Renewable Energy Confederation of Nepal नवीकरणीय ऊर्जा परिसंघ नेपाल
Renewable Energy Confederation of Nepal नवीकरणीय ऊर्जा परिसंघ नेपाल
Resource Management and Rural Empowerment Centre (REMREC) is a member-based non-governmental organisation established in 1998, headquartered in Dhulikhel, Kavrepalanchowk. It functions as a common platform for professionals, communities, and stakeholders committed to sustainable development and equitable access to energy and resources in rural Nepal. Over its operational history, REMREC has trained over 699 stove masters, established 156 community minigrids, and supported the installation of more than 103,500 improved cooking stoves. It has been recognised as the Best Support Organisation of the Rural Energy Development Programme (REDP) in 2004 and Outstanding Regional Renewable Energy Service Centre in 2012 and 2013. REMREC collaborates with national and international partners including UNDP, USAID, and the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC).
Field of Work
REMREC works across renewable energy promotion, rural infrastructure development, capacity building, enterprise development for micro and small businesses, and policy advocacy. It supports Nepal's clean energy transition by implementing community-led energy projects, training local technicians, and strengthening rural supply chains for energy services.
Improved Cooking Stoves are engineered replacements for traditional open-fire or three-stone cooking methods that are common in rural Nepal. Traditional cooking methods burn wood or biomass inefficiently, releasing large amounts of smoke, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter directly into the living space — a leading cause of indoor air pollution-related illness, particularly among women and children.
ICS designs used by REMREC incorporate insulated combustion chambers, carefully sized air inlets, and optimised flue channels that increase combustion efficiency to between 25–35% (compared to under 10% for open fires). This means significantly less fuel is needed to cook the same meal, reducing the time and labour spent on firewood collection. The stoves are typically built from locally sourced materials — clay, brick, and metal — making them repairable and affordable at the village level. Some models are fixed (mud-built into the kitchen), while others are portable. Variants include rocket stoves, gasifier stoves, and forced-draft stoves. Beyond energy savings, ICS reduces black carbon emissions, contributing to both local health improvements and broader climate goals.
A minigrid (also called a micro-grid) is a localised electricity generation and distribution system that operates independently of the national grid — or can be designed to connect to it when the grid eventually reaches the area. In Nepal's context, where mountainous terrain makes national grid extension extremely costly and logistically difficult, minigrids are a practical and cost-effective solution for rural electrification.
REMREC develops minigrids that are typically powered by micro-hydropower or solar PV sources (or a hybrid of both). The system consists of a generation source (a small hydro turbine or solar array), a battery bank for storage, a charge controller, an inverter to convert DC to AC power, and a low-voltage distribution network connecting households and community facilities. The distribution network usually runs at 230V AC and spans a radius of a few hundred metres to a few kilometres. Community energy committees are trained to manage the system, collect tariffs, and carry out first-level maintenance. REMREC's approach emphasises community ownership — ensuring that local people have the skills and organisational capacity to sustain the system long after project handover.
Solar drinking water systems use photovoltaic panels to power electric pumps that extract groundwater or surface water from boreholes, springs, or rivers, and deliver it to storage tanks and distribution taps. These systems are particularly relevant in Nepal's remote hills and mountains, where seasonal water scarcity and the lack of reliable electricity make conventional electric pumps unreliable.
The core components are a solar PV array (typically 100W–1kW depending on demand), a DC or AC submersible pump, a storage tank (usually elevated to enable gravity-fed distribution), and a simple pipe network. Some systems include basic filtration or chlorination stages for drinking water safety. Because they require no fuel and have minimal moving parts, solar water systems have very low operating costs and can function for over 20 years with minimal maintenance. REMREC integrates these systems with community water user committees to ensure sustainable governance of the water supply.
Trail bridges — particularly suspension and truss bridges — are a critical enabling infrastructure for renewable energy projects in Nepal's hills. Many micro hydro intake sites, solar installations, and supply chains for energy components are located across rivers or gorges that have no safe crossing. Without bridges, construction materials cannot be transported, technicians cannot reach sites, and communities remain cut off from services.
REMREC designs and installs both suspension trail bridges (cable-supported spans of 30–120 metres, suitable for pedestrian and light cargo loads) and truss bridges (rigid steel frame structures for heavier loads or wider spans). These bridges are engineered to Nepali standards using locally available steel and labour, and they double as community infrastructure that improves access to markets, schools, and health services beyond their energy project function.
🌐 www.remrec.org | 📧 info@remrec.org | 📞 +977-11-490021
📍 Dhulikhel, Kavrepalanchowk, Nepal
