GRIN Verlag Grid Connection of Gotikhel Micro Hydropower Plant without Interrupting Isolated Load

Master's Thesis from the year 2011 in the subject Electrotechnology, grade: 1.7, Brandenburg Technical University Cottbus, course: Electric Power Engineering - Micro Hydro-power and its grid connection, language: English, abstract: 1. Introduction Gotikhel Hydropower Plant (GHP) is one of the nearest Isolated Micro Hydropower Plant (MHP) from the main city out of 650 isolated MHPs available in Nepal which still supplies electrical power to 173 Households, one hull machine and one school. The extension of national grid has made life of MHPs insecure as consumers want the energy from more reliable source i.e. from national grid. In the context of Nepal, especially in rural areas, construction of MHPs are very costly and because of unplanned extension of national grid, some of MHPs are in closing conditions and same cases will continue more in future. So, there is a huge risk in big investments and valuable efforts of villagers. Synchronization of MHPs to the national grid will be the ultimate solution for the existence of MHPs in Nepal. So, this Master Thesis will also focus on grid connection of GHP and consequent impacts on technical as well as financial sectors before and after the grid connection of GHP. 2. Objectives Taking GHP as a private/ community pilot project for grid connection in Nepal, the following objectives of grid-connected MHPs has been generalized: • To ensure optimum use of national resource and fulfill the possible new demand of energy in rural areas since grid connection and Power Exchange Agreement (PEA) allow the Rural Electrification Entity (REE) to sell their excess energy to Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) grid and the REE can purchase the required energy from the grid when the demand of its members surpass the generation by MHP(s) under it. • To facilitate development of new MHPs by local communities, Individual Power Producers as they can profiteer by selling the excess energy to the grid. • To ensure market for spill energy of MHPs