Nepal’s largest wind-solar hybrid power system has come into operation in Hariharpurgadi village of Sindhuli district, reports The Himalayan Times. This system is capable of producing 110 kWh (kilowatt hours) of energy per day. With this, the village’s electricity demand of 87 kWh per day is easily fulfilled.
The wind-solar hybrid system was installed under ADB’s South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation Power System Expansion Project. The project came with the total cost of $16.2 million and was partly financed by Government of Nepal, the Scaling up of Renewable Energy Program under the Climate Investment Fund, and the local community.
“Access to clean, reliable and affordable energy will help villagers to connect to the world through Internet and mobile phones creating opportunities to boost local income,”said Mukhtor Khamudkhanov, ADB’s Country Director for Nepal.
Mr. Khamudkhanov also added that the electricity from the mini-grid opens the door for commercial activities in the village and will help small businesses get off the ground.
The Executive Director of Alternative Energy Promotion Center (AEPC), Ram Prasad Dhital stated that six years ago, the Government of Nepal, with support from Asian Development Bank (ADB), launched its first mini grid wind-solar system in Dhaubadi in Western Nepal.
According to Dhital, the success of these two projects has demonstrated wind-solar hybrid systems as a viable alternative for providing reliable energy access to rural Nepal.
