Energy transformation and sustainability have become a challenge, especially for developing countries, which face broad energy-related issues such as a wide demand-supply gap, extensive fossil fuel dependency, and low accessibility to clean energy. Globally, smart grid technology has been identified to address these affairs and enable a smooth transition from traditional to smart energy systems, ensuring energy security. This paper studies the critical role in strengthening the power system, integrating renewable sources, electrifying the transport sector, and harnessing bioenergy. Evaluating the current energy scenario in Nepal, this article presents the smart grid as a solution to existing and future energy issues and the associated challenges during its implementation, urging concerned authorities to launch initiatives to promote it. Moreover, this study also lays the foundation for future research into the smart grid's potential to reform the power sector in other developing nations with abundant renewable energy sources and similar energy-related barriers.
KeywordSmart grid technology • Microgrid • Renewable energy • Energy transition • Challenges • Nepal * Shukra Raj Paudel
Access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) has been
a challenge
to south Asia’s rapidly growing and climate change-sensitive
region. Nepal, a water-abundant country, faces obstacles to fulfilling
the highly prioritized WASH Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6).
This review offers details about Nepal’s WASH status from 2000
to 2020 with regard to the challenges Nepal had in delivering reliable
WASH services to the people, as well as opportunities for a sustainable
way forward, and provides insights that can be applied to other developing
countries. From analysis of national-level assessments, estimates
point toward healthy progress in extending WASH access to the population.
However, large inequalities persist at the subnational level between
urban and rural residents, between poor and rich residents, and between
genders. Many local constraints such as a lack of long-term infrastructural
capacity to provide and maintain WASH services, financial issues,
and institutional and policy incompatibilities are some of the key
factors that technical considerations and private sector involvement
could address. We also propose roles for Nepal’s central, provincial,
and local governments for identification and adaptation to the undeniable
risks of climate change. Furthermore, there is a need to capitalize
on the potential opportunities for developing a much-needed robust
and climate-resilient WASH sector in Nepal, safeguarding the rights
of future generations to safe and clean water.
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