Researchers are investigating a method of creating power from fast moving streams in Nepal. Sometimes these micro-hydro minigrids work and sometimes they don’t and the researchers want to know why.
As Subhrendu Pattanayak and a group of researchers from Duke University navigate narrow catwalks high into the Annapurna mountain range in the Himalayas, they begin to understand first-hand the difficulties of establishing any set infrastructure in such difficult terrain.
LISTEN:
Gone are the paved roads of Pokhara, the Nepali city where they had begun their day, or even the narrow dirt roads that had carried them deep into the mountainside.
Ahead, the whir of engines in symphony with the rushing water of a nearby stream mark an end to their journey: a tiny structure containing within it a single turbine, waist high and six feet wide. Here lay the source of electricity for an entire community.
80% of the geography of Nepal is composed of mountain ranges like Annapurna, making the big power grids that we take for granted in the developed world an impossibility in much of Nepal. For most mountain communities, living off-grid is the only option.
But rather than fight against their geography, many of these communities have discovered a way to use the mountains to their advantage, harnessing the power of the fast-flowing mountain streams for power using a system called a micro-hydro minigrid.
For many communities, these systems not only provide power for basic necessities like lighting and cooking, but also are drivers of local economies.
In other villages however, these systems are far less effective. Many don’t produce enough electricity for the community, or sometimes none at all.
It is for this reason that the team of Duke researchers find themselves in the Himalayas: to find out why some work and some don’t, and to see if this small but beautiful alternative energy source may be a viable solution for providing electricity to off-grid communities not only in Nepal but around the world.
Robyn Meeks and Subhrendu Pattanayaak’s work is funded by the Duke Energy Initiative Seed Grant Program. Both researchers are also affiliated with the Duke Energy Access Project an exciting initiative that takes an interdisciplinary approach to developing sustainable, modern energy solutions around the world.
For their work in Nepal, Robin and Subhrendu are collaborating with the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre which is a part of the Government of Nepal in their Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation.
This is the third of a four-part series on understanding and dealing with a changing climate.
- Subscribe to the Ways & Means podcast
- Read a transcript of this episode
Music: Theme music by David Schulman. “Heather,” “Ultima Thule,” “Sylvestor,” “Slate Tracker,” “One Quiet Conversation,” “A Certain Lightness,” and “Greyleaf Willow,” by Blue Dot Sessions. Music licensed under Creative Commons attribution.
I have learn some just right stuff here. Definitely price bookmarking for
revisiting. I wonder how much attempt you put to make this type of great informative
website.
Go to 1this website to see how to get diamonds on cooking fever
k23lartds11
The game is more fun when you have unlimited gems.If you love phone games like this you ought to check out this site
Thanks – Enjoyed this blog post, how can I make is so that I receive an update sent in an email every time you publish a fresh update?
Whats up very nice blog!! Man .. Excellent ..
Superb .. I will bookmark your blog and take the feeds also?
I am satisfied to seek out so many helpful info here within the publish, we want work out more strategies in this regard, thank you
for sharing. . . . . .
You are so interesting! I do not believe I have read a single thing like this before.
So good to discover someone with some genuine thoughts on this topic.
Really.. thank you for starting this up. This web site is one thing that is needed on the
internet, someone with some originality!
1Learn more about how to get free gems on cooking fever
u3iauds11
The game is a lot more fun when you have unlimited free gems.If you enjoy phone games like this you ought to check out this site
Do you have a spam issue on this website; I also am a blogger,
and I was curious about your situation; many of us have created some nice practices
and we are looking to swap solutions with other folks, please shoot me an email if interested.
Howdy! Quick question that’s totally off topic. Do you know how to make
your site mobile friendly? My blog looks weird when viewing from my iphone.
I’m trying to find a theme or plugin that might be able
to resolve this issue. If you have any recommendations, please share.
Appreciate it!
I think this is one of the most significant info for me.
And i’m glad reading your article. But wanna remark on few general things, The web
site style is ideal, the articles is really nice : D.
Good job, cheers
Hmm it appears like your blog ate my first comment (it was super long) so I guess I’ll just sum
it up what I wrote and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog.
I too am an aspiring blog writer but I’m still new
to everything. Do you have any helpful hints for first-time blog writers?
I’d certainly appreciate it.
I agree with your point of view, your article has given me a lot of help and benefited me a lot. Thanks. Hope you continue to write such excellent articles.