Funding For Distributed Renewable Energy Projects In Nepal

• Nepal has sought concept note applications for DRE projects with up to 1 MW capacity
• It wants the pilot projects to be set up in Province 2, Lumbini and Karnali provinces
• Projects will be selected to avail VGF through the UK-Aid supported SECF

South Asian nation of Nepal has called for concept notes applications to back distributed renewable energy (DRE) projects with up to 1 MW installed capacity as pilot projects, under a recently established viability gap funding (VGF) based Sustainable Energy Challenge Fund (SECF) under the country's Central Renewable Energy Fund (CREF).

SECF enjoys funding support from UK-Aid and provides financial and technical assistance to DRE projects to ensure their financial viability and sustainable operation.

Projects selected under the call will be developed in Province 2, Lumbini and Karnali provinces. Concept notes submitted will be shortlisted on the basis of technical potential, financial aspects and expected results and impact of the project. Under the second round, shortlisted applicants will be asked to submit full applications to be evaluated by independent panel of experts.

VGF here refers to a grant that's provided to solar projects as a one-time financial support for infrastructure projects. It is being used quite extensively by Nepal's neighbor India for its solar power projects selected through a competitive process.

A pre-submission virtual meeting is scheduled for interested applications on June 18, 2021. Launched on June 3, 2021, the solicitation will be open to concept notes till July 4, 2021 to be evaluated in the 1^st lot. Concept notes received after the due date will be evaluated in different lots, according to the call for concept notes issued.

The call has been issued by the Central Renewable Energy Fund (CREF) under the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation.