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Present status and technical challenges of micro hydropower plants in Nepal

Conference Paper · January 2012

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 Present Status and Technical Challenges of Micro
Hydropower Plants in Nepal
Parakram Pyakurel, Bidhan Rajkarnikar, Dr. Hari Prasad Neopane*

Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Kathmandu University, Nepal

* E-mail of Corresponding Author: hari@ku.edu.np

Abstract

Micro hydropower (MH) plants have played an important role in electrifying rural villages in Nepal. There are well above 2000 MH
plants in the country which generate around 15 MW and electrify more than 150 thousand households. Nepal has developed good
technical capacity in MH turbine manufacturing and there are more than 20 MH turbine manufacturing companies. However, there
are various technical challenges in Nepali MH sector. The overall efficiencies of MH plants are very low and there are very less end
use devices in villages which have led to poor revenue generation from MH plants. Moreover, the country lacks skilled manpower in
villages where MH plants are located. Besides, Nepal does not have good technical competence in manufacturing Francis turbines
and MH generators so the country is still not self dependent on MH technology. In this paper, present status of micro hydropower
plants in Nepal is discussed and explores various technical challenges. Furthermore, it also recommends different solutions to
overcome the technical challenges.

Keywords: Micro Hydropower Plants, technical challenges, End-use Technologies, Plant Capacity Factor, Overall Efficiency

1. Introduction
Nepal is known for its huge water resources potential.
The surface water available in about 6,000 rivers and
rivulets of the country is estimated to be about 224.7
billion m3 per annum or equivalent to an average flow
of 7,125 m3/s. Therefore the total theoretical potential of
Micro Hydropower (MH) is very large [1]. MH sector
in Nepal has a long history dating back to the 1960s.
The History of waterpower in Nepal began with the
traditional water mills or ghatta used for grinding flour
which was improved in later stages to higher efficient
Multi-Purpose Power Unit (MPPU). After the necessity
of electricity was realized in villages, the MH plants
were used to produce electricity for villages where
national electricity grid was yet to be connected. Till
date, there are well above 2000 MH plants in Nepal
which generate a total of 15 MW. These MH plants
benefit around 150 thousand households [2], [3], [4].
Thus, MH plants have made profound impact in the
villages of Nepal.
2. Micro Hydropower Status in Nepal
2.1 General
The installation of Micro Hydropower plants are
supported by the Government of Nepal through
Alternative Energy Promotion Center (AEPC). AEPC
supports the installation of Micro Hydropower plants
through different donor funded programmes like Rural
Energy Development Program (REDP) and Mini Grid
Support Programme under Energy Sector Assistance
Program (MGSP/ESAP) [5].
Most of the MH plants installed in Nepal have used
Cross-flow turbines and Pelton turbines for power
generation. About 76 % of the turbines till 2004 were
Cross-flow followed by 20 % MPPU and 13 % Pelton
[6]. These turbines were mostly designed and
manufactured locally in Nepal. Thus, over a period of
time, Nepal has developed good technical competence
in manufacturing Cross-flow and Pelton turbines. There
are various companies in Patan Industrial Estate,
Lalitpur and Butwal which manufacture these types of
turbines. However, Nepal still lacks sufficient technical
capabilities in Francis turbine manufacturing. Also,
Nepal does not have Research & Development (R& D)
center and performance testing center dedicated to MH
sector which would enhance the overall technical
capabilities in MH sector.
In recent times, Rural Energy Development Programme
(REDP) tested a micro Francis Turbine at Handi Khola,
Sindhupalchowk, Nepal. In the pilot project, power
output increased by 6 kW when the Cross Flow turbine
was replaced by a locally designed and fabricated micro
Francis. Moreover, the weight of the Francis was just 90
kg compared to 400 kg for the Cross Flow turbine [3].
This can reduce the cost of material used for
manufacturing turbines. This is also a major
achievement in the context of Nepal where the turbines
and other equipments has to be carried by porters for
days to reach the project site. Such break through can be
achieved much faster and in more scientific way by the
establishment of Research and Development (R&D)
center and MH component performance testing center.
MH Plant components like penstock pipes, bends,
expansion joint, valves, Electric Load Controllers
(ELC), transmission poles and conductors are
manufactured in Nepal. However, many other
components like bearings, power transmitting belts and
generators are normally imported from countries such as
India and China. This is not only due to lack of
competence to produce such components, but also due
to lack of R&D center.
2.2 Standard Practice
A guideline for detailed feasibility studies of MH
projects has been prepared by AEPC to ensure the
quality of feasibility study reports and ultimately quality
of MH plants.
The guideline suggests at least 11 month exceedance
flow based on Medium Irrigation Project (MIP) as the
design discharge for the power calculation. For the river
flow measurement, salt dilution method is suggested.
The guideline recommends assessment of demand for
power and end-use possibilities in the feasibility study
report [7].
In the civil components, the guideline recommends
criteria of selection for intake, weir, gravel trap, settling
basin (sand trap), forebay, penstock supports (support
piers, anchor blocks), powerhouse building, tailrace and
stop logs.
In the hydro-mechanical components, the guideline
recommends design and selection criteria for trash rack,
penstock pipe, expansion joints and valves. In the
electro-mechanical components, the guideline mentions
about design and selection criteria of turbines and drive
system. According to the guideline, the efficiencies at
the rated output of turbines to be used in a feasibility
study are as follows:
a) Pelton 5-30 kW: 70-80 % (the lower range is for
low-cost units and for off-optimum design)
b) Pelton above 30 kW: 75-85 %
c) Cross-flow 5-30 kW: 60-70 %
d) Cross-flow above 30 kW: 65-78 %
In the electrical components, the guideline mentions
about standards to be used for generator, powerhouse/
control and protection system, earthing, transmission
and distribution system, lightning protection and service
wire.
The guideline for detailed feasibility studies of MH
projects only ensures the quality standard during the
design and feasibility stage of MH construction. Hence,
to make sure that the installers and manufacturers have
met the specified standard, AEPC has also prepared
„Micro - Mini Hydro Power Output and Household
Verification Guidelines‟. This guideline describes the
procedure for verification of number of households
served and power output produced for hydropower
schemes in the range above 5 kW and up to 500 kW [8].
The power output verification guideline recommends
two methods for power output measurements: the
method using power measurement kit (with additional
dump load) and measurement by true Root Mean
Square (RMS) clamp-on-power meter. However, it does
not mention about the performance testing and
verification of the rated output of different components
of MH plants. This guideline also mentions the standard
procedures for the verification of households that are or
can be benefited by the constructed MH Plant.
3. Technical Challenges in Micro
Hydropower
There are various technical challenges in MH sector in
Nepal. The technical challenges affect the performance
of MH plants and hence affect the energy revenue. This,
in turn, will affect the sustainability of the entire MH
sector.
Major technical challenges in MH sectors of Nepal are:
a) Low overall plant efficiency
b) Lack of MH R&D center
c) Lack of MH components performance testing
center
d) Low plant capacity factor
e) Lack of skilled manpower in villages
f) Lack of rigorous trainings to the operators and
managers of MH plants
Despite the fact that MH sector has made a huge
contribution on providing electricity and improving
living standard of people in rural villages, there is no
R&D center solely devoted to MH plant so far. Thus,
there is no organization/ institution that work
exclusively for efficiency monitoring and improvement
of MH plants. Since there is no such institution, the MH
sector is plagued by low overall efficiency plants.
The above mentioned fact makes it very necessary to
establish such R&D center which shall exclusively
focus on MH plants and efficiency improvement. The
R&D center can focus on following areas:
a) Research on efficiency improvement of turbines
b) Research on low cost manufacturing of turbines
c) Research on low cost construction of MH plants
d) Research on manufacturing of MH generators as
well as other components
e) Research on overall efficiency improvement of
MH plants
 Along with the establishment of R&D center, it is also
necessary to establish a MH component performance
testing center. The performance testing center shall have
the following functions:
a) Efficiency testing of turbines and generators
b) Calculating the overall efficiency of MH plants
c) Facilitating in the preparation of standard
guideline for construction and manufacturing of
MH plants components such as turbines, ELC
Another issue seriously challenging the MH sector is
low plant capacity factor. The plant capacity factors of
most of the MH plants are very low as MH plants do not
operate 24 hours a day. The main reason for MH plants
not operating 24 hours a day is lack of end use
technologies (loads other than lighting). Since lighting
is almost the only electrical load in village, it is not
necessary to operate the MH plant throughout the day. It
is very necessary to introduce different end use
technologies such as rice hullers, oil expellers, water
pumps and other devices consuming electricity so as to
improve the plant capacity factor. Such end use
technologies will not only improve plant capacity factor
but also promote small scale businesses in villages
which will help reduce the unemployment and poverty.
It is also necessary to give rigorous trainings related to
every aspect of MH sector to people in villages because
such training will generate sufficient skilled manpower
that can make MH sector more lucrative. Some
manufacturing companies provide training for fulfilling
required skilled manpower. But there are no specific
institutions where trainee could get complete knowledge
about survey, design, installation, and manufacturing
components. Nepal Micro Hydropower Development
Association (NMHDA) conducts the training for
operators, managers and surveyors in association with
ESAP, REDP and other donors including government
[6]. However, operators and managers of MH plants in
Nepal are still not competitive enough to make MH
sector sustainable and profitable venture. Therefore, it is
necessary to generate skilled manpower in villages that
can take MH sector into whole new level of profits.
4. Conclusions and Recommendations
Micro hydropower sector have a huge impact in rural
villages of Nepal. It has benefited many households
where national electricity grid is yet to be reached.
However, there are various technical challenges in the
MH sector of Nepal. Most of them are low overall plant
efficiency, low plant capacity factor and lack of
sufficient skilled manpower in villages.
It is thus very important to take various measures to
address the technical issues challenging MH sector in
Nepal. Some of the important measures to be taken are:
View publication stats
establishment of R&D and performance testing center to
address the low overall efficiency problem of MH plants;
improvement of plant capacity factor by introducing
more end use technologies and electricity intensive
businesses in villages; and providing rigorous trainings
to the village people to generate sufficient skilled
manpower to manage and operate MH plants.
Acknowledgement
This paper is based upon the materials drawn from
various papers and reports mentioned in the references,
which have been extremely helpful in preparing this
paper. Authors would like to express sincere thanks to
Alternative Energy Promotion Center (AEPC) and
Nepal Micro Hydropower Development Association
(NMHDA) for providing required information to
prepare this paper.
References
[1] Nexant, SARI/Energy, “Regional Hydro-power
Resources: Status of Development and Barriers, Nepal”,
Prepared for United States Agency for International
Development under South Asia Regional Initiative for
Energy, 2002.
[2] Alternative Energy Promotion Center, Ministry of
Environment, Science and Technology, Government of
Nepal, “Mini-Grid Yearbook of Nepal”, 2007.
[3] Alternative Energy Promotion Center, Ministry of
Environment, Government of Nepal, “Annual Progress
Report FY 2066/67 (2009/10)”, 2010.
[4] Water and Energy Commission Secretariat, Government
of Nepal, “Energy Sector Synopsis Report 2010”, 2010.
[5] B. Rajkarnikar, P. Pyakurel and Dr. H. P. Neopane,
“Sustainability Issues of Micro Hydropower Plants in
Nepal”, 3rd International RETRUD Conference, Nepal,
2011.
[6] Energy Forum, Sri Lanka, “Report of the South Asia
Regional Workshop on Developing Standards for Micro-
Hydro Sector”, 2004.
[7] Alternative Energy Promotion Center, Ministry of
Environment Science and Technology, Government of
Nepal, “Guidelines for Detailed Feasibility Studies of
Micro-Hydro Projects”, 2004.
[8] Alternative Energy Promotion Center, Ministry of
Environment, Government of Nepal, “Micro - Mini
Hydro Power Output and Household Verification
Guidelines”, 2008.