Project Title:                 Phakel Micro-Wind Project

Project Location:          Phakel, Nepal

Implementing Partner: Practical Action  

Project Duration:          6 months

Project Summary:

The installation of one 100W and one 200W micro-wind generator in the village of Phakel, 50 kms north of Kathmandu, to provide clean renewable energy for lighting and appliances.

Country Profile:

Capital city:  Kathmandu

Population:  27,000,000

Life Expectancy:  62.6 years

Population without access to electricity:  67%

Population living on less than $2 dollars a day:  68.5%

Adult Illiteracy Rate:  51%

(Source: UNDP Human Index Report)

Previous Situation:

The population in Phakel rely entirely on candles, paraffin and dry batteries for their energy needs, which used to cost up to one-fifth of each families income, and are polluting and dangerous.  The education and health facilities are very poor and communication with the surrounding area is very difficult.

The Project Plan:

The success of the project has raised public awareness of the potential of wind power in the area.  News has been spread around, particularly during festivals which are very common in the area.  Nearby communities have expressed an interest in introducing similar turbines to their villages, and discussions have begun with the Government to discuss how micro-wind technology can be spread throughout the country.

Renewable World's Programme Intervention:

Renewable World's input into this programme intervention is through providing social investment and financing for programme partner Practical Action.

Project Development:

The project involved the entire communities’ participation.  Its successful completion has helped build a real sense of local ownership, which has contributed to its long-term success.  At the beginning of the project an assessment was made to assess the village, and the benefiting family provided land, construction materials, labour and helped mobilise local resources.  The long-term sustainability and energy efficiency of the project was maximised by investing in the local capacity of the village.  The wind turbine at the school provides important social benefits, including informal literacy evening classes, a child day care centre and primary school, and the improved educational facilities have had a particularly positive impact on the women and children.

The People:

The 200w turbine installed in the village of Phakel, in the hills north of Kathmandu, provides electricity to an elementary school.  It is used during adult literacy evening lessons, but it is also used by the children for lighting during the day.  In the winter the weather is so cold that the teachers have to close the window blinds to protect themselves and the children, and makes the rooms very dark.  The teachers used to use dangerous and unhealthy kerosene lamps, but now use the power from the turbine to light small and efficient lamps, which are brighter and healthier for the children.  The coldness of the rooms is due to the poor materials of both the walls and roofs of the rooms.