On the eve of World Environment Day on 5 June, the Nepal government utility inaugurated the first phase of its first 25MW solar array that will feed electricity directly into the national grid.
Nepal Electricity Authority’s (NEA) launched its largest solar power project on Thursday by commencing operations amid calls for the government to renew its commitment to renewable energy.
Devighat Electric Project in Nuwakot added 1.25MW to the national grid, its total output after completion to reach 25MW. Of this, 10MW will be produced within the next month and half, NEA Managing Director Kulman Ghising said.
The lockdown scuppered an initial goal of producing 15MW and elays over design and creating space for panels had already taken the project beyond its initial completion date of mid-April 2019.
The project employs solar panels without storage batteries, meaning electricity produced is fed directly into the grid when sunlight is available. A 33 kilovolt substation is in operation, with another 66 kilovolt substation hit by production delays.