Micro-Hydro in

Nepal
Presenter:Raju Thapa Magar
(067/BCE/090)

Contents:-

Present Status of Electricity

General Introduction of Micro-Hydr
Importance MHP in Nepal
MHP Achievements in Nepal
Challenges of MHP in Nepal

Present status of Electricity

Theoretical potential :-83000 Mw
Economically feasible :-43000 Mw.
Present Capacity:-About 734 Mw with

perennial load shedding.

18 MW contributed by 2200 MHP power plants.

Load shedding in Kathmandu

 In remote areas, the condition is so

miserable
No electricity even for lighting purposelet
other matters alone!!!

Dont we have any solution..???

Whats the Solution???

MICRO-HYDRO

General Introduction of
MHP
Energy produced by small scale hydro-electric

power plant.

Large scale: 2 MW and above

Mini: 100 kW to 2 MW
Micro: 5 kW to 100 kW(in Nepal up to

1000kw recently modified by NMHDA)

Pico: less than 5 kW

Process Of Power generation

Based on Michael Faradays

Theory of
Electromagnetism.
Hydropower, i.e., power
generation from water
requires:Flow:
A continuous supply of
water .
Head:
A drop in height for the
flow of water.

Energy Conversion Process

Penstock pipe

Turbine

Turbine

Generator

Typical Micro-Hydro Plant

Components Of Typical
MHP

Tail race

Weir and Intake

Intake

Temporary Weir

Headrace

Trash Rack

Headrace

Gravel Trap

Settling basin

Fore bay tank

Penstock Pipe
Anchor block

Penstock pipe

Expansion Joints

Power house

Tailrace

Importance of MHP in Nepal

We have about 6000 of river and rivulets

originating from hills and mountain so sufficient

head is available for Micro-Hydro installation.( though
small discharge)

Wealth of Nepal

Gift Of Nature

 In remote areas where electrification from

national grid is like dream for years to come

.MHP suits very much with respect to economy
and time.

We are just accepting the gift of

nature with our left hand.

Conventional

Contd
Since the large hydropower construction rate is

slow in Nepal, the importance of MHP is increased.

MHP is Renewable source of energy and eco-friend.
Plays important role in the development of other
sectors like education, agriculture, communication
etc.
Thus development of MHP is very important in
Nepal and is well suited with respect to its
geography. So, I want to request the policy makers
of Nepal to focus on development of MHP by
increasing subsidy ,launching new programs like
One MHP in One Village etc.

MHP Achievements in
Nepal
1st Hydropower plant:-Pharping

Powerhouse(500 Kw)
in 1911 which is
second in South Asia
1st Micro-Hydro:- MachhaPokhari MHP(5 Kw) in
Godavari in 1962 with the Swiss
Assistance
GONs Nodal Agency:Alternative Energy Promotion Centre
(AEPC) established in 1996 to promote
development of renewable energy.

Contd
At present; we have installed 2200 plants and

from them about 18MW of electricity is

produced and 2 lakh of households are
benefitted.
In 2068 Mini-Grid of Capacity 132 Kw, 11Kv
combining seven MHP plants of Theule khola
is operated in Baglung.

Challenges of MHP in
Nepal
The discharge in our river is drastically varying.
Quick damage of the turbine, penstock due to

sediments
Lack of transportation facility increases the cost of
installation.
Lack of social mobilizer in remote areas
,organizations and government agencies not willing
to work in remote areas.
Natural hazards like land slides,flood,earthquake
etc

Landslide during
Construction

References
Jalashakti(NMHDA)
International Centre for Integrated Mountain

Development(ICIMOD)
Power point presentation by Ajoy Karki

Thank you