According to one estimate, nepal has a hydropower potential of 83,000 megawatts mw. Well, we are mostly concerned with the economically feasible hydropower potential which is 1474214772 gwh 1686 mw annually. Promoting sustainable hydropower development in nepal. Hydropower development in nepal linkedin slideshare. Water resources are important natural resources for the economic development of nepal. Mar 06, 2016 hydropower potential is measured in 3 ways gross theoretical, technically feasible and economically feasible potential. Hydropower environmental impact assessment manual table of contents message from the minister iii foreword iv acknowledgement v acronyms vi glossary of terms vii 1 introduction 1 1.
What is the scope of hydropower engineering in nepal. Hydropower plays a particularly important role in nepals economic future because of the scale of its potential. Nepals total hydropower potential update requirement the. Abundant hydropower potential interesting facts of nepal. It is indispensable force for driving all economic activities. Farpinghydropower plant commissioned in 1911, 100 yrs of history. Nepal has a theoretical potential of 83,000 mw of hydropower, out of which 42,000 mw is economically feasible. After democracy setup in nepal the atmosphere for investment is conducive. In this light, this study conducted by nepal economic forum nef for tin may be a useful reference as far as challenges in nepal s hydropower sector is concerned. Accelerating hydropower development in india for sustainable energy security 7 policy and regulatory initiatives for promoting hydropower development in india over the years, the government of india has undertaken a number of policy and regulatory initiatives to promote hydropower development and facilitate investments in the sector. Managing environmental and social impacts of hydropower in bhutan. What is nepals ranking in potential hydropower generation.
Nepal currently has an installed capacity of 1,000 mw coming from 88 hydropower plants across the country. Since 1911, 500 kw power generation at pharping, now reached 782. Managing environmental and social impacts of hydropower in. Chameliya hydroelectric power project embassy of nepal. Since then, no further study has, so far, been done in this field.
Nepals average annual per capita electricity consumption is about 161 kwh cbs20 one of the lowest consumption in south asia. The bottomline is to maintain good governance and transparent public procurement in hydropower sector. Unlocking nepals large hydropower potential and future. Hydropower development policy, 2058 2001 nepal law commission. History of hydropower development in nepal engineering sarokar. The total hydropower potential of nepal was assessed as 83,500 mw by dr.
Energy is the power that drives the countrys economy. However, this huge hydropower potential is still untapped. Energy sources in nepal can be divided into three broad categories, traditional. However stymied project progress is creating a bottleneck in hydro development, with the country even experiencing painful load shedding. Hydropower projects are under construction from 3000 m high elevation to as low 500 m. Apr 21, 2018 the topography of nepal is such that the nature has provided the great head and source of discharge. The website aims at identifying the worlds small hydropower development status and its potential in different countries and regions by engaging with stakeholders to share information. The aim of the present study is to provide the rgob policy guidance on strategic options for hydropower development in the medium and longterm basis on.
Nepal hydropower development program nhdp with over 90% of the countrys total electricity generation capacity generated by hydropower plants, nepal is heavily dependent on hydro resources to meet its energy demands. Nepals immediate neighbor, india, is a big potential export market for hydropower. Nepal electricity authority nea bheri babai diversion multipurpose project. Nepal government has planned to increase its current 67. The reason for underutilization of hydropower potential is that there are various challenges to developing hydropower projects in nepal, namely technical, financial and regulatory. Feasible 42,000 mw 88 billion m3 estimated water storage potential gon has prepared a plan for the development of 10,000 mw and 25,000 mw of hydropower for the coming 10 and 20 years respectively. It is my pleasure to introduce the 2017 hydropower status report. Executive summary hydroelectric power 5 hydropower contributes about 16 percent of global electricity, a share that is expected to grow. Jeewan p thanju explains why he thinks the future is still looking promising for nepali hydropower. Harnessing an estimated 40,000 mw is considered technically and economically feasible. Bhutan has installed 1,600 mw, or about 7 percent of its approximately 24,000 mw potential and an amount that well. Current estimates are that the theoretical hydropower potential is approximately 83000 mw. Regulatory challenges in hydropower development in nepal.
After thescreenings of the potential stakeholders in nepal s hydropower development,nha has informed of the consultative meeting by providing preliminary matrix and hsap document in advance. Nepal is a small country rich in hydropower potential. In contrary, 96 % of electricity in nepal is generated by hydropower 1. Despite having one of the worlds largest hydropower resources in the world, nepal lacks. Availability of abundant water resources and geophysical features provide ample opportunities for hydropower production in nepal.
Hydropower plays a particularly important role in nepal s economic future because of the scale of its potential. The central intelligence agency cia lists nepal as one of the least developed countries in the world. The platform responds to the growing demand and interest from unidos member states in small hydropower as a solution for increased energy access in rural areas. By harnessing the hydro resources nepal can meet its domestic demand, create a surplus for export and generate employment for its citizens. Hydropower development in nepal climate change, impacts and. Delineation of run of river hydropower potential of karnali. Accelerating hydropower development in india for sustainable. The countrys hydropower potential is estimated at 85,000 mw with 43,000 mw being economicallyviable. Nepal has endowed high potential of water resources, covering 395,000 ha 48% area within 45,000 km in length of 6000 rivers with 170 billion m3 annual runoff and 45,610 mw feasible hydroelectricity generation. Electricity currently represents about 1 percent of energy consumption. Nepal has high potential of hydropower generation with specific runoff of 0.
Estimated theoretically potential hydropower 85,000mw. Hari man shrestha assessed the total hydropower potential in nepal as 83,500 mw. During screening of the stakeholders, their experiences in policy making and execution, projects preparations. The topography of nepal is such that the nature has provided the great head and source of discharge. However, the present situation is that nepal has developed. Jan 12, 2018 nepal holds huge hydropower potential contributing to 3 percent of the worlds energy electricity generation.
Hari man shrestha titled cadastre of potential water power resources of less studied high. Bhutan nor nepal has fully developed its hydropower potential, bhutan has forged well ahead of nepal in terms of completed and planned projects. Nevertheless, nepal has a huge potential of hydroelectricity hydropower where more than 6000 perennial rivers and rivulets flow with an average water runoff of 225 billion m 3 pokharel, 2001. Nepal hydropower development program fact sheet nepal. Aug 20, 2018 claims of nepal as second richest country in the world after brazil in hydropower potential has never been validated. Nepals fifty eight years of development planning efforts has produced for less than 2o% of population with an access to electricity in nepal and even those who have access have to live with huge power cuts every day. The insufficient electricity supply imposes a number of costs on society, including equity costs, health and environmental impacts, and economic losses due to unreliable connectivity and productivity losses.
In nepal, for example, only 12% of the hydropower potential is used, and households are currently mostly meeting their energy needs with fuel wood 68%, followed by agricultural waste 15%. Nepal hydropower development program fact sheet nepal u. Bhutan has installed 1,600 mw, or about 7 percent of its approximately 24,000 mw potential and an amount that well exceeds peak domestic demand. Nov 08, 2016 water resources in nepal claims of nepal as second richest country in the world after brazil in hydropower potential has never been validated students and general public have been inundated with the 83,000 mw potential rhetoric based on a 1966 phd of dr. Talking about potential, well there are 83000 mw capacity possible here. Hydropower development policy, 2058 2001 nepal law. In nepals context, hydroelectricity is the only source of energy which has potential to fuel our economic. Students and general public have been inundated with the 83,000 mw potential rhetoric based on a 1966 phd of dr. Hydros technical potential is five times the current utilization rate, and huge potential exists in developing countries. Out of 40,000 mw of economically feasible hydropower potential in nepal only about 791 mw is currently developed. Nepal s huge hydropower potential is due to many perennial rivers, which start from the high himalayan mountains rising above 8,000 m in the north, flowing through the mountains toward lowlying plains in the south, and continuing on to india. Water resources in nepal claims of nepal as second richest country in the world after brazil in hydropower potential has never been validated students and general public have been inundated with the 83,000 mw potential rhetoric based on a 1966 phd of dr. It is expected that the energy deficit and peak deficit will rise to 10% and % respectively in 201112 49.
Hydropower project in nepal24tajikistan golovnaya hydropower capacity. The sources of water for these rivers are snow melt, glaciers and rainfall. Hydropower project in nepal 24tajikistan golovnaya hydropower capacity. Nepal holds huge hydropower potential contributing to 3 percent of the worlds energy electricity generation. Promoting sustainable hydropower development in nepal final. In this light, this study conducted by nepal economic forum nef for tin may be a useful reference as far as challenges in nepals hydropower sector is concerned. Hydropower in nepal hydroelectricity nepal free 30day. More than 6000 rivers originated from nepal flows to india. Despite its vast hydropower potential, nepal suffers from a severe and longlasting electricity supply crisis. Hydropower potential is measured in 3 ways gross theoretical, technically feasible and economically feasible potential. Hari man shrestha however, another more scientific study lead by prof. Worlds 20% of the electricity is produced by hydropower. Endowed with over 40,000 mw of economic hydropower potential relative to its nascent domestic demand, nepal can export electricity to its powerdeficit neighbours in the bbin bhutan, bangladesh. Nepal as investment in large hydro electric project nepal has realized that hydropower has the potential to be the cornerstone of government finance, a key engine of nepals economy and a vital means of rural electrification.