Solar Energy Technology Program

Solar Photovoltaic Technology Research and Development

Major Ongoing Activities

1. Diversification of Applications of Solar PV Technology: This includes diversifying the areas of application of solar energy technologies in the country and building respective capacity to adopt new technologies. It covers a wide range of activities such as designing and developing solar PV systems to address local problems in the country (e.g., Solar Fridge), introducing new PV technologies emerging elsewhere in the
2. world to meet local needs (e.g., Floating solar PV system), proliferating knowledge, and imparting technical skills on solar energy technologies. This includes feasibility studies of grid-connected rooftop PV as well as utility systems, and the design and development of AI-based mini/ microgrids in areas still deprived of central grid electricity.
3. Feasibility Studies, Piloting, and Proposal Development for New Projects: Developing proposals related to utility-scale Solar PV plants in Nepal.
4. Organizing Seminars, Workshops, and Training Sessions: To enhance technical capacity in contemporary Solar PV technology and to generate awareness of emerging solar technologies, expanding their areas of application in different parts of the country or elsewhere in the world.
5. Reuse of Solar PV Panels Reclaimed after Dismantling Existing Systems: There are many solar PV systems previous established in Nepal, which has lost its relevance. It is planned now to test and utilize those solar PV modules used in the systems if found useable.

Significant accomplishments mostly with foreign collaboration:

1. Introduced Solar PV-based water pumping systems in Nepal (1.4 kW at Dang in 1988, 4 kW at Sundarighat, Kathmandu in 1993, and 40 kW at Bode, Bhaktapur in 1995 with the technical support of JICA (Government of Japan funded Project).
   
2. Introduced solar module testing and certification system through Renewable Energy Test Station (RETS) using AAA Class Solar Simulator for the first time in Nepal. 

 3. Level-2 Training for Trainers on Solar PV Technology in Collaboration with VOCTEC, Arizona State University, USA. (A USAID funded project).​

 4. Level-1 Technicians’ Training for women on Solar PV Technology in Collaboration with VOCTEC, Arizona State University, USA. (A USAID funded project).

5. Conducted Hands-On training for Trainers (University Faculties) on solar PV systems using Mobile Training Toolkit (MTT) in 5 provinces of Nepal (Except Far-western and Madhesh Provinces). (Arizona State University supported with MTT)

6. Accomplished a project on "Prioritization of Alternative Energy Technologies in Different Ecological Zones of Nepal", in collaboration with Chonbuk National University, Republic of Korea. (A KOICA funded project).

7. Employed two senior Volunteers from Japan (Dr. Kyoko Shuku and Mr. Hajime Kitazumi) for a total period of four years (A JICA funded project), and a senior technical Advisor, Late Mr. C. D. Lee from the Republic of Korea for a period of 3 years (a KOICA/NIPA funded project).

8. Developed a feasibility study report for a hybrid type of solar PV project of 2 MW under the support of a Korean Company.