Anjal Niraula on Nepal's Solar Revolution and the Future of Clean Energy

With the rapid de-escalation of the cost of solar PV technologies, and the conversations surrounding climate change, coupled with research suggesting climate change will indeed have an adverse impact on the flow, hydrology, and therefore, the overall electricity generation output of Nepali rivers, discussions about the uptake of other-than-hydro renewables have started to pick up momentum. To further complement Nepal’s renewable energy potential, by 2030, Nepal has set an ambitious target to expand clean energy generation from approximately 1,400 MW to 15,000 MW, of which 5-10% (70 MW to 1500 MW)  will be generated from mini and micro-hydro power, solar, wind and bio-energy. Of this, 5,000 MW is an unconditional target. The remainder is dependent upon the provision of funding by the international community. By 2030, ensure 15% of the total energy demand is supplied from clean energy sources. In today’s episode, PEI’s Saurab Lama sits with Anjal Niraula, the Chief Executive Officer of Gham Power, a renewable-energy-focused social enterprise based in Kathmandu, Nepal. Anjal is an off-grid solar expert, and he oversees Gham Power’s R&D and product strategy – including business development, design, and engineering. His focus is on developing solar microgrids along with productive end-use loads. Anjal was a Chevening scholar at the University of Edinburgh where he studied Energy Systems. He is also a member of the Future Energy Leaders group with the World Energy Council where he works on the Energy Access task force. Saurab and Anjal discuss Nepal’s solar industry and its feasibility in Nepal, where Anjal makes a case for a higher uptake of solar electricity within a hydroelectricity-dominated electricity sector. The two discuss the global solar uptake patterns and why Nepal’s uptake has not followed similar trends and Nepal’s own set renewable energy targets set through its Nationally Determined Contributions. They also discuss some important policy-level issues, including the role of governmental institutions, and the private sector, and evaluate their performance in promoting renewable energy sources. They end the discussion with some technical solutions, including the importance of battery technology and some recommendations for the future of solar energy within the country. Click here to support us on Patreon!!