Bid to beat energy crisis

    1543

    KATHMANDU, JUN 16 –

    alternative_energyVarious representatives from government, private developers and donor agencies have stressed the need of a ‘mix- energy approach’ to mitigate the existing energy crisis in the country.

    Addressing a half-day seminar on “Wind Energy Development and Use: Nepalese Perspective” organised to mark the first Global Wind Day in Nepal on Friday, Chief Secretary Lila Mani Poudel said promotion of wind, solar and other viable alternative energies should be encouraged for a smooth energy supply in the country.

    Despite more than two decades of efforts to develop wind energy , Nepal has not been able to harness its huge potential due to lack of policies, incentives and researches, according to experts.

    AEPC engineer Prakash Aryal, one of the presenters during the workshop, said the government is in the early stage of policy formulation for the promotion and development of wind energy .

    In absence of adequate policies and programmes, wind energy has not been developed as a financially, technically and economically viable alternative energy source, he said. Aryal,

    however, said the government is in the process of endorsing a wind energy policy.

    Another paper presenter, Pushkar Manandhar from ADB said there has been growing interest in investment in similar energy systems in recent times. One of the APEC-ADB initiatives is the development of country’s first mini wind-solar hybrid power system in Nawalparasi, he said.

    Also speaking at the function, Narayan Aryal, engineer at the Nepal Electricity Authority, put as much emphasis on the need to conduct researches on the development of wind, solar and other viable alternative energies.

    Source : The Kathmandu Post