Suitability and Techno-Economic Feasibility of Hybrid — Solar and Wind — Power Plant in Nepal
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IOE Pulchowk Campus
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
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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.
Description
Over the last decade, there has been a remarkable upsurge in global energy demand and
utilization, primarily relying on fossil fuels to meet this requirement. The utilization of
fossil fuels and other non-renewable energy forms has had a substantial impact on our
ecological systems and the overall environment (Bhandari et al., 2017). One of the most
promising avenues for sustainable energy involves harnessing alternative sources of
energy like wind and solar power to generate electricity.