Presents Low Head Pico Hydropower as Energy resource in Nepal. Its scopes and opportunities are presented.

1. Energy Resource:
Low Head Pico Hydropower
Ashesh Babu Timilsina ( 073MSRE502 )
M.Sc. in Renewable Energy Engineering
Department Of Mechanical Engineering , Pulchowk Campus
Institute Of Engineering , Tribhuvan University

2. Background
• Distinct link between poverty and access to modern energy (Saghir, 2017)
• Pico hydropower is able to provide rural electrification where grid extension is too
costly and consumers have low incomes (Anyia, Kirkea, & Alib, 2010)
• Pico hydro, a very small hydropower units suitable for a single household or a small
group of households is a comparatively cheap option for rural electrification ( Green,
Fuentes , Rai , & Taylor , 2005)
• In comparison with Solar PV, Grid Extension, and Diesel Generators, pico hydro can be
installed at a lower cost for the same energy output ( Green, Fuentes , Rai , & Taylor ,
2005) & (The World Bank Group: Energy Unit, Energy, Transport and Water Department,
2006)
• In case of Nepal, As per Renewable Energy Subsidy Policy, 2073
• Up to 10 kW defined as Pico-hydropower in Nepal
• Following are included in Pico hydro power
• Peltric Sets
• Electrification with Improved Water Mill
• Others
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Energy Resource: Low Head Pico Hydropower

3. Objectives
• Main Objective
• To review about Low Head Pico Hydropower
• Specific Objectives
• To identify practice in Low Head Pico Hydropower
• To know about present statud of Pico Hydropower for low head in Nepal
• To study about policies regulating practice of such technologies in Nepal
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Energy Resource: Low Head Pico Hydropower

4. Available Technologies
Hydropower
Turbines
Impulse
Pelton
Turgo
Cross Flow
Reaction
Francis
Propeller Type
Screw Type
Water
wheels
Hydrokinetic
High
Head
Low
Head
Source : Applegate Group, Inc., 2017
Source : Williamson , Stark, & Booker, 2014
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Energy Resource: Low Head Pico Hydropower
• Usually, impulse turbines are cheaper than reaction turbines because no specialist pressure
casing and no carefully engineered clearance are needed. (Edeoja, Ibrahim, & Kucha, 2015)
Low Head
High Head

5. Available Technologies :
Commercially Successful (Worldwide)
Photo Courtesy: Asian Phoenix Resources Photo Courtsey: Landustrie
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Energy Resource: Low Head Pico Hydropower
Pico-propeller Turbine Screw Turbine

6. Current Status
•Umbrella organization of Surveying, manufacturer &installer companies Nepal: Micro/Mini
Hydropower Development Association (NMHDA)
•According to NMHDA
• 13 Companies are currently involved for installation upto 5 kW
• Up to 1480 Power plants (<5 kW) are currently installed in Nepal
•PEEDA (People Energy & Environment Development Association) has identified the low-
head pico propeller developed by NHE and KMI as having a significant potential for
application all over the hill and terai region of Nepal.
•Pico-propeller type turbine systems are widely installed in Nepal (Peltric Set being widely
used among high head options)
•Fabrication and installation of first propeller turbine , by BYS in 1962
•Two technologies under development in Nepal
• Gravitational Water Vortex Turbine at Center for Energy Studies, CES by IOE
• Water Wheels at Turbine Testing Laboratory, TTL by KU
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Energy Resource: Low Head Pico Hydropower

7. Current Status
• Though not published, it can be found from talks with peoples involved in this sector that in Nepal,
most of the installed system are not in operation now due to maintenance.
• A study done in Vietnam shows that, the lower bearing is the most frequent cause of failure, and
generator windings and seals also fail on a regular basis ( Paish & Green, 2017)
• As these system were of huge impact regarding, rural electrification in Vietnam, the above
shortcomings were addressed in local level by Renewable Energy Research Centre (RERC). The resulting
product had higher output and longer life span. But due to higher initial cost than previous version, it
was hard for it to penetrate market. ( Paish & Green, 2017)
• Some images of a 650 W Pico hydro implemented in Humla, Nepal (RIDS-Nepal - Rural Integrated
Development Services - Nepal, 2017)
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Energy Resource: Low Head Pico Hydropower
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Photo Courtesy: RIDS-Nepal
Power House Inside the Power House Generator

8. Policies
• Off-grid electrification is under the Government of Nepal, Ministry of Population and
Environment (MoEST) which implements through its Alternative Energy Promotion
Centre (AEPC); through the National Rural and Renewable Energy Programme (NRREP)
financed by GoN, DANIDA and other donor agencies
• Subsidy Policy, Renewable Energy Subsidy Policy, 2073 BS
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Energy Resource: Low Head Pico Hydropower
Source : Renewable Energy Subsidy Policy, 2073 BS

9. Discussion
• Is seen as viable alternative to the high head peltric-sets or to the solar home systems
• Can be incorporated in the existing hydraulic channels to generate electricity
• Due to being technically relatively simple, such system can be developed in Nepal,
independently (Except : Generator)
• Most if these units are facing maintenance problem, specially in bearing, seals and
generator.
• Positive impact can be brought in rural electrification in Nepal
• Good subsidy policy for promotion of such technology
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Energy Resource: Low Head Pico Hydropower

10. SWOT Analysis
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Energy Resource: Low Head Pico Hydropower
Strength:
• Possibility of Local Design and
Fabrication
• Portability
Opportunities:
• Very large potential in country
• Likely to be funded by many
organizations inside country
• Large market potential
Weakness
• Comparatively low efficiency
• Repair and maintenance problem
Threats:
• May not electrify whole village

11. Conclusion
• Cheaper, Cleaner and Better option for Rural Electrification
• Can be Independently developed by Nepal
• Research regarding technical improvements need to be done aiming
low cost per unit power of overall system
• Maintenance training at local level need to be provided for
sustainability of these projects
• Solution to Light Rural Nepal : Low Head Pico Hydropower + LED Bulbs
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Energy Resource: Low Head Pico Hydropower

12. Thank You
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Energy Resource: Low Head Pico Hydropower
Photo Courtesy: RIDS-Nepal

13. References
1. Asian Phoenix Resources Ltd. (2017, June 7). PowerPal Electricity from water Mini Hydroelectric Generators. Retrieved from Asian Phoenix Resources Ltd:
http://www.powerpal.com
2. Green, J., Fuentes , M., Rai , K., & Taylor , S. (2005). Stimulating the Picohydropower Market for Low-Income Households in Ecuador . Washington, D.C. : The
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/THE WORLD BANK .
3. Alternative Energy Promotion Centre, Ministry of Population and Environment. (2016). Renewable Energy Subsidy Policy, 2073 BS. Renewable Energy Subsidy
Policy, 2073 BS. Kathmandu: Government of Nepal, Ministry of Population and Environment.
4. Anyia, M., Kirkea, B., & Alib, S. (2010). Remote community electrification in Sarawak, Malaysia. Renewable Energy, 1609-1613.
5. Applegate Group, Inc. (2017, 05 26). Section 1: Low Head Turbines Applegate Group, Inc. Retrieved from Applegate Group, Inc.:
http://www.applegategroup.com/node/176
6. Edeoja, A., Ibrahim, S., & Kucha, E. (2015). Suitability of Pico-Hydropower Technology For Addressing The Nigerian Energy Crisis – A Review. International
Journal of Engineering Inventions , 17-40.
7. Landustrie . (2017, June 8). Landustrie : Water Technology. Retrieved from Landustrie : Hydropower:
http://www.landustrie.nl/en/products/hydropower.html
8. Paish, O., & Green, D. (2017, July 20). The Pico Hydro Market in Vietnam R8150-Vietnam. Retrieved from:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/57a08cf340f0b652dd001676/R8150-Vietnam.pdf
9. RIDS-Nepal - Rural Integrated Development Services - Nepal. (2017, July 20). Pico-Hydro. Retrieved from RIDS- Nepal at a glance: http://www.rids-
nepal.org/index.php/Pico-Hydro.html
10. Saghir, J. (2017, 05 26). ENERGY Working Notes. London, England.
11. The World Bank Group: Energy Unit, Energy, Transport and Water Department . (2006). Technical and Economic Assessment of Grid, Mini-Grid and Off-Grade
Electrification Technologies . Washington, D.C: The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank Group .
12. Williamson , S., Stark, B., & Booker, J. (2014). Low head pico hydro turbine selection using a multi-criteria analysis. Renewable Energy, 53-50.
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14. Discussion
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Energy Resource: Low Head Pico Hydropower