hydroelectric power
The energy in falling water can be converted into electrical energy or into mechanical energy to pump water or grind grain. The amount of energy that can be captured is a function of the vertical distance the water drops (the head) and the volume of the water. One hundred cubic metres of water falling 10 metres (a low head application) represents the same energy potential as 10 cubic metres of...
The Three Gorges Dam Project (TGDP) on the Yangtze River in Hubei Province is touted as the long term solution to China’s increasing energy and agricultural needs. TGDP, with a 1084 km2 reservoir of 39.3 billion m3 capacity, will be the largest multipurpose water conservancy project ever built in the world. The main structures of the project are dam,...
It is remarkable that, during past one decade, domestic investors have invested US$75.5 million and foreign investors $233.6 million in the electricity generation business in Nepal. Similarly, $13.5 million was invested in buying shares in Butwal Power Company held by the Government of Nepal. Thus, in a span of one decade, the private sector has succeeded in mobilising $322.6 million into the...
Being topographically steep and consisting of many rivers originating from the glaciers of the Himalaya, Nepal is gifted in water resources. As a developing country, Nepal needs to accelerate to develop its crucial infrastructures for the economic prosperity of the nation. This is achievable by developing the enormous hydropower potential available, making short and efficient roads through the...
The construction of hydropower dams and of other types of projects must plan also for the relocation of populations living in the project area, a process fraught with risks and difficulties. This paper describes an analytical, diagnostic, predictive, and planning tool for such projects, developed by the author, named the Impoverishment Risks and Reconstruction (IRR) model. Derived from...
Hydropower development is the only development activity that yields multiple benefits and, in many cases, can be an effective agent for poverty alleviation. Apart from being a source of renewable and clean energy, to stabilize the supply of electricity, it helps provide year round irrigation resulting in the increase in the cropping intensity and changing cropping pattern, and it reduces both...
This research article utilises concepts from the ‘Anthropology of Clientelism’ to explain the dynamics of social inequality after the construction of the Kali Gandaki ‘A’ hydroelectric dam project. As Nepal’s rural societies are largely agrarian, Scott’s (1976) moral economy theory, positioned against Popkin’s (1979) political economy approach acts as...
Hydropower is one of the cleanest, renewable and environmentally benign sources of energy. Nepal is blessed with immense source of water resources and huge hydropower potential. The Kali Gandaki ‘A’ (KGA) Hydroelectric Project is the largest hydropower project constructed so far in Nepal. The project is a daily pondage type scheme with an installed capacity of 144 MW.
The...
Although hydropower development is a good option for Nepal, there are serious challenges to the successful construction and operations of such facilities. This article briefly addresses why hydropower development is appropriate for Nepal as well as some of the more important social and environmental challenges. The author also makes suggestions to approach these challenges.
The Clean Energy Development Bank (CEDB) has done a pioneering work to provide the loan for hydro projects without collateral under the “project financing” concept. However, a rigorous project processing regime is required to protect from any risk along with strong and continuous monitoring by the Bank. This paper highlights the requirement of technical due diligence of candidate...
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