Nepal Himalaya Offers Considerable Potential for Pumped Storage Hydropower

TL;DR

This paper evaluates Nepal's potential for pumped storage hydropower, highlighting its significance for renewable energy integration and identifying feasible locations considering technical and environmental constraints.

Contribution

It systematically assesses Nepal's pumped storage potential using multiple configurations and identifies the most promising land-to-river pairing for sustainable energy planning.

Findings

Flat land-to-river configuration is most promising.

Significant pumped storage potential exists across Nepal.

Results aid in planning sustainable Himalayan power systems.

Abstract

There is a pressing need for a transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy to meet the increasing energy demands and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Himalayas possess substantial renewable energy potential that can be harnessed through hydropower projects due to its peculiar topographic characteristics and abundant water resources. However, the current exploitation rate is low owing to the predominance of run-of-river hydropower systems to support the power system. The utility-scale storage facility is crucial in the load scenario of an integrated power system to manage diurnal variation, peak demand, and penetration of intermittent energy sources. In this study, we first identify the potential of pumped storage hydropower across Nepal (a central Himalayan country) under multiple configurations by pairing lakes, hydropower projects, rivers, and available flat terrains. We then identify technically feasible pairs from those of potential locations. Infrastructural, environmental, operational, and other technical constraints govern the choice of feasible locations. We find the flat land-to-river configuration most promising than other configurations. Our results provide insight into the potential of pumped storage hydropower and are of practical importance in planning sustainable power systems in the Himalayas and beyond.