was opened to the private sector also. There are
number of projects already built by the private developers. Private power producers
contribute 148 MW of power to the „Integrated Nepal Power System'.
The major hydropower plants with their capacity are listed in the table as follows:

6. WHY CAN'T NEPAL PRODUCE ENOUGH POWER ?
Due to lack of electricity, many parts of Nepal share
electricity. Ask any Nepali who lives here if they like the word - Load Shedding, a
term commonly used in Radio/Tv’s and Publications to notify public of schedule
of electricity for the coming week. Nepal has extreme land.
Transportation for any construction in rural
parts of Nepal is a major challenge. Many major hydropower projects require
years, if not decades. Nepal realizes the problem and the need to generate
electricity quickly. So, small hydropower projects, which can be done by small
farmers or a group of villages, are being constructed across Nepal.

7. IS NEPAL ALL HYDRO POWER NATION?
There are a few diesel power in the country. But many would like to say
that Nepal is completely a hydropower nation given the comparison of
projects by their capacity. Diesel-power comprises of less than 4% of the
total projects and hence often is ignored. Nepal needs to import
fuel/diesel from India, since it doesn't have oil. Diesel-power is expensive
for this nation also Nepal doesn't need any diesel-powers if it can
establish hydropower, for which, locations are in abundant
Hydro power project is a big - it requires lots of manpower and money.
Construction of various complex structures, Transportation of building
materials, machines are key tasks which require lots of time in planning
and operation. Most Government run projects are funded by donations
and/or loans from foreign countries. The word Hydropower means
Water Powered Electricity; Hydro means Water and Power is the
Electricity. The electricity is generated by the currents of waters from
rivers in the country. Project also requires great planning for electricity
distribution. Of all the projects in Nepal, these are the biggest of all.

8. Even as we write here, many are currently working, others have completed
their projects and many fold projects are proposed everyday!!. By the Year
2001, Number of major hydropower Projects completed is 18 and number of
projects proposed is 28. And by the same period, over 45 Small hydropower
projects were located throughout the country, providing electricity to
otherwise rural areas such Dhading, Dolpa, Helambu.
Hydropower business is a great way for Nepal to progress - It has the potential
to uplift poverty, provide electricity to every household and even allow Nepal
to sell electricity to other countries. Popularity of Hydropower comes closer to
becoming Nepal's third most important business for earning foreign-revenue
and every year, lots of foreign companies visit Nepal for project studies.
IS NEPAL ALL HYDRO POWER NATION?