AEPC observes 26th anniversary

Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) is a Government institution established on November 3, 1996, under the Ministry of Science and Technology with the objective of developing and promoting renewable/alternative energy technologies in Nepal. Currently, it is under the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation (MoEWRI).

By coordinating government institutions, donors, developing partners and private sector, the centre had facilitated in establishing or installing extensive number of micro hydropower plants, solar pv and thermal systems, biogas plants, improved cookstoves, biomass systems. The centre also had supported researches and studies on RETs to make suitable and practicable to Nepal’s requirements.

The centre recently celebrated its 26th anniversary amidst a function. The programme was chaired by Secretary at MoEWRI Dinesh Kumar Ghimire while Member of National Planning Commission Prof. Dr.SurendraLabhKarna was the chief guest. Prof. LabhKarna, Dinesh Ghimire, chairperson of Renewable Energy Confederation of Nepal Guna Raj Dhakal, Executive Director of AEPC Dr.MadhusudhanAdhikari spoke on the role and contributions of AEPC to the nation and the people residing in hills, mountains, remote areas to support everyday life, agriculture, health, education, communication, small and cottage industries and drudgery reduction mainly. The speakers highlighted strong and effective action plans of AEPC in line with federal governance system of the country.

The speakers also opined that the government’s announcement on 94 Per cent of households of the country has been connected with the national grid. All remaining households will be electrified within two years from now. So as, a large number of stay alone electricity generating plants with improvised technologies will need to be deployed for a large portion of last mile electrification that AEPC will have to play a vital role.

AEPC will also have to impart knowledge to provincial governments and local governments to capacitate them to perform on energy generationand utilisation as per the provisions of the Constitution of the country.

The report released on the occasion says that AEPC has been successful in delivering services 3.6 million households in 26 years of actions. A total of 80 MW of electricity have been generated by micro hydro and solar pv systems installed with technical and financial support of AEPC that includes 3300 micro hydropower plants and solar home systems, institutional solar pv systems, pumping for irrigation and drinking water services. Similarly, 435,000 domestic size biogas plants, nearly 2 million improved cookestoves have been installed so far. Moreover, it has supported a large number of municipal waste fed biogas plants and commercial biogas plants as well.