Enabling Solar Mini-grid Development for Off-grid Electrification in Nepal

Abstract

Because of technological advancement and declining costs of the technologies, solar photovoltaic (PV) based mini-grids in the recent days are gaining popularity as a means to provide electricity to off-grid communities especially in the developing countries. Nepal has been implementing solar mini-grid projects to non-electrified rural areas to achieve the target of electricity for all by 2023. The scope of implementation and sustainable operation of such mini-grid projects in rural area is interdisciplinary in nature. This paper presents technical, social, financial aspects along with key issues of 100kWp solar mini-grid project in one of the rural villages of Nepal. The insights from the paper can support to design solar mini-grid program for sustainable electricity supply in remote areas.