The Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) and the Nepal Electricity Authority have agreed to promote, develop and strengthen mini- and micro-hydropower projects in rural areas to improve people’s access to renewable energy.

As per the agreement signed on Thursday, the AEPC and the NEA will coordinate to develop at least ten mini-hydroelectricity plants with installed capacity above 100 kilowatts each as pilot projects in remote districts in an effort to make electricity available to all.

The two agencies will work jointly to strengthen the development and promotion of various other renewable energy sources including solar, wind and bio-gas in rural areas that are yet to be connected to the national grid.

The NEA has agreed to work on developing and upgrading lines required to transmit power generated from the different renewable energy sources. Both NEA and AEPC are working on rural electrification, chiefly in areas without power supply.

“On one hand, we are facing power outages up to eight hours a day. On the other, some areas supplied by renewable sources have excess energy due to the lack of connection to the national grid,” said Ram Prasad Dhital, executive director at the AEPC.

An estimated 42-megawatt of excess energy generated from micro- and mini-hydropower projects in several districts is being wasted, according to the AEPC.