More Practical Pico Hydro Plant Stories

M O N D A Y , A P R I L 1 4 , 2 0 0 8

Stream Line, Kenya

- September 2002 -IntroductionThe absence of electric power greatly constrains a community's abilityto generate income and provide local services. Decentralised energyoptions using local resources, such as wind, biogas, solar power andhydro power, offer many advantages for meeting the needs of ruralpopulations. Development of one or more renewable energy options canimproves both of these aspects of community lifeSince the early 1990s, pico-hydro has been used to deliver electricityand mechanical power to remote mountainous areas of the world.Pico-hydro projects are hydroelectric schemes with a power generationcapacity of up to 5 kilowatts (kW). The energy in water flowing down aslope is converted into electrical energy. Pico-hydro schemes have lowpower outputs, but require little water and are simple to install. Theytypically provide energy for lighting and battery charging.Experts from the Energy Programme of ITDG East Africa, based inKenya, in collaboration with Nottingham Trent University in the UK areworking to develop the pico-hydro power sector in Kenya. The projectdemonstrates that pico-hydro technology is a sustainable and affordabletechnology for community electrification. Contributing to theestablishment of hydro power infrastructure in rural Kenya andsub-Saharan Africa as a whole, the project benefits two ruralcommunities in Kirinyaga District, central Kenya.

Water PowerThe flow of water in rivers and streams is a potential source of energy.Hydro power is a very clean source of energy. It relies on a natural,non-polluting and renewable resource. Traditional water-wheels, usedfor providing energy for milling and pumping, have been superseded bymodern turbines that are compact, highly efficient and capable ofturning at high speed.Hydro power has many advantages, including:

1. Power is usually available continuously on demand.2. It is a concentrated energy source.3. The energy available is predictable.4. No fuel and limited maintenance are required, so running costs arelow compared with diesel power.5. It is a long-lasting and robust technology; systems can last for 50years or more without major new investments.

Micro-hydro is the term used for technologies that convert energy inflowing water to direct-drive shaft power or to electricity generation ona very small scale. Ranging from a few hundred watts for batterycharging or food processing applications up to 100 kW, micro-hydroprovides power for small communities and rural industry in remoteareas away from grid electricity. Hydro power that produces amaximum electrical output of 5 kW is called pico-hydro.

Pico-hydro PowerRecent innovations in pico-hydro technology have made it a source ofpower for some of the poorest and most remote regions in the world. Itis a versatile power source as it can produce alternating current (AC)electricity, enabling standard appliances to be used, and it can bedistributed to a whole village. It is used to power light bulbs, radios,televisions, refrigerators and food processors. It offers communities analternative to the use of hazardous and expensive kerosene for lightinghouseholds, schools and businesses. Mechanical power can also be usedwith some designs to operate workshop tools and grain mills.

Pico-hydro has a number of advantages over larger systems.

-Smaller water flows are required and there are many more sites thatare suitable.-It is easier to establish and maintain agreements regarding ownership,payments, operation, maintenance and water rights, as the units onlysupply power for a small number of households.-Even in countries with extensive grid electrification, pico-hydro can besuitable for the many small, remote communities for which gridextension would be extremely expensive and not practical.-Locally manufactured systems can be produced that have much lower

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Bijuli Ghar: April 2008 http://bijulighar.blogspot.com/2008_04_01_archive.html

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long- term costs per kilowatt than solar, wind and diesel systems.

Pico-hydro in KenyaKathamba and Thima, in the Kirinyaga District of Kenya, are therecipients of a pico-hydro scheme, the first of its kind in Africa, thanksto ITDG East Africa and Nottingham Trent University's Pico Hydro Unit.The success of the project is due to the availability of trained peopleand the support given by the local communities.In Kathamba during the wet season, the spring produces 8 litres ofwater per second, generating approximately 1.7 kW to 2 kW of power.This is distributed to more than 30 households, with another 35 homesawaiting connection. The scheme in Thima covers 66 households. Each'package' consists of light units and a socket for which users paybetween US$55 and $75 to be connected to electricity. Fuel costs havedramatically reduced, with money saved each month on kerosene anddry cell batteries.

How Does it Work?Water is diverted down a pipe, called the penstock, to fall through avertical height or head, in order to gather energy. The lower end of thepenstock is attached to a turbine that is turned by the energy in thefalling water. As the turbine spins, it can be connected either directlyto machines such as mills and presses or to a generator to provideelectrical power for a small grid or battery charging. The amount ofenergy available is directly related to the volume of water flowingdown the penstock and the height, through which it falls. The greaterthe volume of water and the greater the height, the more energy can beharnessed.

Figure 1. Components of a Pico-hydro System © Maher and Smith, 2001

There are eight main components to a pico-hydro system:

Water supply: The source of water is a stream or an irrigation channel.Small amounts of water can also be diverted from rivers. It is importantthat the source of water is reliable and not needed by anyone else.Springs make excellent sources as they do not dry up in dry weatherand are usually clean, which stops silt building up in the system.

Forebay tank: Water is fed into a forebay tank. This is often enlargedto form a small reservoir. This can be useful if the water available isnot enough during the dry season.

Penstock pipe: Water flows from the forebay tank or reservoir down along pipe called the penstock. At the end of the penstock water comesout of a nozzle as a high- pressure jet. A drop or head of at least 20metres is recommended and means that the amount of water needed toproduce enough power for the basic needs of a village is quite small.

Turbine and generator: The power in the jet, or hydro power, istransmitted to a turbine runner that changes it into mechanical power.The runner has blades or buckets that cause it to rotate when struck bythe water. The turbine is a general name that refers to the runner,nozzle and surrounding case. The runner typically spins 1500 times everyminute. The turbine is attached to a generator. This converts rotatingpower into electrical power. This is how water flowing in a smallstream can become electricity.

A pico generator


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Electronic controller: An electronic controller is connected to thegenerator. This matches the electrical power that is produced to theelectrical loads that are connected, and stops the voltage fromchanging as devices are switched on and off.

An electronic load controller

Mechanical load: The mechanical load is a machine connected to theturbine shaft using a pulley system so that power can be drawn directlyfrom the turbine. The rotating force of the turbine runner can be usedto turn equipment such as grain mills or woodwork machinery.Approximately 10 per cent of the mechanical power is lost in the pulleysystem but it is still an efficient way of using the power as none is lostin the generator or electric motor.

Distribution system: The distribution system connects the electricitysupply from the generator to the houses or schools. This is often one ofthe most expensive parts of the system.

Electrical loads: Electrical loads are usually connected inside houses.This is a general name given to any device that uses the electricitygenerated. The type of loads connected to a pico-hydro schemedepends largely on the amount of power generated. Using the powerwisely can add more benefits. Special lights such a fluorescent bulbs,for example, use less power and so more lights can be connected to thesame generator.After passing through the whole system, water is normally returned to astream or river below the powerhouse.

Planning a Pico-hydro Scheme :

It is important to conduct a feasibility study in a proposed area todetermine what is required to implement a pico-hydro project forvillage electrification.

Overview: Establish the demand, willingness to pay, local ability tomanage a scheme, and grid electricity available or planned.

Location: A suitable geographical location for a pico-hydro scheme isone with steep rivers that have an all-year flow.

Demand survey: Estimate the number of houses within 1km(approximately two- thirds of a mile) from the water supply and thosewho are willing to pay. A 1km radius is the distance that electricity canmost easily be transmitted.

Power estimate: The head and flow rate should both be measured todetermine the possible power output and to help in choosingequipment.

Cost and availability: Estimate the size of generator needed to meetthe energy demand, based on the head, flow and power outputs ofavailable equipment. Typically, the higher the head the lower the costper installed kilowatt. A typical system may cost approximatelyUS$3,000 per kilowatt. The initial investment is high, but running costs,mostly maintenance, are low because there is no need to buy fuel.

Viability: Comparing the likely annual income with capital cost gives arough guide to financial viability. If the annual income is less than 10per cent of the capital cost, the project is not viable. If it is 10–25 percent the scheme could be possible. If the annual income is more than 25per cent, then the scheme is viable.

Head and flow: Decide on a suitable combination of head and flow toproduce the required power. Assumptions should be made on thesystem efficiency, but if in doubt, assume an overall efficiency (waterpower to electrical power) of 45 per cent.

Village meeting: Present the findings of the survey to the community atan open meeting. Local government staff and local developmentorganisations should be encouraged to attend.

Other steps: A number of other steps need to be taken, including adetailed site survey, finalising power output, producing a scale map andscheme layout, a detailed costing, consumer contracts for electricitysupply and organising finance. Once this has been done the scheme canget under way. Ordering materials, installation and training can all beundertaken.


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How to calculate power and efficiency

The pico-hydro project in Kenya has proven that this technology is bothsustainable and affordable. Utilising a small spring to generateelectricity, the communities of Kathamba and Thima now watch TV,listen to the radio and children can do homework at night knowing thistechnology is environmentally friendly. Money saved on buying keroseneand batteries can be used for other things, including children'seducation.

All photos © ITDG/Zul

Posted by Bijuli Ghar at 9:56 AM 0 comments

S A T U R D A Y , A P R I L 1 2 , 2 0 0 8

Microhydro Electricity Basics

Hydropower is based on simple concepts.Moving water turns a turbine, the turbine spinsa generator, and electricity is produced. Manyother components may be in a system, but itall begins with the energy already within themoving water.

Water power is the combination of head andflow. Both must be present to produceelectricity. Consider a typical hydro system.Water is diverted from a stream into apipeline, where it is directed downhill andthrough the turbine (flow). The vertical drop(head) creates pressure at the bottom end ofthe pipeline. The pressurized water emergingfrom the end of the pipe creates the force thatdrives the turbine. More flow or more headproduces more electricity. Electrical poweroutput will always be slightly less than waterpower input due to turbine and systeminefficiencies.

Head is water pressure, which is created by the difference in elevationbetween the water intake and the turbine. Head can be expressed asvertical distance (feet or meters), or as pressure, such as pounds persquare inch (psi). Net head is the pressure available at the turbine whenwater is flowing, which will always be less than the pressure when thewater is turned off (static head), due to the friction between the waterand the pipe. Pipeline diameter has an effect on net head.

Flow is water quantity, and is expressed as "volume per time," such asgallons per minute (gpm), cubic feet per second (cfs), or liters perminute (lpm). Design flow is the maximum flow for which your hydrosystem is designed. It will likely be less than the maximum flow of yourstream (especially during the rainy season), more than your minimumflow, and a compromise between potential electrical output andsystem cost.

Measuring Head & Flow

Before you can begin designing your hydro system or estimating howmuch electricity it will produce, you´ll need to make four essentialmeasurements:

• Head (the vertical distance between the intake and turbine)• Flow (how much water comes down the stream)• Pipeline (penstock) length• Electrical transmission line length (from turbine to home or batterybank)

Head and flow are the two most important facts you need to knowabout your hydro site. You simply cannot move forward without thesemeasurements. Your site´s head and flow will determine everythingabout your hydro system—pipeline size, turbine type, rotational speed,and generator size. Even rough cost estimates will be impossible untilyou´ve measured head and flow.

When measuring head and flow, keep in mind that accuracy isimportant. Inaccurate measurements can result in a hydro systemdesigned to the wrong specs, and one that produces less electricity at agreater expense.


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See also the following Home Power feature articles:

Microhydro-Electric Systems SimplifiedIntro to Hydropower—Part 1: Systems OverviewIntro to Hydropower—Part 2: Measuring Head & FlowIntro to Hydropower—Part 3: Power, Efficiency, Transmission &Equipment Selection

Microhydro-Electric System Types

Off-Grid Battery-Based Microhydro-Electric Systems

Most small off-grid hydro systems are battery-based. Battery systemshave great flexibility and can be combined with other energy sources,such as wind generators and solar-electric arrays, if your stream isseasonal. Because stream flow is usually consistent, battery charging isas well, and it´s often possible to use a relatively small battery bank.Instantaneous demand (watts) will be limited not by the waterpotential or turbine, but by the size of the inverter.

The following illustration includes the primary components of anyoff-grid battery-based microhydro-electric system. See our Microhydro-Electric System Components section for an introduction to thefunction(s) of each component.


Hydro New England Style

Off-Grid Batteryless Microhydro-Electric Systems

If your stream has enough potential, you may decide to go with anAC-direct system. This consists of a turbine generator that produces ACoutput at 120 or 240 volts, which can be sent directly to standardhousehold loads. The system is controlled by diverting energy in excessof load requirements to dump loads, such as water- or air-heatingelements. This technique keeps the total load on the generatorconstant. A limitation of these systems is that the peak or surge loadscannot exceed the output of the generator, which is determined by thestream´s available head and flow. This type of system needs to belarge to meet peak electrical loads, so it can often generate enoughenergy for all household needs, including water and space heating.

The following illustration includes the primary components of anyoff-grid batteryless microhydro-electric system. See our Microhydro-Electric System Components section for an introduction to thefunction(s) of each component.


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Grid-Tied Batteryless Microhydro-Electric Systems

Systems of this type use a turbine and controls to produce electricitythat can be fed directly into utility lines. These can use either AC or DCgenerators. AC systems will use AC generators to sync directly with thegrid. An approved interface device is needed to prevent the systemfrom energizing the grid when the grid is out of action and under repair.DC systems will use a specific inverter to convert the output of a DChydro turbine to grid-synchronous AC. The biggest drawback ofbatteryless systems is that when the utility is down, your electricitywill be out too. When the grid fails, these systems are designed toautomatically shut down.

The following illustration includes the primary components of anygrid-tied batteryless microhydro-electric system. See our Microhydro-Electric System Components section for an introduction to thefunction(s) of each component.


Powerful Dreams—Crown Hill Farm´s Hydro-Electric Plant

Microhydro-Electric System Components

Understanding the basic components of an RE system and how theyfunction is not an overwhelming task. Here are some brief descriptionsof the common equipment used in grid-intertied and off-gridmicrohydro-electric systems. Systems vary—not all equipment isnecessary for every system type.

IntakePipelineTurbineControlsDump LoadBattery BankMeteringMain DC DisconnectInverterAC Breaker PanelKilowatt-Hour Meter

IntakeAKA: screen, diversion,impoundment

Intakes can be as simple as ascreened box submerged in thewatercourse, or they can involve acomplete damming of the stream.The goal is to divert debris- andair-free water into a pipeline.Effectively getting the water intothe system´s pipeline is a criticalissue that often does not getenough attention. Poorly designedintakes often become the focus ofmaintenance and repair efforts for hydro-electric systems.

A large pool of water at the intake will not increase the output of theturbine, nor will it likely provide useful storage, but it will allow thewater to calm so debris can sink or float. An intake that is above thebottom of the pool, but below the surface, will avoid the grit on thestream bottom and most of the floating debris on top. Another way toremove debris is to direct the water over a sloped screen. The turbine´swater falls through, and debris passes with the overflow water.

PipelineAKA: Penstock

Most hydro turbines require at least a short run of pipe to bring thewater to the machine, and some turbines require piping to move wateraway from it. The length can vary widely depending on the distance


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between the source and the turbine. The pipeline´s diameter may rangefrom 1 inch to 1 foot or more, and must be large enough to handle thedesign flow. Losses due to friction need to be minimized to maximizethe energy available for conversion into electricity. Plastic in the formof polyethylene or PVC is the usual choice for home-scale systems.Burying the pipeline is desirable to prevent freezing in extremely coldclimates, to keep the pipe from shifting, and to protect it from damage(cows, bears, etc.) and ultraviolet (UV) light degradation.

TurbineAKA: Waterwheel

The turbine converts the energy inthe water into electricity. Manytypes of turbines are available, soit is important to match themachine to the site´s conditions ofhead and flow.

In impulse turbines, the water isrouted through nozzles that direct the water at some type of runner orwheel (Pelton and Turgo are two common types). Reaction turbines arepropeller machines and centrifugal pumps used as turbines, where therunner is submerged within a closed housing. With either turbine type,the energy of the falling water is converted into rotary motion in therunner´s shaft. This shaft is coupled directly or belted to either apermanent magnet alternator, or a "synchronous" or induction ACgenerator.

ControlsAKA: Charge controller, controller,regulator

The function of a charge controller in ahydro system is equivalent to turningon a load to absorb excess energy.Battery-based microhydro systemsrequire charge controllers to preventovercharging the batteries. Controllersgenerally send excess energy to asecondary (dump) load, such as an airor water heater. Unlike a solar-electriccontroller, a microhydro system controller does not disconnect theturbine from the batteries. This could create voltages that are higherthan some components can withstand, or cause the turbine tooverspeed, which could result in dangerous and damaging overvoltages.

Off-grid, batteryless AC-direct microhydro systems need controls too. Aload-control governor monitors the voltage or frequency of the system,and keeps the generator correctly loaded, turning dump-load capacityon and off as the load pattern changes, or mechanically deflects wateraway from the runner. Grid-tied batteryless AC and DC systems alsoneed controls to protect the system if the utility grid fails.


Under Control: Charge Controllers for Whole-House SystemsWhat is a Charge Controller?Get Maximum Power From Your Solar Panels with MPPTWhat The Heck? Charge Controller

Dump LoadAKA: diversion load, shunt load

A dump load is an electrical resistanceheater that must be sized to handle thefull generating capacity of the microhydroturbine. Dump loads can be air or waterheaters, and are activated by the chargecontroller whenever the batteries or thegrid cannot accept the energy beingproduced, to prevent damage to thesystem. Excess energy is "shunted" to the dump loadwhen necessary.

Battery BankAKA: storage battery

By using reversible chemical reactions, abattery bank provides a way to storesurplus energy when more is being producedthan consumed. When demand increasesbeyond what is generated, the batteries canbe called on to release energy to keep yourhousehold loads operating.

A microhydro system is typically the mostgentle of the RE systems on the batteries, since they do not oftenremain in a discharged state. The bank can also be smaller than for awind or PV system. One or two days of storage is usually sufficient.Deep-cycle lead-acid batteries are typically used in these systems. They


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are cost effective and do not usually account for a large percentage ofthe system cost.


Top 10 Battery Blunders and How to Avoid ThemFlooded Lead-Acid Battery MaintenanceBattery Box Basics

MeteringAKA: battery monitor, amp-hour meter,watt-hour meter

System meters measure and display severaldifferent aspects of your microhydro-electricsystem´s performance and status—tracking howfull your battery bank is, how much electricityyour turbine is producing or has produced, andhow much electricity is being used. Operating your system withoutmetering is like running your car without any gauges—although possibleto do, it´s always better to know how well the car is operating andhow much fuel is in the tank.


The Whole Picture: Computer-Based Solutions for PV System MonitoringMutichannel Metering: Beta-Testing a New System MonitorControl Your Energy Use & Costs with Solar Monitoring

Main DC DisconnectAKA: battery/inverter disconnect

In battery-based systems, a disconnect betweenthe batteries and inverter is required. Thisdisconnect is typically a large, DC-rated breakermounted in a sheet-metal enclosure. It allows theinverter to be disconnected from the batteries forservice, and protects the inverter-to-battery wiringagainst electrical faults.


What The Heck? Disconnect

InverterAKA: DC-to-AC converter

Inverters transform the DC electricitystored in your battery bank into ACelectricity for powering householdappliances. Grid-tied inverterssynchronize the system´s output withthe utility´s AC electricity, allowing the system to feed hydro-electricity to the utility grid. Battery-based inverters for off-grid orgrid-tied systems often include a battery charger, which is capable ofcharging a battery bank from either the grid or a backup generator ifyour creek isn´t flowing or your system is down for maintenance.

In rare cases, an inverter and battery bank are used with larger, off-gridAC-direct systems to increase power availability. The inverter uses theAC to charge the batteries, and synchronizes with the hydro-electric ACsupply to supplement it when demand is greater than the output of thehydro generator.


What’s Going On—The Grid? A New Generation of Grid-Tied PV InvertersOff-Grid Inverter Efficiency

AC Breaker PanelAKA: mains panel, breaker box, service entrance

The AC breaker panel, or mains panel, is the pointat which all of a home´s electrical wiring meetswith the provider of the electricity, whetherthat´s the grid or a microhydro-electric system.This wall-mounted panel or box is usually installedin a utility room, basement, garage, or on theexterior of a building. It contains a number oflabeled circuit breakers that route electricity tothe various rooms throughout a house. These breakers allow electricityto be disconnected for servicing, and also protect the building´s wiringagainst electrical fires.

Just like the electrical circuits in your home or office, a grid-tiedinverter´s electrical output needs to be routed through an AC circuitbreaker. This breaker is usually mounted inside the building´s mainspanel. It enables the inverter to be disconnected from either the grid orfrom electrical loads if servicing is necessary. The breaker alsosafeguards the circuit´s electrical wiring.

Kilowatt-Hour MeterAKA: KWH meter, utility meter


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Most homes with grid-tied microhydro-electricsystems will have AC electricity both comingfrom and going to the utility grid. Amultichannel KWH meter keeps track of howmuch grid electricity you´re using and howmuch your RE system is producing. The utilitycompany often provides intertie-capablemeters at no cost.

-By Paul Cunningham & Ian Woofenden


micro-hydro power plant

The Border Green Energy Team (BGET) provides hands-on appropriatetechnology training and financial support to village innovators in ethnicminority areas on both sides of the Thai/Burma border.

Waterfall

School in need of electricity

Students

Preparing reservoir


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Working on dam

Everybody works

More sandbags

Piping water from good height to get good pressure


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Good effort

Pressure, OK?

Let's build a POWER HOUSE

Preparing cement

For the turbine


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Break time

Power Hut may be

Here comes the water

Into the turbine


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Where is the manual?

Water comes in; Water goes out and in between ....

The truth: Voltage meter and Current meter

Controller

Controller


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Looking good

Cable works for distribution

No sagging cables

Higher


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One village at a time

Bright class-room


F R I D A Y , A P R I L 1 1 , 2 0 0 8

Bir Bahadur Ghale

Bir Bahadur GhaleCountry: NepalRegion: AsiaField Of Work: Economic DevelopmentSubsectors: Appropriate Technology,Rural DevelopmentTarget Populations: Businesses,CommunitiesOrganization: Nepal Micro-HydroEntrepreneur's FederationYear Elected: 2004

This profile was prepared when Bir Bahadur Ghale was elected to theAshoka Fellowship in 2004.Villages in the highest altitudes of the Himalayan Mountains faceisolation and economic stagnation. As a result, they lose dozens ofyoung people every year to increasingly crowded urban areas. BirBahadur Ghale electrifies these villages with a small hydropower plantand helps them attract new business ventures that stimulate theireconomies and draw young people back to their communities.

The New Idea:The best way to stem the tide of people leaving remote villages is tofill those villages with energy and opportunity. Bir Bahadur Ghaleaccomplishes this by constructing micro-hydropower plants, just largeenough to light a town and support a wave of new businesses. In linkingsustainable power generation to industrial and commercial ventures, hecreates jobs that enable villagers to buy electricity and revive theirfailing villages.

As he builds micropower plants throughout Nepal, Bir Bahadur makessure that each one has the support it needs to run smoothly. On apractical level, he establishes district service centers to answertechnical questions and make needed repairs. To support powermanagement, he has founded the Nepal Micro-HydropowerEntrepreneurship Federation, connecting hundreds of plant managers totrainings and idea exchanges, and uniting them to advocate for rural


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development in national policy.

The Problem:The rural villages and towns of Nepal have almost no access toelectricity. While the national power grid covers much of the plains andurban areas of the country, it does not yet reach these communities,home to more than 85 percent of Nepal’s population. The absence of amanaged power source in these communities makes commercial orindustrial ventures impossible on all but the most limited of scales.With little access to urban economies, rural families survive on meagersubsistence farming.

Nepal’s intricate network of steep rivers and streams makeshydropower a solution with excellent potential for addressing ruralenergy needs. Legislation supporting micro-hydropower projects raisedhopes for new progress in rural electrification during the 1980s. Nearly1,400 micro-hydropower plants have been established since then, butmany are now on the verge of closure due to improper management andtechnical failures. Negligence and lack of long-term planning have kepthydropower from meeting its great potential, wasting valuable andscarce resources on power projects that are never used.

Without power, opportunity for social and economic advancementremains outside the reach of most rural residents. The situation pushesrural villagers to move away from their homes, searching for work inurban areas and other countries. The result has been a mass exodusthat strains the resources of cities as it tears the social fabric of ruralcommunities.

The Strategy:In 1991, Bir Bahadur built a micro-hydropower plant in his hometown ofBarpak, providing enough power to electrify every household in thevillage. He spent weeks convincing his neighbors of the benefits ofelectricity, preparing the way for a remarkably quick expansion of hispower network. The laborers who built the plant, mostly from poorfamilies, were the first to have electric light. Bir Bahadur and his teamlit the streets a few weeks later, and within months allowed electricaccess to the great majority of farms and houses of the village. Forevery household in the village, electricity gave cheaper, easier andcleaner lighting than old kerosene lamps.

Bir Bahadur tied his energy generation closely to the development ofindustrial and commercial ventures in the village. He attracted outsidebusinessmen and trained local entrepreneurs to use electricity to spureconomic growth. A paper business, a saw mill, and a furniture factoryall emerged and provided new employment for the young people of thevillage. Bir Bahadur recruited investors to establish a bakery thatprovided fresh bread at a cheaper rate than villagers had previouslypaid for two-day-old bread brought from the nearest settlement. Withthese successes, migration away from the village decreased, and manypeople who had previously moved to the cities came back to join theirfamilies.

Encouraged by the rapid growth of his network in Barpak, Bir Bahadurquickly adapted his methods to serve other communities. He designedfeasibility studies and outreach programs to inform villagers about thebenefits of electricity for home use, and about the businessopportunities that electricity can support. The programs were effective;over the past decade he has led the construction of 22 hydropowerplants in five districts across Nepal. He founded the Barpak ServiceCenter to give technical advice, perform needed repairs, and generallykeep the plants running smoothly.

Bir Bahadur has partnered his plant construction projects with ropewaysthat can carry needed goods up the steep Himalayan slopes thatseparate rural villages. His first ropeway, connecting Barpak to themarkets of Rangrung, greatly reduced the time that villagers had tospend carrying basic necessities to their town; trips that used to take 5hours now take only 20 minutes. Bir Bahadur sees a great potential forropeways in the mountainous terrain of Nepal, and plans to expandthem to transport people soon. The triple partnership of hydropowerplants, new business ventures and ropeways has opened tremendouspossibilities for improving quality of life in rural communities.

To help other hydropower advocates achieve similar success, BirBahadur established the Nepal Micro-Hydropower EntrepreneurshipFederation in 2002. Where the 1,400 micro-hydropower plants spreadacross Nepal have traditionally struggled with technical andmanagement problems, the federation provides a common platform forsharing experiences and solutions. It unites its members in the commonpurpose of developing community-owned, independent sources ofenergy for rural villages and towns. Experienced entrepreneurs helpspread awareness of hydropower and support new communities as theylaunch their own projects. In the process, they train newer networkmembers to take leadership roles in their home districts. As federationmembers gain experience, Bir Bahadur helps them lobby thegovernment for policy level changes, specifically advocating clear rulesfor micro-hydropower users and investors.


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Bir Bahadur has set an ambitious goal for his federation: to bringelectricity to all eligible villages in Nepal by 2014. His work has alreadyspread to all fifteen villages in the district of Gorkha, as well as townsin five other districts. He sees a logical and simple next step to spreadhis model throughout Nepal, and to neighboring countries with similarterrain.

The Person:Bir Bahadur Ghale is from the village of Barpak in the Gorkha district,with a population of approximately 6,000 people. Agriculture is themainstay of the Barpak economy, and those males who do not pursueagriculture often join the armed forces of India, Singapore, and Britain(which once included service in Hong Kong). Bir Bahadur resolved froman early age to follow a different career path. He attended high schoolin Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, but always aspired to return andcontribute to the development of his hometown.

In 1986 Bir Bahadur went on a trip to Hong Kong. He was dazzled by thecosmopolitan city and noticed how vital an influence electricity had onthe way of life there. Hong Kong was driven by electricity. Theunderground metro, the tramway, cable cars, elevators—almosteverything was powered by electricity. He imagined how life in HongKong would change if electricity ceased to exist. The bustling citywould tear apart. He thus realized that electricity is a criticalcommodity.

While working as a petty contractor for the construction of a highway in1989, Bir Bahadur stopped by a village hotel, noticing to his surprisethat in the middle of the mountains this hotel had working electricpower. Investigating, he found that the energy came from a simplewater turbine at a nearby mill. He thought of his home village, 1,900meters high in the mountains, a two- to three-day walk from thenearest settlement. Without power, his neighbors lived a difficult lifecut off from the basic amenities and infrastructure available to cityresidents. Facing many challenges, he built and established the50-kilowatt micro-hydropower plant in his village in 1991. The plantwas small, but it was enough to light all households in Barpak village.Since then, through combining demand-driven electricity generationwith ropeway transportation, he has transformed the economy of thevillage. This process has provided new alternatives for the youth of histown, and for the future of rural communities in general.source:http://ashoka.org/node/2750

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