Int’l Conference hosted in Kathmandu
The Nepal Weekly 
December 20, 2022
Renewable energy is a reliable alternative for reducing the use of fossil fuels to achieve sustainable development goals and to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 degree Celsius. Gradual reduction of fossil fuels usage by increased production and use of hydropower, solar energy and other types of renewable energy will have multi-faced economic, environmental, social, and human health benefits. Likewise, energy transition is also necessary to fulfil Nepal’s international commitments on climate change.
Renewable energy covers only about three per cent of the current total energy consumption in Nepal. However, if large hydropower projects are also included, the use of clean energy makes up to eight percent of the total energy consumption. About 65 per cent of Nepal’s energy use is derived from biomass based energy and 27 per cent is contributed from imported fossil fuels. In the last 10 years, the fossil fuel use in Nepal has increased at an alarming rate, which has put burden in the country’s economy. Fossil fuels worth 3.83 trillion Nepali rupees were imported in Nepal in the last fiscal year only. This is equivalent to 23 percent of the annual budget of the Government of Nepal (GoN) of the same fiscal year.
The GoN has policy priority to increase generation of hydropower and solar energy. Nepal’s cumulative capacity of clean electricity generation from various sources including hydropower, solar, cogeneration and off-grid renewable is around 2,377 Mega Watt (MW), whereas the country has placed a target of producing 15,000 MW of clean electricity by 2030 including 5-10% contribution from micro-mini hydro, solar, wind and bioenergy. Promotion of electric vehicles and electric cooking stoves are on top priority for increase the use of the generated energy.
An international conference was organized in Kathmandu to discuss on Policy, Practice and Experiences in Kathmandu. The event on 18th and 19 December was participated in by participants from 18 countries including virtual participation of three countries. Representatives from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines and Uganda other countries are participating in.
The event was inaugurated by Secretary at Ministry of Energy, Water resources and Irrigation Dinesh Kumar Ghimire. On the occasion he said that that Nepal’s commitment on Zero Carbon Emission by 2045 at international forums should be well implemented to achieve the goal. Nepal’s efforts to this direction are progressing, he mentioned. All stake stakeholders need to work together for the achievement. Successful implementation will bring benefits to the country, he opined.
Executive Director of Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) Dr. Madhusudhan Adhikari elaborated the promotion and development of RETs in Nepal. He mentioned that the efforts of Nepal Government have been successful. Donors and private sector participation are also appreciable, he added. Likewise, the centre has been carrying out important and result oriented renewable programmes on clean cooking by electricity, energy efficiency, Solar PV pumping for irrigation and drinking water, mini-grid projects, he informed. Nepal can share the good practices made in the field of renewable energy and climate change to the global communities, opined.
Ms. Fentez Jacobsen, senior policy advisor at World Wildlife Fund Germany said that global temperature rise not to exceed 1.5 degree Celsius till the end of the century and cope with sustainable development goals reducing use of fossil fuels is the must. Alternative for that is renewable energy technologies, she stressed.
Delivering the keynote speech on ‘Rapid Energy Transition: where do we stand and how to move forward’ in the inaugural session, Professor Shobhakar Dhakal expressed that renewable energy has been a must for the world to combat climate change effects. Use of fossil fuels must be reduced to minimum level. But the developed countries and other are spending more in fossil fuels by providing subsidies while spending less in comparison to amount of fund allocated to fossil fuels. He mentioned that investment is rising to about 366 billion US Dollar on renewable energy in 2021 while overshowed by 5.9 trillion US Dollar in subsidies (about 7% of Global GDP) to fossil fuels. He further mentioned that 57% of climate change mitigation finance (mitigation: 571 billion US Dollar) went to renewables in 2019/2020largely Solar PV and onshore wind technologies.
He is an expert and engaged at Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Change Vice President for Academic Affairs, AIT, Bangkok, Thailand
Prof Dhakal who participated in online stressed few measures to be taken strictly for expand use of renewable energy technologies replacing fossil fuels. He suggested prioritize RETs innovation and improvements, policies, policies integration globally and nationally, more focus on clean cooking sector, up scaling EVs and clean transportation, eliminating subsidies on fossil fuels, make use of climate finance, investment facilitation and divestment and charting evidence-based pathways with science-based approach in developing countries.
Dr. Ghana Shyam Gurung, Country Representative of WWF Nepal, stresses on the importance of engaging the government, civil society, the private sector and all relevant stakeholders to collaborate for promotion and scaling up of renewable energy in Nepal. The ‘MAP for 100 % Renewable Energy’ project has embraced this idea and is creating the dialogue among the major stakeholders working in the energy sector in Nepal.
Raju Pandit Chhetri, executive director of Prakriti Resources Center, in his welcome remarks, shared that the steps taken by the GoN on renewable energy, energy mix, and energy transition are welcoming. Furthermore, he says that along with the production and use of renewable energy, the plan to replace fossil fuels should also be in place. Chhetri says, “Nepal should set a target of replacing the fossil fuel usage with renewable energy by 100 per cent by the year 2050.” However, he also expressed that during the transition process, the economic and social impacts causing to poor and disadvantaged communities should be minimized and addressed equitably. Director Chhetri informed that Prakriti Resources Center has considered these principles and is implementing the ‘Multi Actor Platform for 100 percent renewable energy project’ from 2020 in partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Nepal.
The international conference was organised jointly by Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC), World Wildlife Fund Nepal and Prakriti Resource Centre. (By R. P. Narayan)
