Centre for Energy Studies, Tribhuvan University

Development and Present Status of Solar

Water Heater (SWH) in Nepal

Dr. Tri Ratna Bajracharya

Associate Professor
Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University
Email: triratna@ioe.edu.np
 Background

• The development of solar thermal conversion

devices in Nepal started in the early 1960’s.

• The first locally manufactured solar water heater was

installed in the premises of the Department of Mines
and Geology.
 Background…..

• Late Rev B. R. Saubolle and Asha Brothers in

Kathmandu manufactured the first prototype SWH
in 1968.

• Records also show that the Plumbing Division of

Balaju Yantra Shala (BYS) added the
development of SWH systems in 1974
 Background….
• An improved SWH system was installed by BYS in the
hostel of Budhanilkantha School in 1975

• This installation received a favorable public response

and attracted a number of manufacturers.

• The development of SWH received further support

after establishing Sanitary Section of the Mechanical
Training Center in Balaju included it in their training
courses.
 Background….
By 1992, 35 solar water heater manufacturers were
registered with the Department of Cottage and Small
Industries.

Estimates also indicate that there are now more than

200 workshops manufacturing solar water heaters
(REDP/UNDP: 2002; foreword).

According to a 1997 study: More than 2000 solar

water heaters installed annually.[WECS:1998]
Starting Situation
 Ideal meteorological conditions
 well matured technology
 small, but steady market
 existing manufacturing industry
 high electricity tariffs
Starting Situation…
 market currently too small for foreign
investments
 frequently poor performance, no quality
control
 subsidied, low fuel prices
 technology not adapted to large-scale or frost
 little to no government support
Status of SWHs
 20 000 units in households – 0.5% of all
households

 Around 2000 units added per year

 Mostly on newly build middle class homes

 Kathmandu accounts for 80% of the installed

units
Status of SWHs...
 Among commercial users, mostly hotels
 60% of all hotels in Kathmandu have
solar
 mostly non-star hotels
 Less than 20% of all schools, hardly
any hospitals
 In rural areas solar heaters only in
tourism
 Nepal‘s target sectors and
potential for growth collector surface

residential sector
1.

hotels & lodges

2.

schools
3.

installed potential
hospitals & BHUs
4.

manufacturing industry
5.

0 m²

400 000 m²

600 000 m²

800 000 m²
200 000 m²

1 000 000 m²

1 200 000 m²
Huge markets that are currently untapped !
Development deficits

INSTITUTIONAL
• No institution fostering development of SHWs
• No specific policy promoting SHWs
• ASTED is active from few years back

HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

• Training only through one vocational school
• Technical skills not adapted to new technology
• Few technical staff with sales skills
Development deficits...
 PROMOTION
 Lack of standart for quality control
 Lack of R&D
 CES and Solar Energy Foundation (SEF
Nepal) in steps
 Lack of proper monitoring and
evaluation
 Database of solar water heaters
manufacturers / importers in Nepal
Distribution of Technology adopted by manufacturers

8.33%

91.67%

Domestic manufacuter Importers

Opinion on the efficiency of
products

Efficiency of the SWH manufacturers

8.77%
24.56%

66.67%
20% - 30% 30% - 50% Above 50%
 Who controls the quality of
product?

Manpower in the company who controls the quality of their product

60
50
Number

40
30
20
10
0
Mechanical Technical Technician Management Promoters
engineer supervisor Personnel
Market share

Target group of the manufacturers

26.79%

73.21%

Middle class household Upper class household

 Distribution of storage tank practice in the market

100
90
80
Number of storage tank

70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
135 140 150 165 175 180 200 220 230 265 280 300 400 500

Litre
 Raw material used by manufacturers

2.90%

97.10%

Purchase form Local Market Import from abroad

Collector area Database
 Estimated number of SWH users against Actual number of HH in Kathmandu
Metropolitan City

35

33

31

29

27

25

23

21
W ard s

19

17

15

13

11

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 9000

Number of Household
T otal HH Estimated SWH users
 Estimated Number of SWH users against Actual number of HH in Lalitpur
Metropolitan City

22
21
20

19

18
17
16
15
14
13
W ards

12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5

4
3
2

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000

Number of Household
Total HH Estimated SWH users
 Estimated Number of SWH use against Actual number of Household in Bhaktapur
Municipality

17

16

15

14

13

12

11

10
Wards

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400

Number of Household

Total HH of Ward Estimated HH

 Actual and Estimated Collector Area / Panel
Inside Kathmandu Valley

Identified Estimated
Actual sum sum
of collector collector
Total house Identified area (sq area (sq
Total house hold Actual sum meter) by Estimate meter) by
Municipality hold surveyed of panels Panel* total panel Panel**

Kathmandu 144152 3510 2230 3729 105256 175989

Lalitpur 34996 2200 1279 2138 105256 175989

Kirtipur 9487 959 179 299 1774 2967

Bhaktapur 12088 1700 231 386 10868 18171

Thimi 9451 850 212 354 3753 6276

Total 210174 9219 4131 6907 226908 379391

List of SWH Manufacturers in Nepal