300,000 houses get access to renewable energy in last 4-year

 Kathmandu, Feb. 5

Executive Director of the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) Dr. Madhu Sudan Adhikari has said that the contribution of alternative energy in the national energy consumption has increased to 4 per cent from 2.5 per cent four years ago.

In that period, about 300,000 households have access to about 20-Megawatt renewable energy, he said while speaking at his farewell programme. He was appointed to the post of the Executive Director of the AEPC in February 2019.

According to Dr. Adhikari, about 90,000 domestic solar system and 10,080 rooftop solar system were installed during the past four years. Likewise, the number of institutional solar energy system installed was 1,824, street solar lamp 3,309, solar cooker and dryer 2464, improved iron cook stoves 20482 and solar irrigation and water supply system installed were 1765.

The AEPC also developed 108 large capacity bio-gas and waste to energy projects, 2,366 mini grids, and 5,575 micro and small hydro projects.

"Financial resources of about Rs. 40 billion were mobilised during my tenure to expand the renewable and alternative energy in Nepal. A new law is in the process for formation and has been submitted to the Prime Minister's Office," Dr. Adhikari said.

For the long-term initiatives, the AEPC has approved the Renewable Energy Subsidy Policy and implemented which has provisions to provide up to 90 per cent subsidy on the cost. Subsidy to the domestic biogas project has been increased by 30 per cent. A last mile electrification plan is formulated to provide energy to the households in the remote areas.

"Nepal Electricity Authority will expand energy to 300,000 households while the AEPC will provide the facility to 200,000 houses," said Dr. Adhikari.

Nepal aims to provide clean cooking energy to about 4 million houses by 2030. The AEPC has also signed agreement with various donors like the World Bank, KFW, GIZ, United Kingdom and SASEC to implement various renewable energy programmes. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 6 February 2023.