- Suman Chapagain
What we understand about hydropower is the power
obtained by falling water of high level to low level. Water that is at high
level possess high potential energy, is dropped to lower level with high
velocity that possess high kinetic energy, water with high velocity rotates
turbine and turbine rotates generators which ultimately generates hydropower
energy. It can be summarized as potential energy is converted into kinetic
energy, kinetic to mechanical and mechanical to electric energy. Hence,
Hydropower generation is completed. It is the half way phase of hydropower
projects. The other phase of the project is the transmission of generated power
either to the national grids or directly to the consumers.
Several
river flows from high Himalayas towards low land of terai within small width of
Nepal. High rainfall and huge gradients of such river indicates enormous
hydropower potential in Nepal. Rocky geological feature and deep gorges enhance
its economic construction. Theoretically, Nepal has gross potential of 83000
MW. However only 42000 MW is technically feasible.
Despite
of such a large feasibility, we are unable to utilize those energies due to
various internal problems in our country. Poor economic condition, political
instability, lack of advance technology for large constructions, etc are the
major problems. Thus we are facing the miserable problem of ‘Load shedding’.
According
to NEAs ‘A Year in Review- Fiscal Year 2013/2014’
|
|||||
SN
|
Major
Hydropower Projects
|
SN
|
Small
Hydropower Projects
|
||
i
ii
iii
iv
v
vi
vii
viii
ix
x
xi
|
Kaligandaki-A
Middle Marsyangdi
Marsyangdi
Kulekhani I
Kulekhani II
Trisuli
Gandaki
Modi Khola
Devighat
Sunkoshi
Puwa Khola
|
144 MW
70 MW
69 MW
60 MW
32 MW
24 MW
15 MW
14.8 MW
14.1 MW
10 MW
6.2 MW
|
i
ii
iii
iv
v
vi
vii
viii
ix
x
xi
|
Chatara
Panauti
Tatopani
Seti (Pokhara)
Tinau
Fewa
Sundarijal
Gamgad
Sumaiyagad
Ramechhap
Many Others
|
3.2 MW
2.4 MW
2.0 MW
1.5 MW
1.0 MW
1.0 MW
0.64 MW
0.4 MW
0.2 MW
0.15 MW
|
From Major Projects
|
459.15
MW
|
From Small Projects
|
14.24
MW
|
||
Thermal Power Plants
|
53.41
MW
|
From Small Isolated Projects
|
4.53
MW
|
||
Solar Power Plants
|
0.1
MW
|
||||
Total Electricity from Nepal Electricity
Authority's Projects (NEA)
|
477.93
MW
|
||||
Total Electricity from Independent Power
Producers (IPPs)
|
255.64
MW
|
||||
Total Electricity Generation in Nepal
|
733.57
MW
|
||||
Forecasted Peak Load Demand (2014/2015)
|
1426.4
MW
|
||||
Several
hydropower projects are under construction, several are in design phase and
several are under study. Power demand is also increasing rapidly. Meanwhile
small run-of river projects couldn’t meet rapid energy consumption growth rate.
Thus Nepal has been facing severe power cut problem since decades. This problem
seems to continue further more until and unless a quick and reliable solution
is drawn out and implemented.
Since, peaking run-of river (PROR) projects
generate electricity 24 hours a day in monsoon and only at peak hours in dry
season with provision of reservoir for daily storage to maintain constant power
generation they are best fitted in present scenario of Nepal. They act as like
power supply and demand equalizer. Hence they minimize peak hour energy
deficit, increase in industrial, agricultural and commercial production and
bring radical changes in peoples’ life. Construction of several project like
Kaligandaki-A, Marsyangdi, Kabeli-A (Under construction) of PROR addresses the
same. Hence we can conclude that PROR projects are emerging modern construction
for prosperous Nepal at present context.
