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With small scale wind energy, thousands of villages can benefit from wind power in Nepal
» By Guest Blogger | Published 27 Feb 2013

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Continuing with the series of “wind energy stories” from around the world, in association with Global Wind Day, Robert van Waarden travels to
Nepal to meet Aruna Awale at the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre.

“I have seen a bright future for wind energy in Nepal, because a lot of wind energy potential has been predicted,” says Aruna Awale, an employee of
the wind energy department at the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) in Kathmandu, Nepal.
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From the window of her office, she can see one of the few operating wind turbines in Nepal. It is a small Maglev vertical axis turbine and it turns
rapidly in the wind that blows through the Kathmandu valley. It is a sign of more to come if Awale has anything to do with it.

Awale works on data and implementation projects, co-ordinates meetings and conferences, and meets with national and international stakeholders
when she works with the AEPC. She credits her experience at the AEPC for giving her more confidence and a huge amount of unique experience. She
especially enjoys the opportunity to travel internationally for seminars, the highlight of which for her is often a visit to a wind farm.

Nepal faces several problems in the implementation of large-scale wind energy, but interestingly, one of those isn’t finance, as many development
banks, institutions, and companies are ready to step forward. Instead Awale mentions the complex geography and the insufficient infrastructure as the
main challenge. The small roads, or entire lack thereof, are often not suited for carrying large equipment to high windy points. The spectacular but
difficult geography makes studies and installations more difficult. In order to fully grow in this energy sector, this challenge will have to be overcome.

Ms. Awale thinks one way to do that is to start smaller. Citing an implemented pilot project by the Asian Development Bank, Ms. Awale remains
confident that wind energy will have a great impact on small communities in Nepal. In the Dhaubadi BDC of Nawalparasi District, 46 households are
now connected to electricity by a small wind turbine. This has transformed the village and made it the envy of neighbouring villages: now everyone
wants a wind turbine.

“With small-scale wind energy, thousands of villages can benefit from wind power where no energy is available, not even for lights.” says Ms. Awale.

Ms. Awale has been working with the AEPC for almost a decade and hopes to see some of the available 3,000 MW potential in Nepal developed,
recognising that it will change the life of many of her fellow Nepalis. For many of them, the answer to electricity problems and some of the attached
poverty issues may simply be blowing in the wind.

Every picture tells a story – what is yours? Tell us what you think about wind energy by taking part in the Global Wind Day 2013 photo competition
to win a €1,000 Amazon voucher and get the chance to be published on this blog.

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Categories: Global Wind Day

One Response to “With small scale wind energy, thousands of villages can benefit from wind power in Nepal”

1. Dr.A.Jagadeesh says:
March 7, 2013 at 05:30

Yes. I visited Nepal for a Wind energy Conference. Small Wind Turbines can benefit rural areas as decentralised power as Nepal has Hilly
Terrain and elevated places.
Dr.A.Jagadeesh Nellore(AP),India

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Wind Energy Expert

E-mail: anumakonda.jagadeesh@gmail.com

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