Hydro Energy Development in Nepal: A Path from Deficit to Surplus

摘要

This paper reviews Nepal's hydro power potential, current and future energy demand and the strategy needed to develop the hydro power plants to meet the demands. Nepal's economically feasible hydropower generation capacity is one of the highest in the world. However, this huge hydropower potential is still untapped. The country has harnessed only about 2% of its economic potential of 42,000 Megawatt (MW). By harnessing the hydro resources, Nepal can meet its domestic demand, create a surplus for export. The projected demand of the country to Fiscal Year 2030 is 4,200 MW which is 10% of the total economic potential. The strategy of development of the hydro power plants to shifted to storage type plants as the dry season output of the run of the river plants are just half of the total installed capacity.However,Nepal has made a remarkable progress in clean energy development and has a great prospect for the development of hydro energy fulfilling the energy deficit of the country in few years and will export the surplus energy to the neighbouring countries.