Key lessons from the grid-connected solar irrigation pilot project in Nepal

This issue brief presents lessons from Nepal’s first grid-connected Solar Irrigation Pump (SIP) pilot in Chhipaharmai Rural Municipality, Parsa. The initiative integrated eight off-grid SIPs into a 20 kWp community-scale system, providing year-round irrigation, reducing diesel use, and improving far...

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Main Authors: Shrestha, Shisher, Karki, Darshan, Mishra, Anuj, KC, Sumitra, Ravindranath, Darshini
Format: Brief
Language:Inglés
Published: International Water Management Institute 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176404
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author Shrestha, Shisher
Karki, Darshan
Mishra, Anuj
KC, Sumitra
Ravindranath, Darshini
author_browse KC, Sumitra
Karki, Darshan
Mishra, Anuj
Ravindranath, Darshini
Shrestha, Shisher
author_facet Shrestha, Shisher
Karki, Darshan
Mishra, Anuj
KC, Sumitra
Ravindranath, Darshini
author_sort Shrestha, Shisher
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description This issue brief presents lessons from Nepal’s first grid-connected Solar Irrigation Pump (SIP) pilot in Chhipaharmai Rural Municipality, Parsa. The initiative integrated eight off-grid SIPs into a 20 kWp community-scale system, providing year-round irrigation, reducing diesel use, and improving farm productivity. Farmers gained new income from water sales, while women benefited from reduced workloads, locally repairable pumps, and targeted training. Persistent gender norms and policy hurdles around net-metering and tariffs limited full benefits. Key lessons highlight the importance of community ownership, gender-inclusive design, capacity-building, and regulatory adaptation to scale grid-connected SIPs as a sustainable irrigation solution in Nepal.
format Brief
id CGSpace176404
institution CGIAR Consortium
language Inglés
publishDate 2025
publishDateRange 2025
publishDateSort 2025
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publisherStr International Water Management Institute
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spelling CGSpace1764042025-11-07T07:56:54Z Key lessons from the grid-connected solar irrigation pilot project in Nepal Shrestha, Shisher Karki, Darshan Mishra, Anuj KC, Sumitra Ravindranath, Darshini solar powered irrigation systems pumps energy sources productivity gender ownership capacity development electricity This issue brief presents lessons from Nepal’s first grid-connected Solar Irrigation Pump (SIP) pilot in Chhipaharmai Rural Municipality, Parsa. The initiative integrated eight off-grid SIPs into a 20 kWp community-scale system, providing year-round irrigation, reducing diesel use, and improving farm productivity. Farmers gained new income from water sales, while women benefited from reduced workloads, locally repairable pumps, and targeted training. Persistent gender norms and policy hurdles around net-metering and tariffs limited full benefits. Key lessons highlight the importance of community ownership, gender-inclusive design, capacity-building, and regulatory adaptation to scale grid-connected SIPs as a sustainable irrigation solution in Nepal. 2025-09-09 2025-09-09T04:46:35Z 2025-09-09T04:46:35Z Brief https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176404 en Open Access application/pdf International Water Management Institute Shrestha, S.; Karki, D.; Mishra, A.; KC, S.; Ravindranath, D. 2025. Key lessons from the grid-connected solar irrigation pilot project in Nepal. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 6p. (Solar Irrigation for Agricultural Resilience [SoLAR] Issue Brief Series 9)
spellingShingle solar powered irrigation systems
pumps
energy sources
productivity
gender
ownership
capacity development
electricity
Shrestha, Shisher
Karki, Darshan
Mishra, Anuj
KC, Sumitra
Ravindranath, Darshini
Key lessons from the grid-connected solar irrigation pilot project in Nepal
title Key lessons from the grid-connected solar irrigation pilot project in Nepal
title_full Key lessons from the grid-connected solar irrigation pilot project in Nepal
title_fullStr Key lessons from the grid-connected solar irrigation pilot project in Nepal
title_full_unstemmed Key lessons from the grid-connected solar irrigation pilot project in Nepal
title_short Key lessons from the grid-connected solar irrigation pilot project in Nepal
title_sort key lessons from the grid connected solar irrigation pilot project in nepal
topic solar powered irrigation systems
pumps
energy sources
productivity
gender
ownership
capacity development
electricity
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176404
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