Policy implications for up-scaling of off-grid solar PV for increasing access to electricity in rural areas of Nepal: Best practices and lessons learned

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Nepal has huge potential of hydro and other renewable energy resources including solar energy. However, only 70% of the total population have access to electricity despite the long history of hydropower development in the country. Still more than 37% population in rural areas and around 73% population in Karnali Province, one of the least developed provinces, are living without access to electricity despite taking several initiatives and implementing various policies by government supporting electrification in off-grid rural areas. Government together with donors and private sector has extensively been promoting the off-grid solar photovoltaic (PV) echnology in un-electrified areas to increase electricity access. So far, more than 900,000 households in rural areas of Nepal are getting electricity from stand-alone solar PV systems. However, there are many challenges including financial, technical, institutional, and governance barriers in Nepal. This study based on extensive review of literatures and author's own long working experiences in renewable energy sector in Nepal, shares the best practices and lessons of off-grid solar PV for increasing access to electricity in rural areas of Nepal. This study suggests that flexible financial instruments, financial innovations, bundling of PV systems for concentrating energy loads, adopting standards process, local capacity building, and combination of technology, financing and institutional aspects are a key for enhancing effectiveness of solar PV technology in rural areas of Nepal.