Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Alternative energy exhibition on February 13-15

Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MoEST) is organising Alternative Energy exhibition on February 13-15 at Bhrikutimandap Exhibition hall in Kathmandu.
The government has declared the year 2065 BS an Alternative Energy Year. "To promote the alternative and renewal energy, the ministry is organising the exhibition," Umesh Mainali, secretary at the MoEST, said adding that the ministry has planned such exhibition in other parts of the country too.
The global consumption of alternative energy stands at eight per cent in total energy consumption. "However in Nepal it is less than one per cent," he said. At a time when Nepal is facing a severe power crisis alternative energy can help reduce current power crisis. Though, the government has also planned to increase its consumption, there is no any such project at present.
The government in this fiscal year's budget has also promised to generate 20 MW from the wind energy. But the process of generating energy from wind is moving at a snail's pace. "We may be able to generate around 4-5 KW within this fiscal year," said Mangal Das Maharjan, acting executive director at the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre that has received a couple of proposals for installation of wind turbines to generate energy.
Apart from wind, biomass and geo thermal, solar energy is yet another alternative energy that Nepal can take benefit from. "Not only the rural Nepal but the urban Nepal and Kathmandu valley can also benefit from the alternative energy as the only means to tackle present power crisis."
The three-day long exhibition -- that is expected to be visited by around 15,000 to 20,000 -- will help policy makers and people understand the value of alternative energy, hoped Mainali.
Alternative Energy Centre and other INGOs and NGOs are actively involved in promotion of alternative energy.

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