Solar Electrification Of A Remote Village And Promoting Energy Planning Based On Reliable Data Collection In Nepal
Project Background
This project is categorized under renewable energy theme. The project advocates use of renewable energy technology for rural electrification and adoption of energy planning tool namely Municipal Energy Planning (MEP) Tool to improve level of energy access in rural community of Kavre district, Nepal. As of now, the project area does not have access to national grid. The project will introduce and install 10 kW solar powered Mini-grid for domestic electrification, local higher secondary school, and to power appropriate enterprise within the project beneficiary community. The components of the solar-powered Mini-grid will be designed and procured such that the system is compatible with the national grid in case the system is synchronized with national grid in near future.
Other than solar Mini-grid, the project will support in advocacy of importance of Municipal Energy Planning (MEP) in Federal Context. The MEP tool is a Geographic Information System (GIS) based tool which was developed by Pathways Technologies Pvt. Ltd through financial support from Renewable Energy for Rural Areas (RERA) program jointly implemented by GIZ-Nepal and Alternative Energy Promotion Center (AEPC) which is yet to be piloted in Rural Municipality of Nepal. The advocacy aspect of this project will emphasize on building capacity of Local Government to develop robust energy plans and policies for their municipality. Advocacy efforts will aim at building capacity of relevant stakeholders on concept and importance of net metering and Mul-Tier Framework (MTF) developed by the World Bank and its adaptation in rural Nepal context to measure quality of electricity access. The project also envisages enabling Local Government to use innovative digital energy baseline data collection methodology (using open sources such Kobo Toolbox) and energy planning tools such as MEP. To facilitate evidence based advocacy regarding need of energy plans and policies for Local Municipality to improve rural access to modern sustainable energy sources, a planning document along with policy brief will be developed for Local Government.
Solar Mini-Grid in an area without access to national grid will directly/indirectly aid in advocacy, promotion and enhancement of knowledge on renewable among Local Government. The project will contribute in achieving the national agenda of improving access to modern source of energy by 2030 as advocated by Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) and Goal #7 (Access to Modern Energy) enlisted in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). Additionally, the project outcome will also be in line with targets mentioned in Goal 4 (Quality Education) and Goal 5 (Gender Equality) of SDG. The project will consider Gender, Energy and Social Inclusion (GESI) strategy to ensure right to modern energy sources for women, disadvantaged groups and differently able people in planning and implementation of the project
PROJECT OBJECTIVE
- Installation of 10 kW solar Mini-grid at Saurya Bhangtarbesi village-3, Khanikhola Rural Municipality, Kavrepalanchowk district, Province 3, Nepal to facilitate access to electricity for household, schools and local business.
- Capacity building of relevant stakeholders form Khanikhola Rural Municipality and energy sector stakeholders from Province 3 on digital data collection methodology and Municipal Energy Planning (MEP) Tool.
- Advocate on need and use of innovative tools to develop energy plans and policies to relevant stakeholders representing local, provincial and national level Government, private sectors and CSOs.
PROJECT DETAILS
| Donor organization: | Siemenpuu Foundation, Finland |
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| Current Design Problem: | The project area does not have access to electricity. The inhabitants are still dependent on primitive sources of light and solar lantern. In the federal context, the Local Government who is now responsible to formulate plans and policies to develop energy sector are not aware and does not possess the necessary skill sets to develop robust plans and policies that will contribute to improving access to modern and sustainable sources of energy. In the federal context, the information on the availability of energy planning tool and evidence regarding its application and usability needs to be communicated the energy sector stakeholders from all three levels of the Government, private sector and CSOs so as evaluate pilot trial of this tool to formulate energy plans at the local level. |
| Project Timing: | 17 months (July 01, 2020 to November 30, 2021. |
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Major Project Activities
| 1 | Detail Feasibility Survey and Tender Process for solar Mini-grid installation |
| 2 | Project Initiations Workshop at District Level |
| 3 | Micro Enterprises related skill-based training to potential entrepreneur |
| 4 | Installation of Solar Mini-grid system |
| 5 | Operation, management, repair and maintenance training to operators and community |
| 6 | Sampling and data collection from all wards of the rural municipality |
| 7 | Municipal Energy Planning Tool application and capacity building of stakeholders and enumerators |
| 9 | Project outcome (Solar Mini-Grid installation and Energy Baseline) sharing workshop |
| 9 | Sensitization and capacity building at the local level for raising energy issue and renewable energy at local level |
| 10 | Consultative workshop with energy sector stakeholders at all three levels of the Government |
| 11 | School-level sensitization program for project beneficiary school at the municipal level |
| 12 | Development of project Brochure, video clips, news coverage in newspaper and radio, project documents |
| 13 | End line survey to monitor and evaluate existing project output and outcome |