KATHMANDU: Nepal’s largest wind-solar hybrid power system has come into operation in Hariharpurgadi village of Sindhuli district on Tuesday. A project initiated by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is said to provide electricity to 83 rural households. The turbines of the power system produce 110 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy per day easily meeting the village’s electricity demand of 87 kWh per day.

The wind-solar hybrid system was installed under ADB’s South Asia Sub regional Economic Cooperation Power System Expansion Project. The project, with a total cost of $16.2 million, was also partly financed by the Government of Nepal, the Scaling up Of Renewable Energy Program under the Climate Investment Fund, and the local community.

“Access to clean, reliable and affordable energy will help villagers to connect to the world through Internet and mobile phones creating opportunities to boost local income,” said Mukhtor Khamudkhanov, ADB’s Country Director for Nepal. “The electricity from the mini-grid opens door for commercial activities in the village and will help small businesses get off the ground.”

This subproject, implemented by the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC), is being hailed as an example of Government’s commitment and ADB’s efforts to scale up decentralized off grid approaches to rural energy in Nepal.

“Six years ago, the Government of Nepal, with support from ADB, launched its first mini grid wind-solar system in Dhaubadi in Western Nepal,” said Ram Prasad Dhital, Executive Director at AEPC.

According to Dhital, the success of these two projects has demonstrated wind-solar hybrid systems as a viable alternative for providing reliable energy access to rural Nepal.

“We appreciate ADB’s continued support to strengthen the power sector in Nepal and implement innovative renewable energy solutions to help the country achieve the Sustainable Development Goals,” said Prakash Mathema, Secretary at the Ministry of Population and Environment.