Decentralised renewable energies are not only the most climate-friendly option for supplying rural areas in Nepal with energy, they are usually also the most cost-effective. However, the country has so far lacked a strong renewable energy market shaped by private-sector initiative and competition that offers good, cost-effective products and services.
Since 2019, Nepalese municipalities have been authorised to develop smaller renewable energy power plants themselves, to take over the municipal energy supply and receive support for this from the German Federal Government. The transition to local and regional governments promoting decentralised renewable energy is challenging the public sector and private sector renewable energy providers. The private sector lacks the expertise to develop a renewable energy market under these new conditions.
Local and regional governments are developing a renewable energy market and expanding the private sector's knowledge of public financing. More people in rural areas of Nepal with thus be supplied with energy.
Through training, advisory services and organisational development, the project supports the capacities of local and regional governments, the state agency for renewable energies and the Government of Nepal in planning and promoting renewable energy. At the same time, it is establishing a digital platform to disseminate knowledge on renewable energy in rural communities, provide further training, offer advisory services and share experience.
The project also supports the private sector in identifying and disseminating new business models and solutions for renewable energy. It is organising an ideas competition and implementing selected concepts as models. Here, it works with government representatives to raise awareness of the competition and foster public promotion of ideas. The private sector and public officials are also developing their expertise in public innovation promotion.