सिंहदरबार संवाददाता
Kathmandu. Green economy is understood as an economic system that prioritizes environmental sustainability. It includes a policy of moving forward together with economic development and environmental protection. The transformation to clean energy is a major foundation for a green economy, which meets energy needs while reducing pollution and helps achieve sustainable development goals.
Since economic prosperity can be brought through clean energy transformation for a resilient and low-carbon economy, various possibilities have also been highlighted in the recently introduced Energy Development Roadmap and Action Plan, 2081.
The use of traditional energy sources has an adverse impact on the environment and also hinders the improvement of the living standards of the people. Since the use of mineral fuels such as petrol and diesel emit greenhouse gases into the environment, the negative impact arising from such energy sources can be reduced through clean energy.
The world today is badly affected by many problems created by climate change due to the use of mineral and traditional energy. The use of clean and renewable energy is indispensable to reduce the impact of climate change, which is the main challenge of this century.
The use of clean energy not only helps maintain environmental balance but also creates employment and contributes to sustainable development by utilizing local resources. Since Nepal is a country with great potential for clean and renewable energy, its use can reduce dependence on imported fuel, increase energy security, and strengthen the country’s economy.
The areas of clean energy transformation for Nepal’s green economy include energy sources such as hydropower, solar energy, biogas and bioenergy, wind energy, geothermal energy, and biomass.
Potential for energy conversion
In Nepal, which has been dependent on traditional energy and imported fuels, energy conversion has been taking place in various sectors in the last few years. The availability of the country’s geographical and natural resources has provided many possibilities for converting energy from one form to another and using it. In a developing country like Nepal, energy conversion plays an important role in economic development, rural development and improvement of living standards. Energy conversion has also been emphasized in various international forums.
Due to the abundance of water resources in Nepal, hydropower is a major area of energy conversion. The power of water in rivers and reservoirs is converted into electrical energy through turbines. Sunlight is converted into electrical energy through solar panels. Solar energy, which has been used as a domestic solar system, has now expanded to megawatts. Solar energy has started being distributed as a minigrid. Organic waste, from cow dung to agricultural waste and organic waste, has been converted into electrical energy from biogas plants, not just gas.
Efforts are also being made to generate electrical energy from wind power in the Himalayan and hilly regions. Mineral fuels such as petrol and diesel are converted into mechanical energy to run vehicles and machines. There is a possibility of converting thermal springs (hot springs) in Nepal into geothermal energy.
Impact of clean energy on climate policy implementation
Nepal has committed to developing renewable energy other than hydropower to achieve net zero emissions by 2045, and to meet 20 percent of its energy consumption from renewable sources by 2030, as stated in the periodic plan. Nepal’s Second Nationally Determined Contribution 2020 report has set a target of generating electricity from renewable energy equivalent to 5,000 MW capacity by 2030.
Nepal has not been able to effectively implement its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and long-term strategies related to climate change. There is a need to make financial policies climate-friendly to mobilize resources for climate adaptation and mitigation from international funds such as the Green Climate Fund and other donor agencies. In addition, technology transfer and planning for the adoption of clean energy and sustainable agricultural technologies should be made. In the context of Nepal’s commitment to reduce the use of petroleum products and increase investment in renewable energy in the resolution resolutions made at COP conferences on climate change, emphasis should be placed on the combination of hydropower and solar energy.
Trade in clean energy
Nepal has already reduced carbon emissions by using clean energy and has also traded carbon. It has so far earned Rs. 4.75 billion or US$ 35.27 million through carbon trading. This income has been generated through eight different carbon trading projects that the Alternative Energy Promotion Center has been operating since 2011.
The center earned $2.875 million under this heading in the last fiscal year alone. So far, 6 million metric tons of carbon have been sold through the center. Last year, this amount was recorded at 542 thousand metric tons of carbon emission reduction, and if this income is generated, the amount of carbon trading will continue to increase in the coming year.
Since greenhouse gas emissions, the main factor causing carbon emissions, can be reduced, emphasis should be placed on increasing investment in renewable energy promotion. To increase the potential for green energy exports, investment in renewable energy sources such as solar energy, wind energy, and bioenergy technology should be increased. There is a need for a strategy to accelerate the clean energy transition.
Emphasis on energy mix
A study has shown that the need to reduce the complete dependence on hydropower, which has led to water shortages during the dry season due to fluctuations in river flows, and to emphasize electricity generation based on renewable energy sources such as solar PV. The study report on ‘Integrated Development of Hydropower and Solar Energy for Security, Accessibility and Sustainability in Nepal’s Energy Mix’ conducted with the support of the Solar Technology Promotion Program for Economic Development run by the Alternative Energy Promotion Center and the German Cooperation Agency GIZ, suggests that solar energy should be developed simultaneously as the hydropower-dependent electricity system cannot provide the necessary supply during the dry season. Since sufficient electricity is generated during the rainy season, but electricity production decreases in the dry season and there is a shortage of sufficient electricity, solar electricity can be a reliable option to minimize such seasonal fluctuations and reduce overall energy costs.
If Nepal is able to increase its electricity generation capacity, the trade imbalance can be reduced. Nepal is still in a situation where it buys electricity at a high price (average price per unit ranging from Rs 10.48 to Rs 32) and sells it at a low price (average price per unit Rs 7.02). About 95 percent of the total installed capacity is generated from hydropower. There is no alternative to moving towards energy mix to end the compulsion to depend on India for easy electricity supply during the dry season.
If solar energy projects can be developed jointly with reservoir-based hydropower projects, electricity imports from India during the dry season can be immediately reduced. Since hydropower production is low during the dry season, energy balance can be maintained by increasing solar energy production and developing both energy sources in an integrated manner. For this, it is necessary to create a policy and investment environment to develop a sustainable, clean and sustainable energy sector.
Organizing a conference on clean energy transition
The United Nations has announced that January 26 will be celebrated as International Clean Energy Day every year from 2024 with the aim of raising awareness and conducting activities for a just and inclusive transition to clean energy that benefits the Earth, humans and all living things living on it.
In the process of celebrating this day by organizing various programs around the world, the Alternative Energy Promotion Center is organizing various programs from Magh 13 to 15. On this occasion, a conference on Clean Energy Transformation for a Resilient and Low-Carbon Economy is being organized on Magh 15. The conference will include various presentations and discussions to exchange experiences among stakeholders, interact on investment opportunities, and formulate necessary strategies to accelerate the clean energy transformation that will help develop a resilient and low-carbon economy.
The objective of the conference is to identify sectoral needs, opportunities, and challenges, prioritize investable projects, and explore investment potential and resource mobilization opportunities for clean energy transformation, and to present potential investable projects and emphasize investment growth. Such conferences are also relevant for sharing experiences of successful projects and initiatives in this area in the context of current development partnerships and future investment choices related to Nepal’s energy transition and climate change.
प्रतिक्रिया दिनुहोस्