This will be an interactive session looking at rural energy access issues from the viewpoints of government, academia, community organisations and end users, focused on the landscape in Nepal but applicable to a much wider context. The panel members will present their knowledge and experience on energy access in relation to topics such as policy, technology, economics, and social impacts, before initiating a number of round-table discussions. The session will conclude with a panel discussion around the wider context of energy access.

Contributors

Sam Williamson

Lecturer, University of Bristol

Sam is a Lecturer in Electrical Engineering at the University of Bristol, where he obtained his PhD in 2014. Prior to this, he worked as a systems engineer in the aerospace sector. His main research interests are in microgrids and how they can be used to intelligently integrate distributed renewable generators into electrical grids and power isolated communities with local generation, small-scale hydropower for use in rural electrification, and energy technology for international development. Sam lived for a year in Nepal where he learnt the local language and worked for an energy-based NGO. He is keen on living a life of minimum impact, and so renovated his house to reduce the energy consumption by around 50%, where he now lives with his wife and two cats.

Biraj Gautam

Chief Executive Officer, PEEDA

Biraj Gautam is the Chief Executive Officer of People, Energy and Environment Development Association (PEEDA), an indigenous energy NGO based in Nepal. He is a trained energy professional who has been involved in the projects related to rural energy services, R&D of energy technologies, and implementation modality development. He has gained experiences as an energy and environmental professional working in various projects in the countries like India, Bhutan and USA. Most of his experiences are from the RE projects in Nepal. He has a real passion working in the rural energy sector, starting with PEEDA as an Environmental Officer in 2008, and working on projects such as developing finance schemes for communities to own shares in local large hydropower projects, assessing the feasibility of low head pico hydro technologies in Nepal and implementation of various community electrification projects in Nepal, Bhutan and India. Biraj has led research projects on low head turbine systems and community level biofuel utility aspects as well. He also extensively worked with a team of experts including a team of students from Duke University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for conceptualization of rural economic zone that revolves around the decentralized energy generation system. He also specializes in coordinating a team of multi-sector, networking, resource mobilization, orientation and supervision of field implementation of the projects.

He enjoys volunteering and has been leading and coordinating various events of social cause. He is a board member of Community Solutions Program Alumni, a program run by the US Government, on the board of representatives for Hydro Empowerment Network, a network of micro hydro professionals from South and South East Asia, and a member of Access Coalition, a global network of CSOs and INGOs working in energy access. He also represented Access Coalition at the 2017 Sustainable Energy for All Forum (SE4ALL) held in New York.

Muhan Maskey

Policy and Institutional Strengthening Expert, Renewable Energy for Rural Livelihoods Programme, Alternative Energy Promotion Centre, Government of Nepal

Muhan Maskey works for the UNDP supported Renewable Energy for Rural Livelihoods programme, run through the Government of Nepal’s Alternative Energy Promotion Centre as a policy expert. He undertook his undergraduate degree in Mining Engineering from the Mangalore University, India, and an MSc in Energy Systems and Management from the Flensburg University, Germany in 2006. Muhan has worked in rural energy access programmes for over 15 years, as an engineer, project officer and programme manager, before leading PEEDA, and then moving to a policy role within RERL. He has worked on numerous projects, including the Pro-Poor Hydropower Project, which encourages the communities to take a stakeholding in local large hydropower projects, purchasing their shares through construction labour. In his current capacity as policy expert, he is working on improving policy environment of the renewable sector in the country especially with regards to shifting the sector away from the subsidy-driven market, upscaling technologies while also ensuring sustainable operation and management. His specialises in energy project formulation, project implementation and management.

Professor Ramesh Maskey

Associate Dean, School of Engineering, Kathmandu University

Professor Ramesh Maskey completed his undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from Institute of Engineering, Tribhuwan University, Nepal. He has an MSc. in Civil Hydropower Engineering from Beylorussian Polytechnic Institute, Beylorussia and MSc. in Resources Engineering from University of Karlsruhe, Germany, where he also taught hydropower and energy technology. He worked as a civil engineer for Arun-III hydroelectric power project in Nepal Electricity Authority. After completion of his Doctoral Degree in Civil Engineering Science from University of Karlsruhe in 2004, he worked as executive director of a private firm in Germany. Since March 2006, Dr. Maskey has been a Professor of Civil Engineering at Kathmandu University (KU), where he is currently the Head of Department of Civil and Geomatics Engineering. His research interest encompasses water resources management, small hydropower, renewable energy technology, distributed power system and hydraulic structures with expertise in civil engineering, hydraulics, hydropower and renewable energy engineering.

Giri Raj Lamichhane

Head Teacher of Dhawa School, Central Nepal

Giri believes passionately in education and the need to improve facilities and training nationwide. A force to be reckoned with in Gorkha District, Giri became head master of Shree Prabhat Higher Secondary School, in Dhawa, in 1998 and immediately set about doubling its capacity. By employing the district's first teacher from the Dalit "Untouchable" caste, Giri was able to overcome the caste stigma and induct far more Dalit children. Giri's prime focus is to provide economic and educational support to Dhawa's large population - using Dhawa as a model for the regeneration of the whole district. Giri is an advisor to the NGO Learning Planet, to enable holistic community development in Dhawa. Since the 2015 earthquake, with the epicentre only 12 kms from Dhawa, Giri has been working tirelessly to support the rebuilding of residential and school buildings across the district.

Sushila Lamichhane

Regional Director, Learning Planet, Central Nepal

Sushila believes all children should have access to free, high quality education, with a varied curriculum and approach that allows children to find they're good at. She also believes passionately in empowerment for rural women, starting Dhawa's first Mother and Child Group - to assist the poorest women in her village create and grow small enterprises. Susila raised a large fund from weekly micro contributions from the villlagers - and taught them how to manage and invest the proceeds. In 2012, she became chair of her new Micro Credit and Lending Co-operative which now has 600 all-female members from the surrounding villages.