| Author | Karki, Shankar Kumar |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.ET-99-37 |
| Subject(s) | Pumped storage power plants--Nepal
|
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters
of Engineering, School of Environment Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | In Nepal, the large-scale hydropower development has been the issues of conflicts and
controversies from last few years. The proponents of small hydro plants often claim that
large-scale hydropower development at the present situation is not feasible due to country's
poor economic condition and low infrastructure development. But, the opponents justify that
large-scale power exports could help to uplift the Nepalese economy by generating revenues
to finance the basic infrastructure development within the country.
To resolve these issues, this study has been carried out to find out the cost-effectiveness of
small-scale hydropower development at the present context of Nepal. The quantitative
analysis has been carried out using the integrated resource planning model to assess the costeffectiveness of small-scale plant option compared to large-scale plant option. From the longterm generation expansion planning perspective, the small plant option with sizes 96 MW, 44
MW, 24 MW and 13 MW are found to be cost-effective under both TRP and IRP analyses.
The implication of IRP is found to decrease the peak load growth pattern in which the small
sized plants are found to be more appropriate than in TRP. The study also shows that the
pumped storage power plant at the present situation of Nepal is feasible from both technical
as well as economical point of view.
The sensitivity analyses show that the small plant option is cost-effective at all discount
factors from 8% to 12%. The appropriate size of the plants being selected are found to be
related with the load growth pattern, larger sized plants being feasible for higher load growth
and vice versa. Due to the higher amount of energy generation at high load factor, the plants
with higher annual energy per MW capacity are found to be more appropriate than the other
plants with low energy capacity. |
| Year | 1999 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Energy Technology (ET) |
| Chairperson(s) | Shrestha, R. M.; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Bhattacharya, S. C. ;Pacudan, R. B.; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Norwegian Agency for Development
Co-operation ; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1999 |