With the onset of the rainy season, river water levels in Nepal have risen, leading to increased electricity production as many hydropower projects are operating at full capacity.
However, this boost in production has brought about a significant challenge: approximately 700 megawatts of electricity is wasted at night due to reduced consumption.
The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) reports that up to 700 megawatts of electricity remains unused at midnight because nighttime consumption is lower compared to peak morning and afternoon hours.
NEA Spokesperson Chandan Kumar Ghosh said that while Nepal’s installed electricity capacity is around 3,300 MW, peak production is approximately 3,200 megawatts. During peak hours, around 2,700 megawatts of electricity is consumed, leaving a surplus of 400 to 500 megawatts during off-peak times.
Despite the surplus, only about 200 megawatts of electricity is exported to India, as demand in India during nighttime hours is limited.
Recent floods and landslides have not significantly impacted hydropower projects, which continue to operate efficiently. While there are occasional technical issues at substations and powerhouses, they have not been severe.
Currently, the NEA generates 563 MW of electricity, its subsidiary contributes 492 MW, and private sector companies supply 2,100 MW to the national grid. The private sector also produces 81.9 MW from solar energy and 6 MW from other sources.
Hydropower projects such as the 456 MW Upper Tamakoshi and others under NEA are operating at full capacity. Ghosh highlighted that the surplus electricity during nighttime hours remains underutilized due to low demand.
This situation contrasts with winter months when the NEA often struggles to meet demand and has previously imported 200 to 300 megawatts from India to bridge the gap.
Previously, with an installed capacity of 3,100 MW, decreased water levels led to a reduction in power generation to about 1,700 MW, resulting in a shortage of 600 to 700 megawatts. However, with rising river water levels during the rainy season, power generation is steadily increasing.
Most of Nepal’s hydropower projects are run-of-the-river types, meaning electricity generation is closely tied to water flow. As river flow increases during the rainy season, so does electricity production. Conversely, reduced river flows during the dry season lead to decreased electricity generation.
