Suitability and Techno-Economic Feasibility of Hybrid — Solar and Wind — Power Plant in Nepal

Abstract

In the past decade, there has been a significant increase in worldwide energy demand primarily met by fossil fuels, resulting in ecological and environmental impacts, leading to a growing interest in sustainable energy options such as wind and solar power that have minimal ecological effects and are well-suited for remote areas and rural electrification goals. This study identifies suitable regions for solar, wind, and hybrid energy generation in Nepal by collecting criteria from literature, analyzing their relevance in the Nepalese context, and categorizing them into five suitability classes; these classes were determined based on factors' significance, contextual appropriateness, impact on energy capacity, adaptability, economic considerations, and environmental effects, while the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to assign weights through pairwise comparisons, ultimately resulting in weighted overlay maps using ArcMap 10.8 to select optimal wind and solar sites. Furthermore, we analyzed the prepared suitability map, and available literature to select a site for the techno-economic feasibility analysis. Based on the inputs—location details, load profile, other technical characteristics and cost— the feasibility of different power systems i.e. solar, wind and hybrid (solar and wind) were analyzed using HOMER, and the technically suitable system with the least cost was selected as the best system for the implementation. The final suitability map illustrates that 'suitable' regions for solar, wind, and hybrid energy comprise 7.0%, 3.2%, and 2.3% of the total surface area, respectively, with a predominant presence of moderately suitable areas for each energy system and fewer less suitable areas; notably, the suitable zones are primarily concentrated in the Terai regions due to their flatter terrain, enhanced infrastructure, and improved accessibility. After analyzing the Net Present Cost (NPC) and the cost of electricity (COE), the results depicts that PV-wind hybrid power plants with battery storage are the most costeffective choice. In contrast, PV-battery power plants are the least favorable option. In the analysis, wind power alone falls short in meeting the load demand due to limited power generation capacity, primarily because of unfavorable wind resource data. Incorporating wind and solar systems into Nepal's energy mix, especially in regions with ample resources, addresses intermittent energy issues and eases the load on 6 hydroelectric plants during high demand or seasonal shortages, boosting Nepal's energy resilience; this study offers strong evidence of wind, solar, and hybrid energy system potential in Nepal, promoting the need to diversify energy sources and fostering a path toward a sustainable and robust energy future that stakeholders should actively support through investments. Also, the techno-economic assessment validates that strategically combining wind and solar energy systems enhances reliable and economically efficient energy supply. This integration improves overall energy generation and addresses the inherent intermittency challenges associated with renewable sources.