Wind Energy in NEPAL

Wind Energy in Nepal

TABLE OF CONTENTS

WIND ENERGY IN NEPAL......................................................2

1. Background:.........................................................................................................2

2. Introduction:.........................................................................................................2

3. World History on Wind Energy:........................................................................3

4. Historical Background of Nepal.........................................................................34.1 Mustang Effort...............................................................................................44.2 After Mustang................................................................................................4

5. Current Status......................................................................................................45.1 Dissemination.................................................................................................55.2 Application and End Uses..............................................................................75.3 Technological Status and potential................................................................75.4 Institutional Status..........................................................................................7

6. Environmental Issues...........................................................................................8

7. Barriers in development of wind Energy in Nepal............................................9

8. Policy needed for Removal/Reduction of Barriers............................................9

9. Future Strategy/ Policy for the Development of Technology...........................99.1 Technological.................................................................................................99.2 Institutional..................................................................................................119.3 Human Resource Development....................................................................149.4 Finance.........................................................................................................149.5 Environmental Strategy................................................................................159.6 Monitoring and Evaluation..........................................................................15

10. Conclusion:.....................................................................................................15

11. References:......................................................................................................16

12. Appendix:........................................................................................................17Table1: International Installed Capacity of Wind Energy Generator......................17Chart1: Mean Annual Wind Speed at 10m. above ground over Nepal....................18Chart2: Diurnal Variation of Wind on 7 Jan 1990 at Kagbeni.................................19Chart3: Diurnal Variation of Wind on 28 Sep 1990 at Kagbeni..............................19Chart4: Monthly Mean Wind Speed at Kagbeni (30 ft)...........................................20Chart5: Monthly Mean Speed at Khumbu (2m).......................................................21

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WIND ENERGY IN NEPAL

1. Background:The energy resource base of Nepal consists of a combination of traditional (fuel wood, agriculture residue and animal dung) and other sources such as hydropower, solar and wind. Today the largest portion of the energy needs of the country is met by biomass fuels. However, the total sustainable supply of biomass is only about two-third’s of the demand and deficit is met mostly by mining forest which pose serious ecological and environmental imbalance and lead to frequent meteorological and hydrological disasters such as floods and landslides. In urban areas reliance on the biomass is decreasing as relatively inexpensive kerosene (subsidized) substitute the scarcer and less convenient biomass fuels. The demand for commercial energy is growing rapidly. The imported of fossil fuel especially petroleum products is also raising rapidly (>15% per annum). The use of petroleum fuel for Nepal proves to be very expensive and foreign dependent for the country as its 40% of the national foreign currency earning is spent on the procurement of the same. Electricity consumption grew at an average annual growth rate of about 12% during last two decade. The main source of the electricity comes from the hydropower with present installed capacity of about 610 MW and providing electricity to only about 9% of the population of the entire country and less than 3% of the rural population has this opportunity. Lack of funding for large projects and because of rugged terrain, the grid extension to rural areas are difficult and even if installed it is characterized by poor reliability, high line loss and high coat.It is therefore, necessary to search for an alternative, cheap, easily available and environmentally friendly power generating sources. Wind is one of the alternatives among other resources such as solar, biogas, geothermal etc. Nepal’s more than 75% of the terrain being mountainous, there are many windy areas where wind power generation may be possible.

2. Introduction:Wind energy is created by energy from the sun that reaches the lower atmosphere. Differences in atmospheric temperatures and the earth’s rotation cause air to move, generating the wind. Depending on climatic conditions and surface topography, wind varies significantly in intensity over a day, a season, or a year.

All renewable energy (except tidal and geothermal power), and even the energy in fossil fuels, ultimately comes from the sun. The sun radiates 174,423,000,000,000-kilowatt hours of energy to the earth per hour. In other words, the earth receives 1.74 x 1017 watts of power. About 1 to 2 per cent of the energy coming from the sun is converted into wind energy. That is about 50 to 100 times more than the energy converted into biomass by all plants on earth.

We can harness the wind’s energy through ‘wind farms’ of modern wind turbines that generate electricity in large scale as well as use wind energy for the generation of the electricity for the rural scale electrification and direct water pumping system for rural irrigation and drinking water supply.

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Wind energy is one of the fastest-growing energy technologies in the world. At the end of the year 2000 the total installed capacity of global wind energy exceeded 18,000 MW, compared under 2,000 MW ten years ago.

Note: International installed capacity of Wind Generator Development of wind energy in the World

3. World History on Wind Energy:The wind energy was exploited by the human for their well being from many centuries ago. The same can be summaries in the following manner. Windmills were developed in Egypt, Persia and China somewhere around

3000 B.C. First mention of a windmill in northern England in 1185 A.D 17th century 700 Dutch windmills in Zaan district north of Amsterdam spur the

industrial revolution. As late as 1850, 90% of the power used in Dutch industry came from the

wind. In 1920's, 200-3,000 W wind generators in Midwest of USA to power lights

and home appliances In the 1970s due to OPEC oil crisis, revival of interest in wind energy

prompted dramatic advancements in the technology. Modern wind turbines to extract 10 times more power from the wind than the

European windmill 100 years earlier. In 1998, Germany generates one percent of its electricity, while Denmark

produces ten percent of its supply with wind turbines. Cumulative generating capacity worldwide more than 18000 MW in the end

of 2000.

4. Historical Background of NepalNepal’s effort to harness wind energy has been marred by adhocism and resulted in series of failures. The first recorded effort to exploit wind energy in Nepal was made with American support in the Agriculture farm in Rampur, Chitwan in the early seventies. Similarly, an individual has installed a wind turbine for pumping water in Ramechap district in the late seventies. Both of these efforts failed. Later, wind turbines were installed in the outskirts of Kathmandu Valley and Jomsom but these too couldn’t function properly. RECAST bought two wind turbines from India for water pumping to demonstrate its efficacy. One turbine was installed in the premises of Women Training Center in Jhapa. Both of these turbines functioned for sometimes, the efforts just fizzed out, without having any significant outcomes.

Most significant and systematic effort to harness wind energy was under taken by Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) in 1989. Two 10 kW wind turbines generators (WTG) were installed and operated in Kagbeni of Mustang. The electricity thus generated was distributed to 60 houses in the village. However, these turb9nes also broke down after two months for technical flaws.

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4.1 Mustang Effort

Being the first systematic attempt to utilize wind energy for rural electrification, Mustang experience has several lessons for future efforts in this direction.

Continental Consultants undertook ‘Feasibility study of wind power (Mustang and Myagdi) in 1985 and has assumed the wind speed in Kagbeni to be about 10 m/s during the daytime. Based on this information WTG was ordered from Cresswell Engineering (UK) and two 10 kW WTG were installed in Kagbeni in December 1989. The total cost of the project was N. Rupees 6.8 million (approx US $ 150,000) in 1989.

The estimated energy production was 12,000 kW per year generating revenue of NRs. 40,000. The expected annual operation and maintenance coat was NRs. 200,000.

The investigation in the Mustang fiasco was undertaken by NEA and Dangrid to ascertain the reasons for the failure. It is reported that though the average wind speed in Kagbeni is about 9.2 m/s, number of hours with high wind speed is significant. Moreover, wind turbulence due to the proximity of mountains was not taken into consideration during the design. When Cresswell Engineering arrived for the installation, they realized that the wind was stronger than the expected and they cut 0.5 m of each blade, which may have resulted in unbalanced system. Furthermore, yaw brakes of the wind turbine generators (WTGs) were very weak and caused significant stress on the system. The combination of these four reasons caused the failure.

The main lesson learnt from this failure is that thorough and reliable wind analysis has to be made before a wind power project is undertaken. It is also important to use the equipment that has demonstrated capability to function in the given climatic conditions for several years.

4.2 After Mustang

After the Failure of Mustang effort to harness wind energy for rural electrification, HMG and UNDP hired Dangrid of Denmark to evaluate the Kagbeni project and to identify potential for using wind energy in Mustang and Manang Districts. A Project Document for three-phase program for comprehensive utilization of wind energy in Nepal was also prepared in 1992.

This document outlines several potential areas in the two districts Manang and Mustang and a detailed course of actions that have to be undertaken to harness wind energy in Nepal. This document is also the first systematic attempt to study wind energy in Nepal. In spite of several advantages of harnessing wind energy in Mustang and Manang as stated in the document, there does not seem to be any effort undertaken so far in this regard.

5. Current Status

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5.1 Dissemination

5.1.1 Development in Nepal

It is reported that Krishna Grill and Engineering Works (KGEW) in Biratnagar has fabricated and installed three wind turbines for pumping water in the eastern Terai. An individual has installed s 900-Watt wind solar hybrid system at a resort in Dhulikhel, Kavre district.

5.1.2 Development of wind energy in the World.

Generating electricity from wind energy took off only in the 1980s. Denmark, USA, Germany, India, China, etc. have demonstrated that wind energy is both economical and can compete with other conventional energy resources and is a reliable source of electricity. The continuous research and development in the industrial countries to perfect the technology, better understanding of wind characteristics of potential sites, decreasing trend in installation and operation costs, etc. have led to such dramatic increase in utilization of wind energy in these countries. As of June 1999, more than 8000 MW of wind power has been installed in these five counties alone.

The average installation cost per kW for wind energy has drastically come down in the past two decades. In Europe, the average cost is about US $ 1000 per installed kW. The ex-factory price for Chinese made WTG is about US $ 890 per kW.

5.2 Application and End Uses

At present, even though it is very negligible, there are only two sectors of wind energy utilizing: one is energy for domestic lighting through battery charging and another is pumping of ground water through mechanical power. Electrical energy thus produced at present is used only for domestic lighting.

5.3 Technological Status and potential

A preliminary survey of Department of Meteorology and Hydrology indicates that wind energy can be harvested in Nepal for generating electricity and pumping water in hills and Terai respectively.

A study was undertaken in Solukhumbu district to determine wind potential in 1997 with World Bank’s support. The study revealed that the average wind speed in the Khumbu region is 5 m/s and the electricity thus generated would be cheaper than the cost of kerosene in that region.

The potential survey done by Dangrid in 1992 with UNDP funding shows that 200 MW of wind power can be produced in the 12-km corridor from Kagbeni to Chusang alone. It is estimated that 500 GWh electricity can be generated annually.

5.4 Institutional Status

5.4.1 Government Policy

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There is no government policy especially on the development of wind energy. Overall government policy on renewable energy technologies also mentions wind energy. In the Eight Plan the government had allocated NRs. 30 million for the development of the wind energy in Nepal, including the preparation of Wind Energy Master Plan. However, the Master Plan has failed to materialize so far (NPC Eight five year plan).

Ninth Plan also mentions development of wind energy along with other renewable resources like solar and micro. It is mentioned that Energy Park ell be established in the country as a demonstration and training site.

Regarding power wheeling, Hydropower Policy 1992 and electricity Act,. 1992 categorically mentioned that power generated at any place in Nepal can be transmitted to other places using the Integrated Nepal Grid System. The Guidelines are specially meant for hydropower plant and nothing is mentioned regarding generation and transmission of electricity from wind power.

4.4.2 Organizations

There are no institutions specially meant for the development of wind power in Nepal. No preference is given for wind power development except general commitment to study prospects of energy utilization and wind mapping.

5.4.3 Legal Arrangements

There is no legal acts or policy regarding wind energy utilization in Nepal.

5.4.4 Financial mechanism

No financing institute has so far provided loan for wind energy development in Nepal. No subsidy has been allocated or proposed except for some fiscal incentives for import of equipment for wind energy development.

5.4.5 Human Resource Development

There are no formally trained professionals and technical manpower in the country and there are also no manufacturers yet. No formal education is being provided by any institutions in Nepal on wind energy.

6. Environmental IssuesModern wind energy converters (WEC) can generate energy required for providing it within three months and in twenty years of operation it can generate up to eighty times more energy than required for its production. A 600kW WEC can displace 1200 tons of carbon dioxide annually. However, if not properly planned and installed wind power plants can lead to noise pollution, radio interference, land-use conflicts, interference in the way of birds, and spoil the aesthetics.

Proper land use planning and placement of arrays can address the latter two problems. Provision of cable television can overcome radio interference. Modern

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WEC are less noisy than their predecessors. Denmark has come up with policies on noise pollution, which can also be followed in Nepal. The wind power stations are placed in such way that the noise level in the nearest residential area does not exceed 40 decibels.

7. Barriers in development of wind Energy in NepalPast failures have negative effects on the development of wind energy in Nepal. In all previous attempts to harness wind energy in the country, very little efforts had been made to study the characteristics of the wind in the specific areas.

Lack of adequate information on wind characteristics is the primary reason for the past failures. Besides, lack of appropriate institutions to study wind, design and implement wind power projects, provide maintenance services, information dissemination, etc. were also some of the impediments for the developments of the sector.

8. Policy needed for Removal/Reduction of BarriersGovernment as in other renewable energy sectors should provide some sort of fiscal incentives or subsidy for the development of wind energy in Nepal. The main barriers in the development of wind energy in Nepal are unavailability of wind data, lack of technical experts, clear policy of government, etc. So to reduce the implements wind mapping should be done and human resource should be developed.

9. Future Strategy/ Policy for the Development of Technology

9.1 Technological

9.1.1 Technical

Harnessing wind energy in Nepal should follow the strategy given below. Installation of micro ( 100 Watts) Wind Energy Converters (WEC) in

remote areas to power battery charging stations for lighting. Installation of small wind and hybrid systems (Wind-PV, Wind-Diesel, Wind-

Gasifier, etc.) in the Terai and valleys for pumping water for irrigation drinking purposes.

Installation of large WEC for supplying electricity to the grid.

In areas with rich wind regime, mountaintops and Trans Himalayan region, micro WEC or Wind-PV hybrid systems could be promoted to power charging stations.

Depending on the wind regime, amount of water required, height through which the water has to be pumped, availability of other energy sources, etc., wind energy can be tapped for pumping water for irrigation and drinking water projects. Experience shows that the wind regime is richer in Terai during the summer when water for irrigation is most required.

For large-scale wind power projects supplying electricity to the grid, several preconditions have to be met beforehand. Detail studies of wind characteristics of specifics sites, transportation facilities, proximity of grid, etc. has to be developed before hand.

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9.1.2 Research and Development

It is not possible and necessary for Nepal to undertake research on the cutting-edge technologies related to wind power. The research should focus on innovations on preparation of wind database and analysis, demonstration schemes, fabrication of low-tech items, use of cost effective technologies like lattice towers, etc. attempts should be made to transfer low cost innovations from India and China.

Action research should be undertaken on implementation for wide scale dissemination of wind energy. Involvement of local authorities like DDC and VDC in power stations for battery charging and water pumping in rural areas, etc. should be encouraged.

9.2 Institutional

9.2.1 Policy and Strategy

Only fifteen percent of the total population of Nepal has access to electricity, a form of high quality energy. Furthermore, it would be economically exorbitant to provide electricity at all the people by extending the national grid. It is envisaged that only 35 % of the people will get the opportunity of having electricity within next 20 years, which means more than 65% of the people will be forced to use the traditional sources of energy.

80% of the Nepalese still depend exclusively on agriculture for subsistence. Among others, without modern form of energy, the agricultural productivity of rural Nepal will not be enough to feed the increasing population. APP envisages enhanced role of renewable energy technologies to increase productivity through improved irrigation and other facilities.

For the decentralized development of the country as envisaged by recently enacted Local Governance Act 1999, RETs plays important role. With own energy sources, the rural people could enhance the local economy themselves and able to make developmental decision by them selves.

Government should make lucrative policy to develop wind energy technology in Nepal. Following are some of the key areas to be focused in the policy.

Demonstration SchemeThe government and other concerned agencies have to make a concerned effort to install and operate a successful WTG to demonstrate the reliability and potentials of the technology. Kagbveni of Mustang is the obvious choice to undertake the demonstration scheme, as it is the site of the first effort to generate electricity from wind and is the only site in Nepal where detailed wind characteristics has been recorded for several years. Further more, a five-star resort hotel, requiring several hundred kW power has recently been established in Jomsom. Presently, the hotel management plans to use electricity from Chokhopani Minihydro power

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plant and its own diesel generators powered by fuel flown all the way from Pokhara. However, using wind energy for producing process heat for the hotel would be far more sensible. A detailed study to determine the size of the WEC should be carried out immediately in this regard.

Further demonstration schemes for pumping water and generating electricity for battery charging stations have to be installed in different parts of the country. A wind powered battery charging station should be established in remote district like Manang, Palpa and Solukhumbu, which are believed to have enough wind to run such stations. Wind Turbines for pumping water could be installed at several sited in the Terai to demonstrate the technical as well as financial feasibility of such system. Demonstration schemes could also include a wind-diesel hybrid system to run irrigation and drinking water pumps in the rural Terai.

Wind Data Collection and analysisFor technical and financial viability of wind power station the first and the foremost requirement is the detailed wind characteristics of the station site. Since Nepal does not have much information on wind speed in different parts of the country priority should be given to collection and analysis of wind data before large-scale plants are installed. Resources of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology could be utilized for this purposes. However, the Department personal whose priority area is data related to weather has to be thoroughly oriented and provided with necessary equipment to undertake primary data collection in different parts of the country. Since wind would cost exorbitantly and cost of bringing the national grid to the power plant could also be expensive: efforts should be made to identify potential sites with easy road access and in vicinity of the national grid system.

A five-year program to collect and analyze wind data would definitely identify potential sites for harnessing wind power in a large scale. Preparation and dissemination of a Wind Atlas showing all potential sites in the country would be the first step in attracting the potential investors.

Note: Chart1: Mean Annual Wind Speed at 10m. above ground over Nepal

Chart3: Diurnal Variation of Wind on 28 Sep 1990 at Kagbeni

Chart4: Monthly Mean Wind Speed at Kagbeni (30 ft)

Chart5: Monthly Mean Speed at Khumbu (2m)

Entrepreneurship developmentPrivate sector workshops should be encouraged to fabricate as much of the components as possible within the country. Most of the components for wind pumping system should be fabricated locally. These workshops should also be encouraged to install the system and provide maintenance services.

Local communities and individual entrepreneurs should be supported in smooth operation and management of the power plants.

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9.2.2 Organizational Arrangement

Alternative Energy Promotion Center should be the appropriate institution for research, human resources development, information dissemination, technology transfer and overall promotion of the wind energy technology in Nepal.

Private Sector should be involved in the promotion of wind energy from the beginning both as investor and installer and provide after sales service. Private workshops like Krishna Grill that have already gained some experience on the wind energy should be supported to manufacture lower end technologies like wind pumping system and should be gradually take up production of ancillaries for high-tech items like WTG. Later, the private sector has to take the lead role in identifying sites, undertaking design works, equipment selection, installation and operation and maintenance.

9.2.3 Legal Arrangement

Current arrangement regarding power wheeling, Hydropower Policy 1992 and Electricity Act 1992, which categorically mentioned that power generated at any place in Nepal can be transmitted to other places using the Integrated Nepal Grid System could be adopted in generation and transmission of electricity also from wind power.

Legal provision regarding occupation of public land and impact due to noise be made so that entrepreneurs can work freely. Newly enact5ed “Local Government Act” be assimilated with future legal policy on wind energy development.

9.3 Human Resource Development

It is another area requiring urgent attention for the development of wind energy in Nepal. Local manpower for collection and analysis of wind data, design, equipment selection, fabrication of components, installation, after sales services, operation, maintenance and management of wind plants need to be trained.

Capacities of Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, District Development Committees, Village Development Committee and local communities should be enhanced for the collection of wind data.

In the beginning, AEPC should focus on building its own capability on design and equipment selection, which should gradually be transferred to private sector organizations.

9.4 Finance

9.4.1 Subsidy

The present practice of providing 50% and 75% subsidy on electrical equipment for renewable energy technologies like solar PV and micro hydro would not be relevant in the case of wind power. This subsidy regime came into being to

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encourage micro hydro milling plants to add-on electric generators to the existing system to electrify the powerhouse and the settlement in the vicinity. Subsidy should be provided for the total cost including both electrical and mechanical equipment, battery charging station, tower and foundation works and transportation.

Resource Mobilization

Local Resource:

For long-term sustainability of renewable energy sector in Nepal, it is proposed that financial resources should be mobilized not only from donors but also locally. Non-renewable energy sources could be taxed for Renewable Energy Development Fund (REDF). It is proposed that for each imported liter of petroleum products a NRs. 0.01 should be levied to discourage the use of imported fossil fuel. Similarly, levying NRs. 0.01 per each unit (kWh) of electricity sold by NEA will support rural masses who will benefit from the promotion of RETs. This will generate enormous amount of financial resources l0cally and will support in reducing donor-dependency.

External Support:

Initially, external assistance should be sought for human resource development, preparation of Wind Energy Master Plan and Wind Atlas, technology transfer, local production of components, research and development, demonstration scheme, etc. However, efforts should be made initially on to develop local capability in these areas.

9.5 Environmental Strategy

More R & D should be done to reduce the noise of wind energy converting systems making wind energy more environmentally friendly.

9.6 Monitoring and Evaluation

Local bodies should do monitoring and evaluation of wind program when it comes to commercialized stages, but for pilot and demonstration program, AEPC should take responsibilities.

10. Conclusion:Wind energy can be one of the most efficient, environment friendly and renewable energy for the context of Nepal. The nature of wind energy available in Nepal suggest that the detail site-specific measurement of hourly wind speed is prerequisite for designing and evaluating the performance of wind energy electricity generation system. However, the wind energy utilization for pumping water may not require sophisticated wind speed database. At the same time, pilot-phase demonstration of small-scale wind energy systems may be carried out with the active participation of local communities. There may be a possibility of utilizing wind energy to develop the hybrid system with other renewable energy technologies, so that optimum use of different renewable energy resources can be made.

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11. References:

Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG) Nepal (2001). Wind Energy Development in Nepal: Proceedings of a National Workshop: MoST/ITDG/ICIMOD.

Center for Energy Study (January 2000). Renewable Energy Perspective Plan of Nepal, 2000-2020: An Approach, Vol-I. Submitted to Alternative Energy Promotion Center, Lalitpur Nepal.

Center for Energy Study (January 2000). Renewable Energy Perspective Plan of Nepal, 2000-2020: An Approach, Vol-II. Submitted to Alternative Energy Promotion Center, Lalitpur Nepal.

Schwartz, M.N.; Elliott, D.L.; Gower, G.L. (1992). "Gridded State Maps of Wind Electric Potential." Windpower '92 Conference; October 19-23, 1992; Seattle, Washington. Washington, DC: American Wind Energy Association; pp. 50-58.

America Takes Stock of a Vast Energy Resource. (1992). Produced under the auspices of the Utility Wind Interest Group; published by the Electric Power Research Institute; 10 pp. Available from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO.

Mr. G.D.Rai (1998). Non-Conventional Sources of Energy: Khanna Publishers Delhi-110006

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12. Appendix:

Table1: International Installed Capacity of Wind Energy Generator

International Installed Capacity, year 2000

Country Capacity (MW)

Germany 6,113

U.S. 2,554

Denmark 2,300

Spain 2,235

India 1,167

Netherlands 449

Italy 427

Britain 406

China 265

Sweden 231

Australia 32

Total 16,179

Source: http://www.seda.nsw.gov.au/ren_wind.asp

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http://www.seda.nsw.gov.au/ren_wind.asp


Chart1: Mean Annual Wind Speed at 10m. above ground over Nepal

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Chart3: Diurnal Variation of Wind on 28 Sep 1990 at Kagbeni

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Chart4: Monthly Mean Wind Speed at Kagbeni (30 ft)

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Chart5: Monthly Mean Speed at Khumbu (2m)

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Wind Energy in NEPAL

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