Community Rural Electrification in Nepal

Nepal faces significant challenges in rural electrification, with less than 35% of the rural population electrified. Much has been done to address this such as increasing the grid-connected electrification rate in areas without electricity and empowering Electricity Users Cooperatives (EUCs). This case study presents an example of the process and results of the capacity building support provided to EUCs by an Asian Development Bank-supported project that aimed to increase rural poor women’s access to affordable, reliable, and clean energy sources and technologies.

A Regional Gender Assessment of Energy Policies and Programmes in South Asia

The Asian Development Bank implemented a project that aimed to increase rural poor women’s access to affordable, reliable, and clean renewable energy sources and technologies in its three developing member countries in South Asia: Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. This report presents the findings of the review of national energy policies for the region that combined gender reviews and interactions with stakeholders.

Improving Gender Inclusive Access to Clean and Renewable Energy in Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka

Energy is a critical factor in any poverty reduction strategy. It is also essential for generating production, income, and employment. The Asian Development Bank rolled out a project in three of its developing member countries in South Asia—Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka—to help increase rural poor women’s access to affordable, reliable, and clean renewable energy sources and technologies. This paper presents an overview of the project, including its background, key strategies, results, and lessons.

Support to Indonesia Eximbank: Building Capacity for Energy Efficiency

Indonesia is struggling with increased energy consumption primarily from its industry sector, along with a power supply mix that remains highly dependent on fossil fuels. In 2011, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) partnered with Indonesia Eximbank to pioneer energy efficiency financing, serving as the gateway for mainstreaming energy efficiency programs in the country.

Read about ADB's other energy projects in Knowledge and Power: Lessons from ADB Energy Projects.

Guangdong Energy Efficiency and Environment Improvement Investment Program, Tranche 1: Providing Additional Power Capacity through Energy Savings

Rapidly growing demand has outstripped power generation capacity in Guangdong Province in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), resulting to a host of energy security and environmental concerns. In 2008, the PRC and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) embarked on an energy efficiency program that yielded energy savings and generated additional capacity.

Read about ADB's other energy projects in Knowledge and Power: Lessons from ADB Energy Projects.

Energy Efficiency Multi-Project Financing in the People’s Republic of China: Reducing Energy Consumption in a Rapidly Growing Economy

Energy consumption in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is growing at an alarming rate, almost as fast as the country’s economic growth. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) introduced the concept of energy financing to assist the PRC in jump-starting energy efficiency measures to address the rapid surge in energy use.

Read about ADB's other energy projects in Knowledge and Power: Lessons from ADB Energy Projects.

West Kalimantan Power Grid Strengthening Project: Reducing Indonesia’s Oil Dependency While Fostering Regional Cooperation

As oil fuels all power generation in Indonesia’s West Kalimantan, overdependence on this costly and carbon-intensive energy source negatively affects both the environment and economy of the province. Through the assistance of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Indonesia signed a cross-border power trade agreement to tap existing power supply from neighboring Malaysia.

Read about ADB's other energy projects in Knowledge and Power: Lessons from ADB Energy Projects.

Priyantha Wijayatunga

Priyantha is currently the Senior Director of the Energy Sector Group in the Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Priyantha has over 35 years of professional experience including 15 years in ADB. He served as the Director, South Asia Energy Division and Chief of Energy Sector Group prior to assuming the current position.  Before joining ADB, he served as the founder Director General of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka and a Senior Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Moratuwa.

Yap Renewable Energy Development Project: Breaking the Reliance on Fossil Fuels

A combination of forces threatens the energy sector in Yap State in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), leading to high electricity costs. In 2013, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) collaborated with FSM to strategically harness and maximize renewable energy sources in an energy mix diversification project to reduce Yap’s dependence on fuel imports.

Read about ADB's other energy projects in Knowledge and Power: Lessons from ADB Energy Projects.