Despite having huge potential sources of renewable energy, Nepal has only been able to light the houses of 40% of its population. Just 100 kms from the capital, Kathmandu, lies Dumja village in Sindupalchowk district which remains unconnected to the national electric grid. An example of a “self made village,” the villagers toiled during the time of the Maoist insurgency (1996-2006), when the government was not focused on local infrastructure issues, to get themselves connected to the main road network by building a basic dirt road on their own.
However, bringing electricity to the village was not as easy a task to accomplish, due to lack of transportation, lack of government interest, and cost. It was during this time, however, that the government established the Alternative Energy Promotion Center (AEPC) to develop and promote renewable energy technologies in Nepal. AEPC supported Solar PV suppliers with direct and indirect subsidies, funded in part by the governments of Denmark, Norway and Germany. The subsidy to consumers, allocated annually, was paid to installers upon completion of an installation, thus reducing the cost to consumers.
Lotus Energy, a pioneer since 1993 for solar photovoltaic manufacturing and distribution in Nepal, was one of these installers, and agreed to provide the local school with solar panels as part of their “mission” while serving the local villagers. Lotus Energy has been working with E+Co since the early days of E+Co’s establishment and over the years E+CO has invested $350,000 in the expansion of their operations.
Shree Kusheshwor Bidhyapeeth Higher Secondary School, established in 1951 in Dumja village is one of the beneficiaries of solar electrification. The government-funded school has around 670 students, some of whom receive free tuition, while others pay nominal charges. With an installed capacity of 510 W, the school is able to use the solar panels to run a computer and printer, listen to English language tapes, and have tube lights in the darker classrooms. The sole computer and printer is kept in the administrative office and is used to print papers and keep other school records. “At least our students know what a computer looks like,” says the headmaster proudly. He aims to buy a few more computers to teach the enthusiastic children. At present, this does not look very likely because of financial constraints, but they are determined not to lose hope.
In addition to the school in the village, a few of the teachers use solar panels for electrification at home. Binod Koirala, one of the teachers, says, “solar power has helped us a great deal; from health to entertainment; from listening to radios, charging mobile phones to watching TV.” “In short,” he says “similar to how technology has shrunk our world, solar lighting has shrunk our homes and villages.” In addition, villagers seem to be very happy with the brightness of solar tube lights and improvement in their children’s education. Villagers also seem to be proud that while the 40% of Nepal’s population connected to the national grid suffer from power cuts everyday- they do not!
By Sweta Pokharel, E+Co Asia Investment Officer
we will like to wopork with you in Ghana west Africa to help the pooor on energy
kwasi