Though the initial plan was to install solar plant with capacity of 5 MW by utilizing rooftops of government buildings, it was shelved after China offered to install solar plant in grants. But there has been no progress in project implementation.
Sanjay Sharma, spokesperson of Ministry of Energy, said Chinese technicians were conducting feasibility study for the project. “We are waiting for the Chinese side to install solar plant,” Sharma said, adding, “Chinese officials have told us that there is not sufficient space in Singha Durbar to install solar panels as many buildings, including the main building, have become uninhabitable after the earthquake.”
Rooftop space shrunk also as most of the buildings on Singha Duabar premises have sheds and trusses on top floor. Also, Singha Durbar Secretariat Reconstruction Committee does not allow installation of solar panels in open parking spaces.
Officials say a team of Chinese technicians were conducting feasibility study when the April 25 earthquake rattled the country. They packed up and left for their home. The team returned on December 1 and completed feasibility study in two weeks.
Energy ministry officials say the team has told them that it would another six months to make procurement.
China has offered to procure, install and hand over the solar plant to the government. The initial agreement was to install power plant having capacity between 1 to 5 MW.
Officials say several buildings, which were selected for the project before the earthquake, have now been termed 'unsuitable'. Similarly, new buildings, like the Kathmandu District Court situated in the periphery of Singh Durbar, have been picked for the project.
Any estimated 10,000 square meters of open space is needed to install solar plant with 1 MW capacity.
Singha Durbar premises consumes an estimated 1 MW of energy.
Meanwhile, Nepal Electricity Authority's plan of installing 25 MW solar plant is not making progress due to delay in procurement. Two months ago, Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli unveiled plan to install 200 MW solar plant within a year. But nothing has been done so far to implement the plan.
Officials say solar energy can be a part power mix, but it cannot generate energy round the clock like hydropower plants.
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