Microhydro: Overview, Objectives and Advantages

The history of waterpower in Nepal begins with the traditional water mills (Ghatta) used for grinding flour, however, there are varieties of technologies already available or being developed, which come under the mini and micro hydropower category. Nepal's hydropower potential is estimated to be about 83,000 MW, of which about 43,000 MW is assumed to be economically feasible. However these figures relates mainly to large scale hydropower development. Study reports show that 63 out of 75 districts have the potential for hydropower generation. The focus on micro-hydropower came with starting of subsidy on electrical parts by government and through Agricultural Development Bank-Nepal (ADB/N) in late eighties.Altogether about 1,072 Micro-hydro plants including mills for agro processing have already been installed in the country. There are several governments, semi-government, non-government organizations and private companies involved in the development and dissemination of micro-hydro power in the country.

objectives:

Increasing access to clean and low cost renewable energy technology

Improving environmental health and indigenous practices

Providing opportunities for diversification of productive end uses

Creating local employment and promoting income generating activities

Developing concepts of entrepreneurship and ownership rights to community

Reducing drudgery among women and children

Micro-hydro can provide electricity to rural communities for household lighting and installing end uses to support household economy. In addition, it is reliable source of energy can be use for pumping water supply & irrigation schemes and for driving ropeway & mechanized bridge.

Some advantages:

The components of micro-hydro can be locally manufactured

The micro-hydro schemes can be locally built

Micro-hydro plants are comparatively simple in its construction

The scheme can be locally managed, operated and maintained with training input to the local

Adapted from GRID,Nepal