Where do we work?
Renewable Energy
Water&Sanitation
Tourism
Agriculture
Forest Products
Governance
 
   
 
   
   

For more information please contact:

Thomas Krader
Renewable Energy Sector Leader
send email
 
 
   
 

Renewable Energy 

With 85% of Nepal's population living in rural areas of which 90% still use fuel wood to generate energy, it is increasingly important to pursue off-grid energy solutions for the future. SNV has been working in the renewable energy sector in Nepal since 1992, promoting market-orientated initiatives among government, private and NGO stakeholders.

With over 20 years of experience in the renewable energy sector in Nepal, SNV has been able to develop a deep understanding of the benefits to local populations from renewable energy technologies (RETs) and the importance of maintaining performance of these technologies on the ground by engaging the private sector at the local level.

Our Objectives:

  • Improve access to energy services
  • Improve income generation and employement
  • Bring reliability and stability to energy supply

Across all Renewable Energy applications, SNV's practical approach emphasises the delivery of essential benefits at the local level, including improved health and sanitation, environmental protection, good governance and social inclusion, and poverty reduction through income generation and employment opportunities.

Our Programmes:

  • Next Generation Biogas: One of the defining features of our work - developing Nepal's domestic biogas scheme into a viable and vital part of the economy - is a model throughout Asia and Africa.  Up till now, 200,000 families in Nepal have gained access to domestic biogas schemes and there is the potential for a further 100,000 to be installed in the coming five years. 
  • Improved Water Mills (IWM): In order to accomodate the new surge in demand for IWMs, SNV will continue to support the Centre for Rural Technology Nepal upscale its programme to 40 districts (from its current 16). Till date, SNV has helped install 5,000 IWMs across Nepal
  • Inclusive Biofuels: SNV is exploring possibilities to promote Jatropa (a non-edible oil bearing plant) sourced Biofuel as an alternative to petroleum.  The programme will demonstrate the full value chain of Jatropha, from planting, cultivation to processing a final user-product that will include biodiesel.
  • Innovative Microfinance: In order to enhance the access of Nepal's rural population - particularly the poor and marginalised - to energy solutions, it is essential that credit support be made available.  Accordingly, SNV is working to pilot microfinance mechanisms  by (1) building the capacity of promising microfinance institutions and (2) will explore possibilities for Carbon Bundling and Microfinance whereby income from Nepal's emergent carbon trading market will be used as collateral for new Renewable Energy lending my microfinance insititutions.
 
   
 
 
   
   
 
   
 

Stories from the Field 

Click here to read about SNV's work in biogas promotion in the remote district of Kalikot.