Renewable Energy

North-West Nepal will most likely never be connected to the national power grid due to the expense, remoteness and rugged terrain. The district of Humla is rich in renewable resources – sun, wind and waterpower potential.

These energy sources if tapped and maintained properly represent a way out of the grinding poverty that afflicts so many lives in Nepal’s remote regions.  Often the solutions integrate both hydro and solar to provide a 24 hour, year round solution.

To date the Nepal Trust, with the support of Rotary International, has implemented

• 5 micro hydro plants in Humla
• 3 village solar projects 

And installed solar equipment in

• the district hospital 
• 6 village health posts 
• the office and guesthouse in Simikot.

Funding has been secured for a 50kW micro hydro scheme that will provide electricity and power for 4,000 people at Ghoti in South Humla.  Ghoti Kola will be our largest MHP to date and is a key project for 2008.

In future, we hope to implement a Renewable Energy Service Centre in Simikot.  The centre will offer training in maintenance and repairs for local community power plant operators, reducing the expense and delay involved in flying in specialist engineers from the bigger cities.

Why electrify?

Electricity is a positive advancement on many levels.

• Harnessing the power of nature means clean renewable energy is available on tap. 
• People are no longer reliant on expensive and hazardous fuels being transported into the area.
• Every household is provided with energy saving lightbulbs meaning that activities can continue after sunset without danger to health from smoky woodfires and dim oil lamps.
• Longer working hours ultimately leads to social transformation as students can study longer and people can work after dark.
• During the day the energy can be used to power oil expellers and grinders for grain, a source of income for the village which will cover the maintenance of the project.  This also secures food for the winter and saves costly trips to the main town.
• Electric lights mean that wood is used only as a fuel for heating and cooking, not lighting.

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