Hydropower Projects
Madhya Bhotekoshi Hydropower Project
Maneswor,Marbin,Listi (Sindhupalchok)
The Madhya Bhotekoshi Hydropower Project is a 102 MW peaking run-of-river hydropower facility located on the Bhotekoshi River in Sindhupalchok District. Developed by Madhya Bhotekoshi Jalavidyut Company Limited, a subsidiary of Nepal Electricity Authority, the project is one of the major medium-scale hydropower plants built with significant public and institutional investment in Nepal.
The project obtained its survey and generation licenses in the early 2010s and began construction shortly afterward. Development included the construction of a diversion dam, headrace tunnel, underground powerhouse, and transmission infrastructure to connect the generated electricity to the national grid. The project also faced delays due to the impacts of the 2015 Nepal earthquake and subsequent technical and logistical challenges during construction.
After several years of construction and testing, the project moved into trial generation before entering commercial operation. With an installed capacity of 102 MW, the Madhya Bhotekoshi Hydropower Project significantly strengthens Nepal’s electricity supply and contributes to improving dry-season energy availability through peaking run-of-river generation.
- Commercial Operation Date : 2016-12-01
- Installed Capacity : 102MW
- Phase : Live
- Type : Run-of-River
Ghalemdi Khola Hydropower Project
Narchyang (Myagdi)
The Ghalemdi Khola Hydropower Project is a 5 MW run-of-river hydropower facility situated in Narchyang Village, Myagdi District, Gandaki Province, Nepal. Developed by Ghalemdi Hydro Limited, the project harnesses water from the Ghalemdi Khola river, operating with a gross head of 164.93 meters and a design discharge of 3.5 m³/s (at 41.4% exceedance flow).
The facility features two horizontal Francis turbines, each rated at 2.5 MW, and two synchronous 3-phase generators rated at 2.35 MVA each. Civil construction, including a gravity-type intake weir with desander and gravel trap, underground headrace tunnel, and penstock, was completed by late 2019.
The project’s transmission line spans 3.2 km with a 33 kV single circuit connecting to the Dana Substation. It achieved commercial operation in mid-February 2020 and is connected to Nepal Electricity Authority’s national grid.
Financed through a mix of NPR 850 million debt and NPR 550 million equity, the project has a debt–equity ratio of 70:30 and a power purchase agreement with tariffs ranging from Rs 4.80 to 8.40 per kWh, escalating annually by 3%. An IPO was issued in 2018 raising NPR 155 million.
- Issue Date: 2013-12-29
- Installed Capacity : 5MW
- Phase : Live
- Type : Run of River
Kapadigad Hydropower Project
Barchhen (Doti)
The Kapadigad Hydropower Project is a 3.33 MW run-of-river hydropower facility located on the Kapadigad Khola in Doti District, Sudurpashchim Province, Nepal. Developed by Salmanidevi Hydropower Pvt Ltd under the Build, Own, Operate, and Transfer (BOOT) model, the project harnesses a gross head of 170 meters and a design flow of 3.81 m³/s.
Commissioned in June 2019, the project contributes to Nepal's renewable energy mix by utilizing local water resources efficiently with minimal environmental impact. The infrastructure includes water diversion works, conveyance tunnels, penstocks, and a powerhouse designed to generate clean electricity for the regional grid.
The project reflects private sector participation in Nepal’s hydropower sector and supports regional development through reliable power supply and economic benefits.
- Issue Date: 2013-12-29
- Installed Capacity : 3.3MW
- Phase : Live
Down Piluwa Hydropower Project
Baneswor,Ankhibhui,Mamling (Sankhuwasabha)
The Down Piluwa Khola Hydropower Project is a 10.3 MW run-of-river hydropower facility located in Dharmadevi and Chainpur Municipalities, Sankhuwasabha District, Koshi Province, Nepal. Developed by River Falls Hydropower Development Pvt. Ltd. (publicly listed as River Falls Power Limited), the project utilizes the tailwater from an upstream settling basin in combination with natural flows from the Piluwa Khola.
Equipped with 2 × Francis turbines, the plant operates with a gross head of 38.05 meters and a design discharge of approximately 3.5 m³/s. Its infrastructure includes a 916-meter headrace tunnel and a 33 kV transmission line connecting to the NEA Chainpur–Baneshwar substation.
Commercial operations began on August 10, 2023, with an additional 0.8 MW extension commissioned on December 30, 2023. The project generates an estimated 57.69 GWh annually, with strong winter performance (~50 GWh). Financed through a mix of debt (NPR 1.32 billion) and equity (~30%), it underwent an IPO in May 2022 for local and public shareholders.
The project is linked to the earlier Lower Piluwa Khola Small Hydropower Project, located on the river’s right bank.
- Issue Date: 2014-02-16
- Installed Capacity : 10.3MW
- Phase : Live
Super Dordi Kha Hydropower Project
Dhodeni,Faleni (Lamjung)
The Super Dordi Hydropower Project – Kha is a 54 MW run-of-river hydropower plant located in Dordi Gaupalika, Lamjung District, Province 4 of Nepal. Developed by Peoples’ Hydropower Company Limited, the project harnesses the flow of the Dordi River. It has a gross head of 637.55 meters and a design discharge of 9.9 m³/s. The project began construction in 2016 and was commissioned in 2023.
The infrastructure features an 18.5-meter concrete gravity diversion weir, a 4.7 km headrace tunnel, and a surface powerhouse housing three vertical-axis Pelton turbines. A 6 km, 132 kV double circuit transmission line connects the plant to the NEA interconnection substation at Kirtipur. The penstock system includes a vertical drop shaft and horizontal steel-lined shaft totaling 1,048 meters.
The project is designed for an annual estimated generation of 328.47 GWh and was upgraded from an initial capacity of 49.6 MW. It incorporates robust components such as a brushless excitation synchronous generator and step-up transformers of 25 MVA each. With advanced turbine and generator configurations and significant dry and wet season energy contributions, Super Dordi-Kha is a key asset in Nepal’s clean energy expansion.
- Issue Date: 2014-03-05
- Installed Capacity : 54MW
- Phase : Live
Solu Hydropower Project
Gora Khami,Garma,Salleri (Solukhumbu)
The 23.5 MW project is a simple run off river scheme with 5.5m high, 26m long diversion weir, side intake, surface de-silting basin and pipe line (water conveyance system) of 3860m length and 2.5m diameter, inclined steel surge tank, surface penstock, surface powerhouse and tailrace canal. Design discharge is 12.26m3/sec and head of the project is 229.30m. Power produced will be sold to Nepal Electricity Authority.
- Commercial Operation Date : 2020-03-23
- Installed Capacity : 23.5MW
- Phase : Live
- Type : Run of River