Assessing green energy growth in Nepal with a hydropower-hydrogen integrated power grid model

The involvement of green hydrogen in energy transformation is getting global attention. This assessment examines the hydrogen production and its utilization potential in one of the hydropower-rich regions, Nepal under various demand growth and technology intervention scenarios by developing a power grid model of 52 nodes and 68 transmission lines operating at an hourly time-step. The model incorporates a grid-connected hydrogen storage system as well as charging stations for electric and hydrogen vehicles. The leastcostly pathways for power grid expansion at the nodal and provincial levels are identified through optimization. The results show that 32 GW of installed capacity is required to meet domestic electricity demand and 14 GW more hydropower should be exploited to completely decarbonize the transport sector by 2050. For maintaining 50% shares of hydrogen vehicle in the transport sector and meet government electricity export targets, Nepal requires 5.7 GW, 12 GW and 23 GW of the additional electrolyzer, hydrogen storage tanks and storage-based hydropower capacities respectively. For a given electricity demand, introducing hydrogen systems can reduce the capacity requirements of hydro storage by storing surplus power generated from pondage run-of-the-river and run-of-theriver hydropower during the rainy season and using it in the dry season. (c) 2022 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study examines the potential and demand for green hydrogen in Nepal. The research finds that increasing installed capacity and developing more hydropower are necessary to meet domestic electricity demand and achieve decarbonization in the transport sector. Additionally, the construction of electrolyzers, hydrogen storage tanks, and storage-based hydropower capacity is required to meet government electricity export targets and promote hydrogen vehicles.