Prepared by: Sujan
Acharya, PULCHOWK CAMPUS
Introduction
Renewable energy is
generally defined as energy that comes from resources which are naturally replenished on a human timescale such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves and geothermal heat. Renewable
energy replaces conventional fuels in four distinct areas: electricity
generation, hot water/space heating, motor fuels, and rural (off-grid)energy services. Mini-micro hydro, Pico- hydro, biogas plant,
solar system, improved water mills, wind plants are commonly adopted renewable
resources power plans.
Current Scenario
Energy Data Energy is a vital input for many everyday
activities like cooking, heating, lighting, etc. The backbones of modern
society – agriculture, health sector, transportation, education, and industry –
rely on it. In the context of Nepal, the energy mix is characterized by the
dominance of traditional sources, followed by commercial and renewable. About
85 percent of the total energy consumption in Nepal is met through traditional
biomass. Out of the total biomass, firewood contributes about 89 percent,
animal waste 7 percent and the remaining 4 percent from agricultural residues.
The rest is met through commercial sources: petroleum products, Electricity and
coal. Renewable energy contributes 1 percent to this mix. Sources of Cooking
Fuels Firewood is the main source of cooking in rural and semi urban areas of
Nepal. Liquefied petroleum gas is the second largest, and used mainly in urban
and semi urban areas. Only 2 percent of cooking is done using biogas. Electricity
is the least significant source. Traditional sources of Energy Firewood,
Agriculture residues Livestock Sources of Energy, Total Energy Sources
Traditional Commercial Renewables Sources of Commercial Energy 19%, 15%, 66%.
AEPC - A Year in Review Sources of Lighting The recent Central Berau of
Statistics (CBS) data reveals that around 75% households in Nepal have access
to electricity including electricity from renewable sources as micro hydro and
solar. The majority of the population, who don’t have access to electricity,
reside in rural areas. Electricity (grid) is a predominant source of lighting
among the majority of Nepalese households with access to it. Kerosene is mainly
used for lighting in households located in remote areas of Nepal. Solar PV is
also major source of lighting. RET Installation Data The data presented shows
cumulative numbers for specific renewable energy technology (RET) installations
in Nepal by AEPC and other programs till July 15, 2014. RET Installation data
(as of July 15, 2014) SN RE technologies Unit Installed Numbers. According to
the
progress report on
the
AEPC for the fiscal year
2069/2070 gives
an overview of various programs and projects undertaken by the organization. It
presents the most up-to-date information available using indicators from the NRREP
results framework, the Renewable Energy for Rural Livelihood (RERL) project, and
other initiatives under AEPC. The report gives a summary of major activities, accomplishments,
and steps taken in 2013 to reach out to as many households as possible that are
not served or underserved with regards to modern energy usage. Historically,
the AEPC has catered almost exclusively to off grid rural households. Therefore,
2013 has been unique due to the additional efforts and initiatives launched to
cater towards urban energy needs. 2012 was a turning point for AEPC because of
the launching of the comprehensive NRREP, in July 2012, which functions as a
single programme modality. This has been possible only because of the
dedication and hard work of AEPC’s staff, stakeholders, and development
partners. During the period under review, 134 micro hydro projects with a total
capacity of 3,239 kW, benefiting approximately thirty-three thousand
households, were installed across the
Country with
support from AEPC’s programs (NRREP and RERL).
1. Mini Hydropower Plants kW(No.) 16,338 (42)
2. Micro Hydropower Plants kW(No.) 24,605 (1287)
3. Pico Hydropower Plants kW(No.) 3,703 (1634)
4. Improved Water Mills No. 9,015
5. Biogas Plants No. 277,226
6. Institutional Biogas Plants No. 226
7. Community Biogas Plants No. 124
8. Improved Cooking Stoves No. 739,283
9. Institutional Improved Cooking Stoves No. 1,518
10. Metallic Cooking Stoves No. 6,940
11. Solar Home Systems No. 329,849
12. Institutional Solar PV Systems No. 2,155
13. Photo Voltaic Pumping System No. 111 1
Critique
Energy is an important
development indicator, which provides vital inputs for survival
and economic development. Energy supply and consumption is still in a
traditional state in Nepal. As
no significant deposits of fossil fuel are available. Nepalese use the lowest
commercial energy (around 500 kWh per capita per year) of all South Asians by
far. The total energy consumption in Nepal for the year 2003/04 was 363 million
GJ of which the residential sector consumed 90% and agriculture sector 1% as
shown in the figure. Based on the fuel type, biomass provided 86% of the total
energy consumption, petroleum 9%, which is mainly consumed by urban areas,
electricity only 2% and renewable 1% of the total energy consumption. Nepal relies heavily on
biomass fuel as a result of the lack of development of other energy
alternatives and the overall poor economic condition of the nation. Fuel wood
is the main source of energy in Nepal and will continue to remain so for a long
time. Community
level biogas plants have not yet been fully developed and promoted. There is
still no competent biogas development and promotion unit in the country. Costs
are escalating and beyond the affordable limit of poor households. The
interaction between designers and end users is poor, which does not help to
improve the design.
At present, renewable energy generation
capability of the country is still significantly very low due to technological
and economic barriers. But the average efficiency of the renewable
energy technologies is good in performance and also environmentally safe. Nepal
is fully dependent on traditional energy sources such as biomass. For
commercial purpose the country is reliant on imported fossil fuels like petrol,
diesel, kerosene and LPG for running vehicles, stationary engines, boilers,
cooking, lighting etc. Heavy dependence for energy on biomass resources has
accelerated the depletion of natural resources and contributed to the
degradation of natural environment. The country spends about 40 per cent
of its foreign currency reserve on the import of petroleum products. On the
other hand, the country’s vast resource of renewable hydropower energy remains
virtually unexploited. Due to poor performance of generation side we are under
load shedding. Generation of electricity is not sufficient to meet our load
requirement. 2 lakhs biogas and same amount of solar plant are installed in
Nepalese society But there is not much higher plant are installed and there is
no grid connected such power plant. Here is some geographical problems of
transmitting energy so energy crisis go on increasing followed by high energy
demand. Solar cookers were introduced by
the Research Centre for Applied Science and Technology (RECAST) in 1977 as
parboiling cookers. The Centre for Rural Technology, Nepal (CRT/N) took further
initiative to promote Solar Cookers since early 1990's with the government
subsidy channeled through Alternative Energy promotion Centre (AEPC). Because
of their high cost, this technology has not become popular in the rural areas.
Although various types of solar cookers have been developed to reduce cost,
efforts to improve the efficiency of solar cookers have yet to be undertaken.
The solar
PV (photovoltaic) systems convert solar energy directly into electricity. The
NEA has carried out centralized solar photovoltaic-based rural electrification
in different locations. The cost of a centralized solar PV-based power system
is high, compared to electricity generation by smaller micro-hydropower units.
So installation of solar PV in large capacity is not under taken here.
Lately, private entrepreneurs and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have
been showing interest in the dissemination of solar PV home lighting systems.
These home systems are gaining popularity in some areas of Nepal. There are
around 57875 PV home systems are installed in the country by the end of 2004
covering 74 districts (Nepal, 2004). Energy Sector Assistance program (ESAP) of
Danish Government and AEPC has supported promotion and installation of
household PV systems in Nepal. Which seems to better in the advancement of
renewable energy sector.
The Eight Plan (1992-1997) envisaged the need for a coordinating body
for large-scale promotion of alternative energy technologies in Nepal and
Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) was thus established to promote the
use of Renewable Energy Technology and act as the government coordinating body.
Though renewable energy programs have positive implications on poverty
reduction, but this has not been the explicit goal of renewable energy programs
in Nepal until the commencement of the Tenth Plan in 2002.
Recommendation
There is a dire need to substitute as well as supplement the traditional
energy supply system by modern forms of sustainable energy in terms of
resources and technology. Because of the country's dependence on imported
fossil fuel, high cost of grid connection and low and scattered population
density, a decentralized energy supply system becomes the natural and feasible
choice. Decentralized new and renewable energy systems such as micro hydro,
solar photo voltaic, biogas, improved cooking stove etc provide feasible and
environment friendly energy supply options in rural areas. The most important
renewable energy technology in Nepal is related to Pico hydropower and micro
hydropower (up to 100 kW), biomass energy (biogas, briquettes, gasifies,
improved cooking stoves), solar photovoltaic (solar home systems, solar PV
water pumping, solar battery charging), solar thermal energy (solar water
heater, solar dryer, solar cookers etc.)
Nepal needs to harness its
vast hydropower potential and reduce its dependence on biomass in order to
check the further degradation of the environment and reduce country’s dependence
on fossil fuel based energy. The power so generated can be used for setting up clean
energy based industries which will significantly contribute to the economic
development of the country.
The improved cook stove
and biogas programs initially had goals to reduce firewood consumption but now
they also justify themselves on health ground and are linked to income
generation as well as reduction of women's drudgery. Biogas has been mainly
used for cooking and the bio slurry has been used as a high quality fertilizer
for increasing agricultural productivity. Few households have used the biogas
for lighting. Micro hydro was seen as a technology to reduce drudgery, provide
lighting but now the productive end uses are considered as the desired priority.
Solar energy has served widely as a home lighting device. Solar energy has also
been used for drying and cooking food, powering computers, irrigation and
drinking water systems but theses uses are very limited.
It is highly recommended that a separate subsidy policy has been made
effective by His Majesty's Government of Nepal (HMG/N) channeling through the
AEPC, for extensive promotion of RETs in the rural areas.
Conclusion
Due to poor generation side and increasing the energy demand we facing
the load shedding problems. Our transmitting system also have to be upgraded.
So here is main concern in our country is to advancement of renewable energy
resources and to installed many of off grid power system. Our main concern in
here is now to popularize and promote the use of alternative/ renewable energy
technology and raise the living standard of the rural people, to protect the
environment as well as to develop the commercially viable alternative energy
industries in the country. A separate subsidy policy has also been made
effective by government of Nepal to overcome the load shedding to fulfill high
energy demand in our country.
References
